Yesterday’s Republican CNN/YouTube debate was a hoot. That wacky Mike Huckabee really cracks me up. But the laughs came to an abrupt halt when Duncan Hunter answered a question about why he thinks that “American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians:”

“…I believe in what Colin Powell said when he said that having openly homosexual people serving in the ranks would be bad for unit cohesion. The reason for that, even though people point to the Israelis and point to the Brits and point to other people as having homosexuals serve, is that most Americans, most kids who leave that breakfast table and go out and serve in the military and make that corporate decision with their family, most of them are conservatives. They have conservative values, and they have Judeo-Christian values. To force those people to work in a small tight unit with somebody who is openly homosexual goes against what they believe to be their principles, and it is their principles, is I think a disservice to them. I agree with Colin Powell that it would be bad for unit cohesion.”

Homosezwhat?!?! In just a few sentences Hunter dissed half the military, half of conservatives, and half of Americans who self-identify as Jewish or Christian. Most who join the military are conservative? Most conservatives have the same principles? Most Americans with Judeo-Christian values are conservatives?

Wake up, Duncan Hunter. You know that at least half the country does not self-identify as conservative but you’re still trying to tell us is that no one from that half is in the military or attends a church or synagogue weekly?

The U.S. Military must remain non-partisan and non-political, but based on the simple common sense that Hunter’s pea brain lacks, the percentages of conservatives versus liberals in the military can probably be broken down in the same way as everything else in this country. Military Service may favor one party over another slightly but not by the large majority that would allow him to use the descriptive “most.” In fact, it’s probably a lot like the breakdown of those in the Federal Government who served and “most” in either direction most definitely doesn’t apply.

Military Service in the US House of Representatives by Party:

• Republicans with military service: 13%
• Democrats with military service: 10%

Military Service in the United States Senate by Party:

• Republicans with military service: 16%
• Democrats with military service: 13%

PS: The myth of a conservative America has been debunked, by the way.

This post was written by Mary Mancini