FDF Applauds Bi-Partisan Senate Vote Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

WASHINGTON, DC - Timothy F. Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Frederick
Douglass Foundation, today applauded the Senate Republicans and two Democrats who opposed the defense bill that included repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law before a Pentagon study is even completed regarding the matter.

"The Democrat leadership in the Senate has chosen to play politics with defense
funding for our troops in combat, by adding controversial amendments regarding
Don't Ask, Don't Tell and amnesty for illegal immigrants," Timothy Johnson said.

"This is simply a ploy to energize their liberal base before an election. The
Pentagon has not even completed a study regarding how allowing gays to openly
serve would affect military readiness, and Democratic leadership seems to be
disregarding how our troops in combat will react to such a change."

Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor joined all Republicans in opposing the measure. And neither of Maine's Republican Sens. Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe supported advancing it.

"I speak on this issue as a 21-year veteran of our military, who understands the
importance of unit cohesion in a time of war. We cannot impose this policy
without truly studying the effects this change would have on our soldiers. And
as an American, a Christian, and a veteran, I wholeheartedly oppose repealing
this policy."

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