Opinion: Christine O’Donnell - Chris Coons debate: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ and abortion
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The first student questions regarded whether the candidates would support the repeal of the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy and about abortion.
Chris Coons on the military policy: Yes. ‘I would move swiftly as a senator to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ It’s discimination, pure and simple. In my view, we should be making progress in this country ... recognizing the full range of human experience.’ The repeal, he said, would be ‘an important next step in the American civil rights movement.
Christine O’Donnell on the military policy: No. ‘It’s up to the military to set the policy that the military believes is best for unit cohesiveness and military readiness.’ The military, she said, ‘already regulates behavior.It doesn’t allow affairs if you’re married ... I don’t think that Congress should be enforcing a social agenda onto our military.’
On abortion rights, O’Donnell is against and Coons is for, with a nuance.
‘I am personally opposed to abortion,’ he said, ‘but it is not my place to put that restriction on women. I think abortion should be safe, legal and rare.’
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-- Robin Abcarian
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