Gen. James Mattis Refuses to Say if he's Against Female and LGBT Service Members

[DonViejo]

Source: Mediaite


by David Bixenspan | 1:37 pm, January 12th, 2017

On Thursday, during Gen. James Mattis‘s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) challenged him on comments he had made in the past. Specifically, she tried to quiz him on past comments about women, homosexuals, and transgender men and women in the military, but when he responded, he wasn’t giving direct answers to her questions.

Gillibrand asked Mattis if he stood by his comments that mixing both genders in the military has never worked anywhere in world history, comparing it to mixing different types of eros. “Senator, I was not in a position to go back into government when I made those statements,” the retired general replied. “I’m coming in with the understanding that I lead the Department of Defense, and if someone brings mea a problem, then I’ll look at it, but I’m not coming in looking for problems. I’m looking for ways to get the department so that it’s at its most lethal…stance.” In summation, he said he was looking at “military readiness.”

When asked directly if he no longer believes that men and women serving together is a problem, Mattis just said that we need to “train our leaders so they could handle things that come from a policy that decided this down.” GIllibrand then followed up by asking if, in light of comments he made in his book and on the subsequent book tour, if he feels that “openly serving homosexuals along with women in combat units is undermining our force.” Like rarlier, he said that he was only prepared to do anything if a problem was brought to his attention, but when Gillibrand asked if he thought it was “undermining our lethality,” he said he didn’t care about “two consenting adults and who they go to bed with.”

Asked if that was a no, he gave a long response that didn’t answer the question. When Gillibrand tried to get a clearer response for the record, her time expired.

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Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/mattis-refuses-to-say-if-hes-against-female-and-lgbt-service-members/

[onecaliberal]

1. Despicable

[samir.g]

2. There is no way that this 'mad dog' should be confirmed!

[yeoman6987]

6. I know the senate sub group voted to give him the exemption

But when it went to the whole senate, I never heard if the exemption passed. If he doesn't get the exemption, he's done.

[Eugene]

9. The full Senate voted 81-17 to grant the waiver.

The House votes as early as tomorrow.

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-01-12/senate-approves-waiver-to-allow-james-mattis-as-pentagon-chief

[yeoman6987]

10. Wow. Didn't think it'd be that much of a spred.

[sdfernando]

3. The way you treat this is instead of asking "Is that a no?"

Make a statement saying: "OK, so that is a NO".

That way they have to either acquiesce or they have to speak up and then it isn't a no, or a qualified no..either way you have your answer.

[SteamAddict]

4. I believe he has already said it.

"He argued that if women are allowed in combat units, the mission will be compromised by “eros,” or sexual desire."

He is a typical throwback bigoted thug.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/trumps-defense-secretary-push-women-back-combat/

"It sayze in tha Bible!"

[BigDemVoter]

5. That means he's vehemently against it.

Hateful motherfucker.

[Feeling the Bern]

7. He sidestepped, delayed, and pandered. He answered the questions with a non-denial denial.

[DK504]

8. Hey Lookie

Another person completely unfit to hold a dog catchers license.

[niyad]

11. and there are people defending this guy as something slightly better in drumpfy's camp?

[Calista241]

12. People can take what they want from 7+ hours of testimony

Mattis, 66, was grilled by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a confirmation hearing about his past comments that questioned whether integrated military service could be successful. The retired general said Thursday that he would follow the Pentagon policy changes made in December 2015 that allow women into combat occupational specialties, after years of front-line duty in other positions.

“I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military,” Mattis said.


https://www.stripes.com/news/us/mattis-backs-women-in-combat-nato-alliance-1.448599