Integrity News

Here’s the transcript of the exchange between Rep. Christopher Shays (Republican of Connecticut) with Elaine Donnelly:

SHAYS: Would you please tell me, Ms. Donnelly, why I should give one twit about this woman’s [Captain Joan Darrah’s] sexual orientation when it didn’t interfere one bit with her service?

DONNELLY: I’m here to talk about policy…

SHAYS: Answer my question, please! You’re a witness before us.

DONNELLY:  I respect the service of Captain Darrah, General Coleman, Sergeant Alva, everybody who serves in the military.

SHAYS: How do you respect their service? You wanna ‘em out.

DONNELLY: I’m standing for sound policy, Congressman. We can’t ignore the importance of sexuality in conditions of…

SHAYS: Can you answer my question? My question was this…

DONNELLY: I’m trying to answer your question.

SHAYS: No, let me make sure you know what my question is: What difference does it make, let me say it differently, how does the relationship that CPT Darrah has with her partner have any impact on the service as long as it is her own personal experience?

DONNELLY: Rep. Shays, in the military we don’t make policy based on individuals, we have groups of people who serve in conditions of little or no privacy. Forced intimacy is the phrase that’s used in the law. That’s what it’s all about congressman. And it’s not fair to tell young men and women that their feelings are going to be so disapproved of that they would be in violation of a zero tolerance….

SHAYS: Well, This is what I think is so unfair. You answered my question; now, you’re saying something else. I want my time back. And I wanna be clear with you. What you’re saying is she has no right to risk her life to protect fellow soldiers, sailors, Marines. You’re saying she has no right to serve her country because she happens to have a different sexual orientation than you.

DONNELLY: Congressman!

SHAYS: And I say, so what?

The exchange happens about 98 minutes into the hearing. You can view the hearing, or listen to an audio recording, at the House Armed Services Committee website. It also has the written testimony submitted by all the witnesses.

There’s one particular statement Donnelly makes that should strike at the heart of every true American: “we don’t make policy based on individuals, we have groups of people.” Ms. Donnelly is clearly not a conservative. Here she is declaring support for collectivist policies - she places people into groups and then makes rules for the groups. No individualism at all, and America is one of the most individualist countries in the world. Sure, there should be rules governing behavior, but those rules should apply to everyone. As I’ve stated before, Don’t ask, Don’t tell is a separate law set up just for gay people in uniform.