Americans support end of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
Re: Obama considers fast appeal of gays-military order,” Oct. 14
It is not surprising that Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, would urge Congress to reject U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips’ decision declaring the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy unconstitutional. Perkins has always opposed equal rights for gays and lesbians.
However, he is being dishonest when he implies that Judge Phillips somehow went against the wishes of the American people in making her decision. Polls consistently show that a large majority of Americans want to end DADT, including a majority of Republicans and conservatives.
It’s a travesty that Mr. Perkins always tries to use the Constitution to promote government discrimination against people he doesn’t like, and it’s shameful that so many Republicans in Congress continue to submit to his bullying rather than listen to the American people. The Constitution was written to protect rights, not as an excuse to violate them.
David Lampo
President,
Log Cabin Republican Club of Virginia
Article unfairly targets District’s former IT director
Re: “Gray eyes ex-technology officer for city administrator,” Oct. 12
Freeman Klopott’s inflammatory, reckless and wildly inaccurate story unfairly attacks former D.C. IT director Suzanne Peck and appears to have been written for no other reason than to malign her reputation and character. Lindsay Lohan has a troubled past. Suzanne Peck does not.
Peck is possibly the most widely regarded government IT official in the nation. She served in this region for more than a decade — eight years with Mayor Anthony Williams as head of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, and more recently with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Klopott has his facts and dates mixed up. There were no scandals or major incidents on her watch. The FBI investigation of OCTO — which lead to the arrest of Yusef Acar — began in May 2008. Peck left OCTO in December 2006, and cannot be blamed for what happened a year and a half later.
Peck’s transformation of the District’s IT operation — from the DC.gov Web site, to interoperability for emergency responders, to state-of-the-art computers for agencies and departments — are a lasting testimony to her competence. Those of us who worked with her can attest to her integrity and professionalism.
Tony Bullock
Former communications director,
D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams
Another use for Rhee’s famous broom
Re: “Michelle Rhee resigns” cartoon, Oct. 14
Nate Beeler depicts Ms. Rhee as Super”man.” I would like to suggest that on Oct. 31, Mr. Beeler depict her flying out of Washington on the same broom she was holding on the cover of Time magazine many moons ago.
Thank you for revealing the many faces of Ms. Rhee during her 3 1/2 years in the District.
Stephen Roberts
Washington
