GOP Senators Inhofe and Wicker Introduce Bill Prohibiting Gays from Marrying on Military Bases by Extending DOMA

GOP Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have introduced a bill prohibiting same-sex marriages on military bases by extending DOMA, and allowing military chaplains to opt out of conducting such ceremonies.

Think Progress explains:

The bill has two provisions. The first allows military chaplains to opt out of performing same-sex commitment ceremonies if they object for “reasons of conscience.” This is completely redundant, because the Pentagon made quite clear after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was lifted that no chaplain would ever be required to perform a ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs. This measure serves as cover for the bill’s other provision, which extends the Defense of Marriage Act to prohibits same-sex marriage or “marriage-like ceremonies” from taking place at military facilities, even in states where such commitments would be legally recognized. Inhofe’s statement exemplifies this spin:

INHOFE: President Obama and his administration are dismissing their responsibility to uphold the law of the land by unilaterally deeming DOMA unworthy of enforcement. At the same time, since the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, they have begun to pressure military chaplains to fall in line with their liberal same-sex marriage agenda. This bill protects military chaplains from being forced to go against their conscience and religious beliefs in regard to this issue. This is something the chaplains that serve this country need and deserve.

Republican Lawmakers Rip Pentagon for Allowing Troops to March in Uniform in Gay Pride Parade

Two senior Republicans on the House and Senate Armed Services committees are incensed that the Pentagon granted a special one-time dispensation to troops allowing them to march in uniform in the San Diego Gay Pride Parade, The Hill reports:

Said Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) in a statement:

I am calling on the DoD to halt these dangerous exceptions to policy for political purposes. This decision was an outrageous and blatantly political determination issued solely to advance this Administration’s social agenda. Sadly, this is yet another violation in what has become a pattern of this Administration’s assault on the longstanding history of the Department of Defense as a nonpolitical organization.

Rep. James Inhofe (R-OK) is also incensed and wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta:

"If the Navy can punish a chaplain for participating in a pro-life event or a Marine participating in a political rally, it stands to reason that DOD should maintain the same standard and preclude service members in uniform from marching in a gay-pride parade. I respectfully request a detailed explanation of the rationale you used to grant this ‘one-time waiver’ of DOD policy, who requested the waiver, why this waiver was considered justified over other requests, and whether you are considering other exceptions to current policy.”

Watch troops discuss what marching in uniform meant to them HERE.

Rachel Maddow Throws Down with Senator Inhofe About His Ties to Anti-Gay Evangelism in Africa: VIDEO

Rachel Maddow interviews conservative Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) about his book The Greatest Hoax and in the second part of her interview confronts him about portions of his book in which he had called her out for a show she did in 2009.

The show she refers to is one about Christian evangelical group The Family and its ties to the Ugandan "kill the gays" bill and anti-gay evangelism in Africa.

Maddow asks Inhofe if he wants to comment publicly on the "kill the gays" bill for the first time.

Replies Inhofe: "Are you saying, Rachel, that I am for executing gays?"

Inhofe claims he doesn't know anything about the executions of gays. tells Rachel to stop getting hysterical, and demands to talk about the EPA brainwashing children.

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Senator Inhofe Describes Bin Laden Photos

Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) was first in line to see the photos of Osama bin Laden's corpse.

Shortly thereafter he went to FOX, CNN, and ABC to tell them about it.

Watch him talk to Shepard Smith, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Inhofe Warns of 'Open Gay Activity' After DADT Repeal

Here's a clip of Senator James Inhofe's (R-OK) Values Voters Summit speech against gays in the military I posted about this morning.

Inhofe urged those who were listening to call their senators and tell them to vote against the DADT repeal.

"Your message is this. Vote 'no'. And if you vote 'yes' you are voting for open gay activity in the military and you're voting for abortions in our hospitals."

Regarding abortions, Inhofe is referring to a separate amendment that repeals the prohibition in the use of private funds to pay for abortion care in military hospitals.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Senator Inhofe Blasts 'Open Gays' in Military at Values Voters Summit

Senator James Inhofe, who gave a tedious and bigoted floor speech against DADT repeal earlier this week, just spoke at the Values Voters Summit (which you can watch LIVE here), and addressed DADT again.

Politico reports:

"I was an Army veteran, and I don’t have to tell any of the veterans in this room here the problems you’d have with open gays in the military," Inhofe told the audience at the Values Voter Summit Friday morning.

Inhofe didn't offer any more details, only declaring that the military is not the place to institute a "liberal agenda."

Inhofe used his speech to rally conservatives against overturning DADT.

"Your job is to call up these people and make sure they know what your message is ... and your message is to vote no," he said.