washington watch

Chronicle reader John Wayne Parrish sent along this from former SC Congressman Trey Gowdy. He was responding to a question from a CNN reporter about the ban of transgender individuals from the armed forces. As Gowdy does well, he nailed it succinctly, Parrish said.

How can President Trump claim to represent all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation in banning transgenders from joining the military?” the CNN reporter asked. Isn’t that discrimination? Trey Gowdy responded: “Nobody has a right to serve in the military. Nobody! What makes you people think the military is an equal opportunity employer? It is very far from it and for good reasons – let me cite a few: “The military uses prejudice regularly and consistently to deny citizens from joining for being too old or too young, too fat or too skinny, too tall or too short. “Citizens are denied for having flat feet, or for missing or additional fingers. By the way, poor eyesight will disqualify you, as well as bad teeth. Malnourished? Drug addiction? Bad back? Criminal history? Low IQ? Anxiety? Phobias? Hearing damage? “Hear voices in your head? Self-identification as a unicorn? Need a special access ramp for your wheelchair? “Can’t run the required course in the required time? Can’t do the required number of push-ups? Not really a morning person and refuse to get out of bed before noon? “All can be legitimate reasons for denial”

“The military has one job: Winning wars. Anything else is a distraction and a liability. Did someone just scream, ‘That isn’t fair’? War is very unfair. There are no exceptions made for being special or challenged or socially wonderful. You must change yourself to meet military standards and not the other way around. “I say again: You don’t change the military. You must change yourself. “The military is not about being fair. It is about taking advantage of others and about winning wars. “The military doesn’t need to accommodate anyone with special issues. The military needs to win wars and keep our Country safe - PERIOD! “If any of your personal issues are a liability that detract from readiness or reality... Thank you for applying and good luck in future endeavors. “Any other questions?”