Obama Pick for Army Would Be First Openly Gay Service Chief

Today, HRC reacted to Mike Huckabee after Huckabee said today that President Obama was “more interested in appeasing gays”, in nominating Eric Fanning to lead the Army. Our lack of military readiness and veterans suicides, that Mr. Huckabee claims are not being honored in this appointment, are not policies of Eric’s or the Obama Administration they were left over from eight years of President George W. Bush’s presidency. Fanning now serves as the Army’s acting under secretary.

Huckabee stated, [relevant exchange begins around 1:10] “Listen, he may be very qualified for the job, and if he is, then nominate him because he’s qualified to lead the Army, not because of sexual orientation”. “The US military is created to keep Americans safe and complete combat missions, not conduct social experiments”, Huckabee added.

In the 1990s, he was on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee and later a special assistant in the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has welcomed Fanning’s nomination, saying, “I know he will strengthen our Army, build on its best traditions and prepare our ground forces to confront a new generation of challenges”.

In a statement released by his campaign, the former Arkansas governor accused Obama of prioritising the demands of homosexuals rather than strengthening the United States military by nominating Eric Fanning, an openly gay man, to be the Army’s top official. Obama also signed the law that ended that policy against lesbians and gays to serve in the military service.

One small step for Eric Fanning will be a giant leap for LGBT rights.

Because he was in an acting, or temporary, role as Army undersecretary, Fanning did not face a Senate confirmation vote before assuming that post on June 30.

It is unbecoming of a presidential candidate to attack someone on a personal basis like this.

Huckabee is hardly the only person paying attention to Fanning’s sexuality – it’s true that this is the first time an openly gay man will fill this role, and that has certainly earned some notice.

Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in on Fanning’s nomination Saturday at the Faith and Freedom presidential forum in Iowa, where he said he hoped Obama isn’t looking to “make a political statement” in picking his new Army chief.