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Senators Clinton, Obama, say “Homosexuality is Moral” While Brownback Publicly Supports General Pace

By Gudrun Schultz

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama entered the media furor yesterday over comments General Peter Pace, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made against homosexuality last week, with both issuing statements saying, “I do not think homosexuality is immoral.”

Clinton and Obama made the statements after a homosexual activist group attacked “Democratic candidates” for failing to oppose General Pace’s comments that he believes homosexuality to be “immoral.” The general told the Chicago Tribune Monday, “I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts.”

“Well, I’ve heard from a number of my friends, and I’ve certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely,” Sen. Clinton told Bloomberg News. “I do not think homosexuality is immoral.”

Sen. Clinton said she opposed the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy towards homosexuality —one of the first policies instituted by her husband during his presidency-- that does not ask candidates to the military about their sexual orientation, but requires that they keep their sexuality private and do not engage in homosexual activity.

Sen. Obama released a statement Thursday, saying, “I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral.”

Earlier in the week both Clinton and Obama had avoided a direct response to General Pace’s comments, when pressed by the media. Clinton told an ABC reporter who asked whether homosexuality was immoral, “Well, I am going to leave that to others to conclude.”

That led to an attack from homosexual activist Jo Wyrick, executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats, who said Thursday that, “most Democrats understand, and should understand, that morality isn’t derived from sexual orientation or gender identity,” Cybercast News Service reported.

"We expect Democratic candidates and elected officials to reaffirm those same values, to speak up when families or individuals are scapegoated or maligned for political gain, and to proactively argue the benefits of treating all Americans equally under the law without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity," Wyrick warned.

Meanwhile, Senator Sam Brownback released a letter March 14 in support of General Peter Pace, to be circulated among his Senate colleagues for signatures. The letter states the signatories’ support for General Pace against criticism from media and activist groups, Christian Newswire reported March 14.

“[W]e we applaud General Pace for maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles.  He has demonstrated great leadership during a very difficult time and he continues to do so today.,” the letter states.

“[W]e should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues.  In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views.  We should be concerned if they do not have strong convictions on key issues.”

“The question is whether personal moral beliefs should disqualify an individual from positions of leadership in the U.S. military?  We think not.  General Pace's recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have received.”

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

General Pace - Chair of US Joint Chiefs of Staff: “homosexual acts…are immoral”
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/mar/07031304.html

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