CNN’s Cafferty Promotes NYT Story on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Photo of Matthew Balan.

NewsBusters.org - Media Research CenterTwo days after the CNN/YouTube Republican debate, where the news network failed to mention a questioner’s affiliation with Hillary Clinton’s homosexual steering committee, "The Situation Room’s" Jack Cafferty, in his "Cafferty File" segment, asked whether "it is time for the U.S. to rethink ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ when it comes to gays in the military," and featured statistics from the New York Times and the top homosexual advocacy group in the country, without verbally attributing these sources.

The "Cafferty File" segment began 10 minutes into the 5 pm Eastern hour, and in the midst of the two breaking news stories of the evening - the train crash in Chicago and the hostage standoff at Clinton’s campaign office in New Hampshire. Cafferty began by citing that "twenty-eight retired generals and admirals say that it's time for this country to repeal the U.S. military's policy of 'don't ask, don't tell.' On the fourteenth anniversary of this being signed into law, they've signed a letter calling for Congress to get rid of it." He then cited two statistics, which were also displayed on the screen - that there are supposedly 65,000 gays and lesbians in the military, and that there are more than 1 million gay veterans.

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NewsBusters.org - Media Research CenterCafferty then went on to cite a third statistic - that 12,000 gays have been discharged from the military since the implementation on ‘don’t ask,’ don’t tell.’ The final statistic, and the source of the all 3 statistics was only displayed on the screen for 4 seconds, so if the viewers weren’t paying attention, they might have missed it. The sources cited were the Human Rights Campaign, the homosexual lobby’s largest organization, and the New York Times.

In fact, the entire "Cafferty File" segment could have been pulled straight from the New York Times story on the efforts of the retired general and admirals, whose letter will be read by two of the generals at an upcoming event sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, along with other homosexual organizations.

Interestingly, both Cafferty and a press release issued by HRC about the retired generals and admirals cited a CNN/Opinion Research poll released in May 2007 that "showed that 79 percent of Americans believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military."

The full transcript of the "Cafferty File" segment from Friday’s "The Situation Room:"

CAFFERTY: Twenty-eight retired generals and admirals say that it's time for this country to repeal the U.S. military's policy of 'don't ask, don't tell.' On the fourteenth anniversary of this being signed into law, they've signed a letter calling for Congress to get rid of it. They say there are 65,000 gays and lesbians serving in the military, and there are more than a million gay veterans, all of whom have "served our nation honorably." In the years since Bill Clinton enacted the 'don't ask, don't tell policy,' that allows gays to serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation secret, more than 12,000 gays have been discharged from the service. The retired officers say they have dedicated their lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish. They highlight recent comments by General John Shalikasvili. He was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when this policy was adopted. He now argues for repealing it. Efforts to get Congress to repeal the legislation have not gotten much traction. Top Pentagon officials have said they will follow the lead of Congress.

When it comes to the presidential race, all of the Democratic candidates say they favor a policy change. The Republicans want to leave it as it is. The public seems to side with the Democrats. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll that we did last spring shows that 79 percent of those surveyed are in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

So, that's our question -- is it time for the U.S. to rethink 'don't ask, don't tell' when it comes to gays in the military? Your thoughts to Caffertyfile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/caffertyfile -- Wolf.

At the close of the 5 pm hour, Cafferty read some of his viewers responses to his 'Question of the Hour,' and they overwhelmingly supported letting homosexuals into the military.

CAFFERTY: This is the 14th anniversary, Wolf, of 'don't ask, don't tell,' and a bunch of retired generals and admirals have signed a letter, 28 of them in all, suggesting it's time to rethink this policy in the military for gays. And that's our question, "Is it time to rethink 'don't ask, don't tell' when it comes to gays in the military?"

Donna writes from California, "I was in the Army 30 years ago. The difference between another woman hitting on me and a hetero male was the woman gave up when I declined their advances. Yes, change the policy. Didn't we lose many qualified Arabic linguists over this, i.e., we tons of intercepted intelligence and not enough people to decipher it?"

Patrick writes, "If someone is willing to pick up a gun, wear the uniform of our country, and die for my freedom and yours, they're a hero, whether they're homosexual or heterosexual."

Todd in State College, Pennsylvania: "If the government can tell businesses -- this is interesting -- that they cannot discriminate against employees or potential employees based on sexual orientation, then why can the government discriminate against employees of the American people?"

Dan writes, "When Clinton came out with the 'don't ask, don't tell' idea, he not only did it to allow gays into the military, but also to protect them from unwanted harassment. I know people can be intolerant, so in my opinion, the military shouldn't ask or care if you're gay. However, gay soldiers should be prepared for outing themselves in such a conservative institution as the U.S. military."

John in Oklahoma: "As a two-tour Vietnam veteran, I can tell you when you're under fire the last thing on your mind is the sexual orientation of the man next to you. You're just doing your best to keep each other alive."

And Dan from Cincinnati: "The policy should be repealed. The Republicans, who pretty much want it to remain as is, should remember what the subversive pacifist liberal named Barry Goldwater once said: 'It matters whether someone can shoot straight, not whether he is straight.'" Wolf?

—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.


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So the "supposed" number of gays in the military

are brought to us by the same gay alliance organizations that, for years knowingly lied that around 10% of the population is gay, when it's really 2-3% maximum?  

The same dishonest figures that drove the gay alliance's successful infiltration of gay studies into our elementary schools?   That drove the gay marriage efforts? 

How many Americans still believe the 10% figure?   A majority, I'd wager....and the gay alliances aren't anxious to inform them of their error, either.

And now, we're supposed to believe their "facts and figures" in their newest effort to socially engineer the military?

Opinion Research is owned by

Opinion Research is owned by one of Hillary's biggest contributors they have to break this to us slowly to accept the fact we have to get used to a lesbian president...somewhere down the line.

Actually, I've always seen Hillary as asexual

...can't imagine anyone getting nekkid with her. 

Regardless, the latest "gays in the military" figures from the gay alliance organizations are probably as phony as their long-time claim that "10% of the populace are gay."

The lies and the attack on DADT are just their latest volley in their out and out war on American society.

Don't forget that Rosie

Don't forget that Rosie O'Blimpel has supposedly had relationships. If that gasbag can manage it, surely someone with considerably more power to offer and slightly less repugnant features could find someone...

www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.

"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." -Miyamoto Musashi

Wait a minute....An obvious follow up to the CNN plant..kerr

Gee, this is a faster than the speed of light follow up story to the Gay Gen. Kerr's issue......was this "planted"  issue/questioner an AGENDA for CNN ? ?

I'm suspicious that this was a story developed in parrallel with the Kerr plant/question, as CNN has anticipated they needed follow up.....but they didn't anticipate they would be "nailed" as planters.....but went with the follow up anyhow......damn the "expose' "  

What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ?   David Foote  GoE

Same reaction

I had exactly the same reaction. This is way too obvious. CNN will try to claim that a movement is building for this, and then use their own plant and followup as evidence.

Once the surge started working, I was wondering how the MSM was going to change the topic. Guess they're running issues up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes. (Pardon the pun)

Once again the English language is molested

In 04 we heard that homosexuals "Had Rights 'Taken Away' from them"   when they never had the rights to begin with.

- But that didn't stop it from being reported that way.

Now, be "open" with your "gayness" is a "Right" and if it's not granted, it's similar to being denied a job because of your orientation?

Finally, the people who resigned from posts in the service that are vital to national security because they couldn't be "openly gay" are traitors to the country, pure and simple.

Since they enlisted in the service knowing full well the policy, the only reason they enlisted was to try to pull a political stunt and somehow "Force" the US Military to change it's policy based on a vital need.  

That's how it's done, manufacture a situation, then cry foul.  Then sue.  The change laws by judicial fiat that would NEVER get by a majority of people voting on it.

"They say there are 65,000

"They say there are 65,000 gays and lesbians serving in the military, and there are more than a million gay veterans, all of whom have "served our nation honorably."

Get used to it cause you're going to see even more after the '08 elections when they win the White House, and total control over Congress.  Oh, and taxes up by at least 25%, unisex bathrooms in ALL schools, bigamy legalized, Ruth Bader Ginsberg's dream come true - the age of consent reduced to 12, and children will officially be declared adult toys.

GLOBAL UNISEX AGENDA

Rumor has it that those that support globalized one world type of government also known as "socialism" and later as time passes "communism" need to erase cultural and sexual identity. The Gay issue and the propaganda is used as the ticket to make it happen. Yes there are gays is the world but it should not be politicized and used to change laws and social order to benefit the few compare to the whole. Most of our media is bought and serving special interests that wish to disrupt and dismantle our Constitutional Republic. Under the gay lobby there is also new legislations created behind it such as the "Hate Crime Bill" which because of the smaller gay group the rest of us may not be able to criticize our own government. Those wishing to turn our Nation into a communist type of governmental structure need the hate crime bill  and other deceptive type legislations in order to do away with any future dissent. In this way we wont be able to criticize all the crazy plans such as maybe "unisex bathrooms" as mentioned and other wacky laws that will do away with our checks and balances orderly type of government that protects and cares for the whole People and not just selective groups. I will pray that most gays will see past the smoke screen and not allow themselves to be used for political elites to take down our beautiful country unlike any other in the world.  We are a  country of the People, by the People and of the People doing its best for the Whole group not just selectives or Internationalists.  

"They say there are 65,000

"They say there are 65,000 gays and lesbians serving in the military, and there are more than a million gay veterans, all of whom have "served our nation honorably."

 They say there are 65 gazillion working fathers in the world and more than a sectillion more retired who have served ther employers and families honorably.

 What the hell.  I can play with numbers too. 

Jack Cafferty

Old, Retired and glad of it.

Another lying CNN stooge using numbers he can't back up and he knows we can't disprove since there is a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. I'm sure glad the Communist News Network is never watched in this household. Are 100% of the 'stories' told by CNN disproved within hours or is it only 99.44/100%?

Insult

The Clinton News Network is an insult to the small amount of intelligence that I have.

Homosexual Steering Committee

I continue to see things I never contemplated I would ever see. A homosexual steering committee for Hillary Clinton is one.............as for that matter for anyone who is not historically Caligula or some inbred European royal.

I contend the numbers which Cafferty throws around of millions of homosexuals having served. Somehow these gay numbers always are in the millions when the numbers just do not pan out unless one is on one of those odd "rate me sites" where the tramp stamp people reside.

My real question for Cafferty is, "Would he like to be fondled in a foxhole where the only place on earth for you to hide is in that hole and your only recourse is to shoot a homosexual for attacking you?"

The military is not a body where individuals and sex are to be co mingled. Check some of the greatest defeats in military history and you see it comes from heterosexuals raping all the women and while sleeping it off the enemy rises up and slaughters them.

Soviet soldiers literally raped all the women in East Germany in 1945 and caused a social and economic disaster.

Sex and the military in any form does not work no more than Cafferty stating the military should be full of thieves who would go around pillaging nations.

I would like to know when it is going to be the question of the majority of military and civilian people who are fed up with this defining of sex perversion as a "race" of people getting away with things straight people never do. If a queer (Queen's English definition and usage) can serve, then straight people have the equal right to state they will not serve if they choose with a homosexual.

Whether Cafferty likes it or not like his homosexual lobby, queers are created and not born. It is environmental factors which turn out either inability to bond with the opposite sex or through molestation an unnatural affection or the same sex.
For some reason Cafferty doesn't equate that prisons are filled with violent people who have been exposed to homosexual attacks. Homosexuals as statistics prove reside in pedophilia.

In noting that, is that part of Cafferty's idea of not telling if one molests children too.........just where does the perversion stop with a liberal in what is acceptable.

Homosexuals need British treatment for their condition as the British are more advanced in pyschiatry in treating not just the mind, but the soul. In America, the only groups who come close to the British in understanding this are the Christian counsellors who are doing monumental work in..........turning homosexuals into heterosexuals.

Imagine that Cafferty. Ever seen a psychiatrist turn a white person into a black person?????? But here are counsellors turning queers into straight people..........just like straight children are turned into homosexuals by molestation and incorrect bonding with adults.

One can not run a Catholic religion with homosexuals running it as has been seen and one can not run a military with homosexuals running it. Thank God President Bush has flushed all of those political generals out and is building a military which actually is doing what it is designed to do in fighting wars and not being a homosexual camping trip.

Homosexuals need society's love and understanding and not war as they are already self inflicting enough taking suicidal ways out to end their misery.

Perhaps the most revealing in this is the question, Just why does Cafferty want homosexuals stuck into situations where they will be KILLED?????
Perhaps Cafferty is revealing something he does not want anyone to ask, but his stance like the Clinton's is to get homosexuals killed.

Liberals claim homophobia........when is Cafferty going to get the label of homocide as that is what he is advocating with passion.

 

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

The Homosexual Characteristic

Homosexuality should be characterized as a form of excessive/compulsive behavior.

It manifests itself by having an uncontrollable desire that is so overwhelming that they must tell the whole world of their sexual preference.

It is the primary characteristic of  homosexuality.

That is why the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy of the military is pure frustration to homosexuals because their uncontrollable desire to tell all is thwarted.

Obviously, the excessive/compulsive gene is not present in heterosexuals because I’ve yet to hear a ‘speech’ by a heterosexual general before a national TV audience during a presidential debate professing his heterosexuality.

I saw the word "homosexual"

and had to interject.... :p (That's really just an in-joke for Blonde, and well, okay, maybe Mouse too)

Pocomoco, you're sort of right about homosexuals. Never thought of that, but it's spot-on. They DO like to be public about their sexuality, and declare it... or more accurately, they like to just act and be more suggestive about sex out in the open, vs. heterosexuals. Of course, some more than others, but you can't deny that that's a real trait of theirs in general.

And to make it public and tell the world is a bit of a compulsive-type behavior, true.

 

"MY end justifies THAT mean." - Shakespeare (not really)

It manifests itself by

It manifests itself by having an uncontrollable desire that is so overwhelming that they must tell the whole world of their sexual preference.

That doesn't explaining the overwhelming number of people who for decades have been terrified of telling people that they're gay. 

 

An unprovable number is always 100% accurate

I'll tell you what, Jack. You take liberty with unprovable statistics, so I will too. You say 28 Generals and Admirals wrote to end the DADT policy, huh? Well, I have statistical proof that 280,004 Generals and Admirals are in the process of writing a letter supporting the DADT policy, and, as expected, it is just taking a very long time penning those 280,004 signatures to the letter, so be patient.

Besides that, I wonder if Jack has ever enjoyed being in a group barracks shower seeing a guy getting an erection watching the others. I have, and I suspect Jack might find it erotic, but we found it both disgusting and frightening.

 

Looks like Gay Anderson Cooper helped further his Agenda

‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2

The Power 50 The Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America

Anderson Cooper's Gay Timeline

The Agenda - which is attempting to normalize sexual disorders as normal sexual behavior. We disqualify those with mental disorders and other health disorders from serving so what is wrong with disqualifying those with sexual disorders? Until people start calling homosexuality what it is - a sexual disorder, it will continue to be propagandized as a normal form of sexual behavior.

The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource

Lest we forget, Clintoon's

Lest we forget, Clintoon's DADT policy was over the objections of the both the civilians and military of the Department of Defense.  Prior to Clintoon, it was a decision of the president to bar gays from serving in the military at all.  Congress made DADT law. And, by the way, if the other Clintoon is elected, she will ask Congress to repeal DADT and gays will be able to serve in the military openly.

Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of those actually in the military do not want gays in the military at all.  They only tolerate DADT. 

The prior policy of no gays in the military was there to ensure good order and discipline.  DADT only works because those that show outward signs or acts are cashiered out of the military. 

The facts are that NCOs and Officers have tremendous power and influence over the men and women serving in our military.  I know, I retired as a Colonel in the Army (my two sons are Army officers serving as I write this).  NCOs and Officers in the combat arms literally have the power of life and death to those under their command.  I can't imagine having somone in a position of power that is openly gay commanding our young men and women.

I am against DADT.  That is, gays should be banned from the military altogether.  That DADT should be repealed is outrageous.

I could not agree more.

I could not agree more.

Well Said

The Old Sailor agrees completely. If you've ever experienced life on board a U.S. Naval Vessel, you would too.

This former Army vet agrees

This former Army vet agrees completely. You must have implicit trust in your chain of command. Someone being openly gay DOES NOT inspire that level of trust, especially in war. The dems can try their social experiments elsewhere. Leave my brothers and sisters alone.

"That DADT should be repealed is outrageous"

This vet agrees with that and most of your post, jdhawk.

Also, something not discussed is that if DADT is repealed, enlistment will probably go down, not up...as those with stronger convictions stay away. 

Then what do we have, but a return to the draft? And I believe that's something the left wants, in order to make the military less conservative.

gay implies happy and it is clear that he's not that

After listening to Kerr's question and follow-up comments I was struck by his announcing his homosexuality only after he had retired from service. Isn't this evidence that "Don't ask, Don't tell" works?

Todd in State College,

Todd in State College, Pennsylvania: "If the government can tell businesses -- this is interesting -- that they cannot discriminate against employees or potential employees based on sexual orientation, then why can the government discriminate against employees of the American people?"

  How many businesses have their employees taking communal showers together and sleep in really close quarters together?

Exactly! It's not about

Exactly! It's not about "civil rights" or "phobias", it's about COMMON SENSE and COMMON DECENCY. Good grief. Should straight males get to shower and bunk with Miss America contestants? Please, please, we promise we won't be physically attracted to them... RIGHT! Well, our soldiers are the Mister Americas in this country, and common sense and decency dictates that gays should not be intermixed.

When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).

Or where the slightest

Or where the slightest breakdown in focus and discipline gets people killed.