Stouffer: DADT Is Like Keeping Short People From Flying Helicopters

State Sen. Bill Stouffer explains in the News-Leader today that people who think that citizens should be able to serve openly and honestly in the armed forces "do not understand the mission of our military." 

Obviously, Stouffer knows more about the military than you, me, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Secretary of Defense.  I mean, the guy has pictures of airplanes on website and a B-2 bomber lapel pin!  He knows!

Stouffer also knows that the rules prohibiting open service are very similar to rules about short people flying airplanes and helicopters.

Those who claim this is an issue of fairness do not understand the mission of our military. No one has ever claimed that the military is an equal opportunity provider. For instance, the military will not let men of a certain height or with bad eyesight fly airplanes or helicopters. It will not allow men with bum legs to serve in the infantry. Why? Because the military exists to fight and win battles, not to be fair.

Clearly, Stouffer understands things about "the mission of our military" that escape the grasp of hippies like Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"No matter how I look at the issue," Mullen said, "I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens." Noting that he was speaking for himself and not for the other service chiefs, Mullen added: "For me, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."

Other weirdos who "do not understand the mission of our military" and want to repeal DADT include Dick Cheney and Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joe Lieberman.

Oh, and 73% of Iraq and Afghanistan military veterans, 70% of all Americans, 60% of Republicans and 57% of weekly churchgoers.  Them too.