"Mike Huckabee shows why he’s an absolute jerk with response to appointment of first gay Army secretary"

2015-09-22T09:25:56-04:00

From: Salon

More than two decades of experience working on military policy, serving as chief of staff under Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon and serving as the undersecretary for the Air Force are apparently not sufficient enough accomplishments to prevent Republican presidential candidates from demeaning your promotion to Secretary of the Army if you are gay.

On Friday, President Obama announced the historic appointment of Eric Fanning to become the first openly gay civilian secretary of any branch of the military. Fanning was described by Defense Secretary Ash Carter as “one of our country’s most knowledgeable, dedicated, and experienced public servants,” but that did not stop former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee from denouncing Fanning’s appointment as pandering to “America’s homosexuals.”

“Homosexuality is not a job qualification,” the right-wing candidate wrote on Facebook following Fanning’s appointment, denouncing “social experiments” in the military. As the Washington Post notes, the Obama administration has six openly gay ambassadors; a gay man serving as the first special envoy to promote global LGBT rights; five transgender men and women who have served in federal agencies, and a full-time transgender staffer in the White House.

“It’s clear President Obama is more interested in appeasing America’s homosexuals than honoring America’s heroes,” the Huckster surmised:

Below is Gov. Huckabee’s statement in response to President Obama’s decision to nominate Eric Fanning as Secretary of…

Posted by Mike Huckabee on Saturday, September 19, 2015

According to CNN, Fanning’s nomination was also questioned by Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, who told evangelical Iowans at this weekend’s Faith and Freedom forum that he worried Fanning’s nomination was meant to serve as a “political statement” from the President.

“I certainly hope that the secretary of the Army is being nominated because the President wants the right person to defend our nation and not because he is looking to make a political statement on issues of sexual orientation unrelated to defending this nation and keeping us safe,” Cruz said. “But as I said, I will wait until his confirmation hearing to assess his record on the merits.”

Fanning’s nomination now awaits confirmation by Cruz and his Senate colleagues.

http://www.salon.com/2015/09/21/mike_huckabee_shows_why_hes_an_absolute_jerk_with_response_to_appointment_of_first_gay_army_secretary/

Mike Huckabee shows why he’s an absolute jerk with response to appointment of first gay Army...

"Homosexuality is not a job qualification" Huckabee says of a man with over 25 years of military policy experience

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Sep 22 at 2015 9:35 AM

2015-09-22T09:35:50-04:00

Not at all...the timing does seem a little too coincidental that he is the best qualified. Huckabee shows courage to not pander to political correctness.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 22 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-09-22T09:49:52-04:00

You can question the timing, you can question his sexuality, but you cannot question his resume, and that alone speaks volumes. The man is qualified. Did his sexuality have to be mentioned no, but had the administration not said something first, and it still came out (which in DC it would), they would've been called out for saying it. This is the same crap when Eric Holder was nominated for AG...Obama's only asking for him because he's black. Not because he had a solid resume. And his replacement for AG, female and black...don't look at the resume and see that she also was very qualified. Or with the invitations for meeting the Pope. Out of 15k people invited, the focus is on the few that aren't "normal". Huckabee there's so many more pressing issues in America than worrying about race, sexual orientation, religion, and a myriad of other things. BTW how did your standing with Josh Duggar work out? He shared you uber conservative Christian views and wasn't a sinner was he? Hoe about the KY Clerk? Worry about governing ALL and placing the best person for the job in there. But at the same time, if it wasn't for affirmative action, in some ways these glass ceilings wouldn't be crushed.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 9:50 AM

2015-09-22T09:50:16-04:00

For far too long, being gay has been considered to be an automatic DISqualifier for a lot of things. Now they're saying 'See, he's gay, and he got here. Sexual orientation really doesn't matter" and the typical ones who are up in arms about it are giving the usual smokescreen.... Give it a rest.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Sep 22 at 2015 12:28 PM

2015-09-22T12:28:43-04:00

Who is the chicken shit admin that deleted my comment about this post? I can repost it until you delete my sign on. if you like.

Can you at least put it in the form of a question and feign some sort of impartiality? I am not a supporter of Huckabee's but the title of the post is the type of red meat RP management complains about all of the time. I know the title is Salon's title but that is no cover for you. Man up RP admin.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 22 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-09-22T12:31:50-04:00

I'll just repost my comment from another thread about this subject ...

"Although it is true that, technically, whether he is straight or gay should not matter, there is no doubt that the fact he is gay is the predominant reason why Obama selected him. It is just another demonstrated disdain for the military by the President. He purposely picked a gay man to stick it to the military."

Although he is probably qualified, I think there are probably a great many equally or more qualified candidates who are not gay. Obama is clearly pushing his immoral LGBT agenda on the military by this appointment. It disgusts me...

Response by SFC Keith Bailey made Sep 22 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-09-22T12:41:57-04:00

Have not seen his resume but it would appear that he has plenty of experience for the job. As long as he is fair and impartial in his decisions and is not pushing an agenda that most Americans frankly are sick of hearing about. There have always been homosexuals in the Military. It is now acceptable to be open about it. I am not sure that it is a bad thing. Some of the best Soldiers I had were homosexual. No I did not turn them in. I always felt that every qualified American had a right to serve.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Sep 22 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-09-22T12:53:23-04:00

Ignorance and intolerance knows no bounds!

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Sep 22 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-09-22T14:30:02-04:00

I think we are getting to the point that we don't care about first-timers & specifically here that the new secretary is gay. Want to be treated equal? We don't need to have sexuality as part of your title. We want someone who is qualified. We want someone who can handle the job. Period. Remember the Secret Service scandal with the hooker? The administration demanded the next boss for the Secret Service be a woman. #1 qualifier. We see how poorly she turned out to be. Her priority was to make the WH more accessible & pleasant to visit. Could have gotten POTUS killed on several occasions. Stop with the bigotry, racism, & sexism of making someone the first of their kind. We want people who produce results. That's it. I don't like Huckabee by the way.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 22 at 2015 3:12 PM

2015-09-22T15:12:20-04:00

Huckleberry ...I am THRILLED that the CinC is PUSHING the LGBT Agenda. “A more perfect union…” PUSH the agenda MORE PUSH the agenda MORE!!! (OOOPS). I get a tickle in my heart when I read some of the only slightly vailed homophobic and mysogenistic comments here. I love them! Like a few of my favorite commenters (you know who you are). But I don’t hit and run. I plunk my fat butt down in front of the PC and get a solid laugh at the end of the day. I am just glad that some many salty old war horses here have gone to pasture. I served on AD in the very late 1980s and 1990s and remember well that zero-defect Army. But that Army is GONE GONE. We got LGBT soldiers and Women in combat… Some of you might remember LODDY DODDY EVERYBODY – and it’s a fact that there’s PLENTY of COMPETENT LGBT Warriors who step up when Uncle Sam asks. I am PROUD to have a GAY Leader of the DoD be nominated and HOPEFULLY APPOINTED! I just wish I hadn’t retired before being able to come out.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 22 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-09-22T17:56:55-04:00

Huckabee's a jackass. Of course the nomination is political.

Response by 1SG Jack Crutcher made Sep 22 at 2015 7:43 PM

2015-09-22T19:43:39-04:00

Huckabee was a jerk before this guy was appointed.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 10:29 PM

2015-09-22T22:29:22-04:00

Eric Fanning is more qualified to be Secretary of the Army than Mike Huckabee is to be President.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 23 at 2015 12:09 AM

2015-09-23T00:09:17-04:00

Mr Huckabee needs to live and let live... I have enough to worry about in my own life to be concerned with the lives of others

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Sep 23 at 2015 7:11 AM

2015-09-23T07:11:41-04:00

RallyPoint Shared Content Huckster is an ignorant, prejudiced, homophobic bigot who hides behind religion. Just a grifter.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 8:55 AM

2015-09-23T08:55:37-04:00

The first and only time I ever saw the act of sodomy being perpetrated, I was pulling battalion CQ (runner) and was counting troops in a open bay. Couldn't find two, and the fire guard said two were in the latrine. Yes they were. They were apprehended, and offered a general discharge in lieu of court martial, and the were drummed out. The Army was a better place because they were gone. Now days, we celebrate sodomy in the services, and redirect health and morale fund for pride days, and now offer high positions of leadership to homosexuals. We are doomed.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 10:23 PM

2015-09-23T22:23:29-04:00

I agree with Huckabee and only time will tell about his work as Secy of the Army....

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 10:35 PM

2015-09-24T22:35:18-04:00

My goodness, doesn't Rallypoint know that this was most likely announced this way in order to get this reaction while at the same time most likely doing exactly what these candidates have surmised. Why else announce that he was "gay"? Let's get over this already. We don't announce when someone's obese, or more appropriately when they are straight. We don't announce when someone has a love for peanut butter. I love barbecue, should I be announced as Barbeque Loving MSG? No. I have been known to have a led foot. If I was appointed to a position should the media report that I've had more tickets in 5 states than most people have at all? Sensationalism folks.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 2:25 AM

2015-09-26T02:25:20-04:00

Doesn't really matter to me. I thought John McGugh was gay based on his picture. Government employees are usually fat and ugly.

Response by SP5 Ford Ross made Sep 26 at 2015 4:10 PM

2015-09-26T16:10:36-04:00

Hmm..would I have a large focus problem if any female or a homosechual male were in the foxhole with me. FUBAR I won't do what you tell me...

Obama has vastly changed the face of the federal bureaucracy

Women, minorities and gay Americans are now occupy top posts in record numbers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2015 10:25 AM

2015-09-27T10:25:25-04:00

Why would his sexual orientation become a headline anyway. Does it matter in the performance of his position? What reasons are there to mention anything about his sexuality? Political maneuvering to gain headlines by those in Liberal politics, political maneuvering to gain coverage by Presidential Candidates and the news media industry gains viewership through attention grabbing headlines.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Sep 28 at 2015 1:36 AM

2015-09-28T01:36:32-04:00

I agree with his point. It shouldn't matter what his orientation is. Actually it should be one of those things that are not asked on applications for jobs along with race, age, and religious affiliation.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 8:59 AM

2015-09-28T08:59:48-04:00

Fanning handled business recently as the Under Secretary of the USAF. I'm sure he'd do the same working with the Army. Politicians need to worry about whatever their job is suppose to be and let the military take care of business with the bare minimum amount of their input possible.

I'm just glad to see they are picking someone with applicable experience! They should do that with all the jobs in D.C.!

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Nov 19 at 2015 5:48 PM

2015-11-19T17:48:14-05:00

I've known gay people all of my life. No big deal. What I hate about any group is when they want to be equal yet have to make a big deal about how they are different. It goes for the current political & social atmosphere too. I don't care if you are gay or straight, white, black, green, Muslim, Atheist, some sort of Christian, etc. Are you a good person? Can you do the job you are tasked to do? Are you a back-stabber? Do you have my back if we get knee deep in alligators & hand-grenades? If you want to be equal or accepted, then be ready to deal with being mediocre. You are much more of a person than your sexuality, religion, color, ethnicity, or whatever. All I care about is Ash Carter qualified for his job? Does he have the right personality & stones to interact & act out to be an effective leader? Does he have jeuvos to tell political heads to butt out that they don't know what they are doing but that he certainly knows what is right for the country, the US military, & especially those going in harms way?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-12-18T08:37:38-05:00

“Homosexuality is not a job qualification,”

I agree with that statement.

A persons sexual orientation does not belong on a resume and should not have anything to do with how well they can or can not perform a job.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 18 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-12-18T08:44:59-05:00

“Homosexuality is not a job qualification,” I agree. So what's the issue again?