Duckworth’s stand on ‘don’t ask’ questioned

Duckworth’s stand on ‘don’t ask’ questioned
By Louis Weisberg
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press


A spokeswoman for Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat running for Congress in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, denies reports that the candidate supports a bill seeking to overturn the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving in the Armed Forces.

A former major in the Army who lost both her legs in Iraq, Duckworth is listed by the Human Rights Campaign as a supporter of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which is pending in the House of Representatives. Duckworth gave a statement to HRC in which she said: “When I was serving in Iraq, it made no difference to me what the sexual orientation of my comrades was. It certainly did not matter to me what the sexual orientation was of the men or women who helped save my life after my Black Hawk helicopter was shot downÉ.Any qualified American who is willing to make that kind of sacrifice for our freedom should be free to do so.”

Based on those words, “It seemed pretty clear to everyone involved on our side that her statement seemed to be one of support for lesbian and gay service members,” Steve Ralls, spokesman for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, told the Daily Herald. His organization put out a press release Aug. 2 praising Duckworth for that support.

But Duckworth campaign spokeswoman Christine Glunz told the Daily Herald that “the press release is incorrect.” She said, “Tammy has not expressed strong support for repealing ‘don’t ask.’ É I think she only supports a repeal if it was deemed appropriate by military commanders of the Armed Forces.”

The Duckworth campaign stands by the statement she gave HRC. “I’m glad to see that she’s sticking by her original thoughts on the matter,” Ralls said.

But Duckworth’s position on the bill to overturn “don’t ask” remains unclear. As of press time, Glunz had not returned calls to the Chicago Free Press seeking clarification.

Duckworth is vying with state Sen. Peter Roskam to fill the seat of retiring long-term Republican congressman Henry Hyde in Illinois’ sixth congressional district. Roskam, a staunch social conservative, supports the military ban.

The 6th District, which includes Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Lombard, Addison, Wheaton and Mt. Prospect, has been solidly Republican in the past. But changing demographics coupled with voter discontent over the war in Iraq have created what Democratic strategists see as an opportunity.

Duckworth was recruited to run for the office by U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) and was heavily promoted in a close primary contest by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)