Republicans Spend 200 Million Dollars for a Smaller Military

Gay Writers from 365Gay.com: "The message was loud and clear. In this corner we have a failed national policy which has let down our troops and our military readiness. On the other side we have the rest of the western industrialized world, putting national security ahead of prejudice and welcoming those with the skills to serve. The question is no longer ‘Has “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” worked?’ or ‘Has its time come to an end?’ There is simply no one left to defend this law. Now it is a question of an “honorable withdrawal” from this policy. … As of mid-March, sixty-seven members of Congress have signed onto this bi-partisan legislation. Even in a Republican-controlled Congress, and even after the November 2004 elections, six dozen members of Congress support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And no wonder: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” hurts military readiness, is a burden to our national security and has cost a minimum of $200 million dollars since its implementation, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). … We need to mobilize at the grassroots level and we need you to commit to doing three things to help lift the ban on gays in the military. One, call your member of Congress and tell them to sign on as a cosponsor to H.R. 1059. Two, come to our SLDN Lobby Day in D.C. (May 8-10, 2005) and talk to your Congressional office in person. Three, join as a member of SLDN. You can find your Member of Congress online at www.house.gov, and you can sign up for lobby day -- and become an SLDN member -- online at www.sldn.org."