Gary Nodler: Leader of a queer debate in Jeff City.
Gary Nodler just called Daily RFT to inform us that Post-Dispatch columnist Tony Messenger got the context of his argument wrong during yesterday's committee meeting debating whether or not gays should be allowed to openly serve in the military.
"I never expressed any concern about terrorists attitudes about this," Nodler tells Daily RFT. "My concern -- as expressed in committee -- is about our allies' attitudes especially in joint military deployments where Islamic troops are working side-by-side with U.S. forces. My concern is about Islamic attitudes in countries where the U.S. military is deployed. I don't want soldiers at risk because a host country could be made more hostile over this. I do not care about the attitude of the terrorists. That wasn't what I was saying."
Messenger, meanwhile, is standing by his column. Read his response here.
Original post on the brouhaha follows:
The Post-Dispatch's political columnist Tony Messenger has an interesting tidbit today about the ridiculous debate underway in Jefferson City where state legislators have taken it upon themselves to float non-binding resolutions on federal policy beyond their control or jurisdiction.
The latest grand-standing relates to the conversation in Washington D.C. to change the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy so that homosexuals could serve openly in the armed forces.
During a hearing yesterday, state senator Gary Nodler (R - Joplin), reiterated his stance on keeping things status quo in the military. The reason? Fanatically religious terrorists could be offended by America's gay troops. (As if the terrorists could find yet another reason to hate us!?)
Per Messenger's column today:
"There are real-world implications," Nodler said. "This is a policy that would directly threaten the lives of soldiers today."
Nodler's argument: The Muslim nations of Iraq and Afghanistan, where America is fighting two wars, are opposed to homosexuality. Changing "Don't ask, don't tell" would offend the terrorists in such a way that could put soldiers -- and America -- at risk of further terrorist attacks.
