Louie Gohmert worries that gay soldiers "getting massages all day" leave us "vulnerable to terrorism"

A discussion of the U.S. military's campaign against Ebola takes a very strange turn

Published October 24, 2014 6:35PM (EDT)

Louie Gohmert                         (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Louie Gohmert (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Texas congressman Louie Gohmert has offered us plenty of hot takes during his decade in Congress, weighing in on everything from "terror babies" to how "criminal aliens" and Ebola are part of a Democratic war on women. This week, Gohmert had further insight to offer, warning that America's Achilles' heel in the fight against terrorism could be gay soldiers "getting massages all day."

On Tuesday, Gohmert appeared on the "Point of View" radio show to discuss the deployment of U.S. military forces to West Africa to combat the Ebola outbreak in the region. And since he was on the topic of the military, Gohmert decided it was as good a time as any to blast open military service by gay soldiers.

"I've had people say, 'Hey, you know, there's nothing wrong with gays in the military. Look at the Greeks,'" the Tea Party favorite said. "Well, you know, they did have people come along who they loved that was the same sex and would give them massages before they went into battle."

But, Gohmert added, the U.S. confronts an entirely different situation today -- and allowing gay soldiers to serve openly means that "[y]ou are ultimately vulnerable to terrorism."

"But you know what, it's a different kind of fighting, it's a different kind of war and if you're sitting around getting massages all day ready to go into a big, planned battle, then you're not going to last very long," Gohmert said. "It's guerrilla fighting. You are going to be ultimately vulnerable to terrorism and if that's what you start doing in the military like the Greeks did ... as people have said, 'Louie, you have got to understand, you don't even know your history.' Oh yes I do. I know exactly. It's not a good idea."

For the record, a study by the respected Palm Center found that the repeal of the military's anti-gay "don't ask, don't tell" policy hasn't harmed military cohesion, readiness or morale. But who are you going to believe -- pointy-headed experts or that fearless prophet of truth from Tyler, Texas?

Watch Gohmert delve into Greek history below, via Right Wing Watch:


By Luke Brinker

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Don't Ask Don't Tell Ebola Gays Gays In The Military Lgbt Louie Gohmert Texas U.s. Military Video