A Republican lawmaker called President Obama “intolerant” and discriminatory for objecting to a measure that would expand rights for military members to express their faiths.
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert railed against the White House during a press conference with the Family Research Council on Friday for the administration’s opposition to an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.
“It seems like the only group that is politically correct to be intolerant of are Christians, who have such a profound effect on the founding of this country, including about a third of the signers of the Declaration of Independence being ordained ministers,” he said, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“If this administration is going to tolerate this kind of intolerance, they are going to lose members of the military that cannot serve if their First Amendment rights aren’t going to be protected with regard to religion.”
The White House last month said it “strongly objects” to the amendment, which it said limits “the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units,” and that it would negatively impact “good order, discipline, morale and mission accomplishment.”
The American Civil Liberties Union also opposes the amendment, saying it could give a stamp of approval to military discrimination against “lesbian, gay and bisexual service members, women [and] religious minorities,” the Hill reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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