Our Question for Senator Scott Brown

Senator Scott Brown [R-MA] sent this e-mail, Our Petition to Harvard, to his supporters September 29:

Friend,

Recently, I pointed out the irony of Harvard's policy banning ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) from campus but welcoming illegal immigrant students.

I believe Harvard's priorities are upside-down. We should embrace and honor students who want to serve their country's military, not reject them. Since criticizing Harvard last week, I have heard from many of you that share my same frustration and I have decided to take action.

We are launching a petition to send a strong message to Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust to stop excluding ROTC from the Harvard campus. I recognize that Harvard is a private institution and they have the right to determine, and pursue, their own policies. We too have a right to free speech and you can exercise this right by signing this petition to send a message to Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust.

I respect Harvard and the pre-eminent role it has in the field of higher education. That is why it's important that it shows its respect for students training to be officers in the military.

Thanks for signing the petition to help turn Harvard right side-up!

Your Senator,

Scott Brown

P.S. We have a September 30 deadline to report publicly how much money we have raised - your contribution today will sustain a strong campaign for my reelection battle.

OYE Comment:

We agree with Senator Brown that Harvard and other elite universities should welcome ROTC back to campus. In fact, supporting their fair-minded graduates in serving our nation in uniform will do more to get rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - in fact as well as in law - than their current avoidance strategy. [Except for its relevance to military service, immigration policy is off-topic.]

However, Senator Brown passed up an excellent opportunity to bring about ROTC's return to Harvard on September 21, when he joined other Republicans to continue to filibuster the Defense Authorization bill including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Perhaps Senator Brown's real concern is campaign fundraising, not "respect for students training to be officers in [our] military."

So, here's our question:

Senator Brown, given your recent vote NOT to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," do you want to "embrace and honor [all] students who want to serve [our] country's military," or just the heterosexual ones?