Todd Starnes keeps pushing myth that Christians are persecuted in the military
Todd Starnes, closet case extraordinaire for Fox “News,” continues to push the discredited and deeply stupid myth that the repeal of DADT has led to the persecution of Christians in the military. This time, he takes up the case of one Air Force Sergeant Philip Monk, and does great violence to the truth in the process:
Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes repeated the discredited myth that the post-Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) military is persecuting Christians, citing the case of an anti-gay airman who castigated his Air Force superiors to the media as evidence.
In a September 6 column for foxnews.com, Starnes reported that Sgt. Phillip Monk “is now facing a formal investigation” after inaccurately telling Starnes last month that he was relieved of his duties because he told his openly lesbian commander that he opposed same-sex marriage.
Officials at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio said that Monk and his commander had simply “agreed to disagree,” adding “the wing commander said there was no punishment” for Monk’s comments. Base officials stated that Monk was relieved of his duties because he was at the end of his assignment - not because of his views on LGBT issues. That didn’t stop Monk from blasting the Air Force in his August interview with Starnes:
“I was relieved of my position because I don’t agree with my commander’s position on gay marriage,” Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk told Fox News. “We’ve been told that if you publicly say that homosexuality is wrong, you are in violation of Air Force policy.”
[…]
“I was essentially fired for not validating my commander’s position on having an opinion about homosexual marriage,” he said.
Monk said he is brokenhearted over the way the military has treated him.
[…]
“The narrative is that you cannot say anything that contradicts Air Force policy.”
He said in essence, Christians are trading places with homosexuals.
That’s right. You saw it coming a mile away…Christians being persecuted by teh gayz.
Problem is…well…it isn’t true:
Try as Starnes might to depict the investigation of Monk as an all-out assault on conservative Christians in the military, it’s clear that Monk’s harsh words for his Air Force superiors may well have breached military regulations on soldiers’ conduct. Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits soldiers from engaging in speech or actions “of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.” Going to the media with unfounded allegations that the Air Force is retaliating against Christians would likely merit an investigation under Article 134.
Derp.
More: Fox’s Todd Starnes: ‘Christians Are Trading Places With Homosexuals’ in the Military