10th Dist. candidate Seals: Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell

Democratic congressional candidate Dan Seals believes the policy preventing gays or lesbians from serving openly in the military should be repealed.

His Republican opponent in the 10th District race, Robert Dold, would only support lifting the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy if military officials say it will not negatively affect military readiness.

Seals, who is making his third bid for Congress, and Dold, a first-time candidate, shared their opinions about Don't Ask Don't Tell and other issues in a questionnaire for the Daily Herald and separate interviews.

President Barack Obama has pledged to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which was enacted in the 1990s under President Bill Clinton. Congress already has taken steps in that direction, but no final decision has been made.

The policy allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military, but only if they conceal their sexual identities. Any military personnel who come out and say they're gay can be discharged from service, under the current rules.

The issue has been particularly pressing in recent years as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan raged on.

Seals, a business consultant and university lecturer from Wilmette, said it's "absolutely" time to allow gay and lesbian service members to serve without concealing their sexual identity.

"Top military officials think so, prominent leaders from both sides of the aisle think so, and the American public thinks so," Seals said.

He called the current rules discriminatory.

"It not only hurts national security by kicking out mission-critical troops - such as Arabic translators - simply because of who they love, but costs taxpayers more than $25 million each year to replace qualified patriots who we've discharged from our armed forces," Seals said.

Dold, a business owner from Kenilworth, said he would "like to make sure that anyone who wants to serve their country is able to do so." But his potential vote would depend on the Pentagon's opinions, as well as the feelings of military leaders in the field.

"This issue is first and foremost about protecting America and military preparedness," Dold said.

The 10th District includes parts of Cook and Lake counties. It stretches from Lake Michigan into the North and Northwest suburbs.

The district is now represented by Republican Mark Kirk, who is running for Senate and is not seeking re-election to the House.