Brownback
Supports Pace's Remark on Gays
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, March 15, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Republican
presidential candidate Sam Brownback is backing the Pentagon's top general over
his remarks that homosexual acts are immoral. The Kansas senator planned to send
a letter on Thursday to President Bush supporting Marine Gen. Peter Pace, who
earlier this week likened homosexuality to adultery and said the military should
not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs also said in an interview with the Chicago
Tribune: ''I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral
and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United
States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.''
Lawmakers of both parties criticized the remarks, but Brownback's letter called
the criticism ''both unfair and unfortunate.''
''We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as
General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues,'' Brownback said.
''In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility
will have strong moral views.''
Asked whether he agreed with Pace's comments, Brownback said: ''I do not
believe being a homosexual is immoral, but I do believe homosexual acts are.
I'm a Catholic and the church has clear teachings on this.''
Democratic candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama initially tried to
sidestep the issue when asked about it this week, but both sought to clarify
their opposition to Pace's comments on Thursday.
Obama did not directly answer on Wednesday when asked if same-sex relationships
were immoral, Newsday reported. Obama issued a statement on Thursday,
saying, ''I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral.
Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over
the past six years.''
Clinton told ABC News Wednesday that it's for ''others to conclude'' whether
homosexuality is immoral. On Thursday, she put out a statement saying that
she'd heard from gay friends who said her answer sounded evasive.
''I should have echoed my colleague Senator John Warner's statement forcefully
stating that homosexuality is not immoral because that is what I believe,'' her
statement said.
While there is no indication that Pace's job is in jeopardy, Brownback's letter
to Bush said ''personal moral beliefs'' should not disqualify anyone from a
position of leadership in the U.S. military.
''General Pace's recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have
received,'' the letter said. ''In fact, we applaud General Pace for
maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles.''
Pace said he supports the military's ''don't ask, don't tell policy'' in which
gay service members are required to keep their sexual orientation private.
Brownback on Thursday said ''don't ask, don't tell'' is ''an appropriate
policy.''
Brownback, a favorite of the religious right, has been a prominent opponent of
gay marriage.
Brownback spokesman Brian Hart said the senator was working Thursday to get
other lawmakers to sign his letter. Hart said Brownback's office would not
disclose who has signed on to the letter until there is ''a final count.''
On his campaign bus in Iowa on Thursday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., declined to
comment when asked whether he agreed with Gen. Peter Pace's comment that
homosexuality was immoral. He said he still backs the military's ''don't
ask, don't tell'' policy. ''It's working.''
|
