Times-Union Editorial: A bad message to women
The Times-Union editorial board calls for fundamental reform to the broken military justice system:
Ms. Gillibrand claims bipartisan support from at least 53 colleagues, but that’s not enough to overcome the 60-vote threshold for breaking a likely filibuster. And with the House of Representatives adjourning Friday, there’s no time to carry on this fight if Congress is to approve the broader defense bill. Ms. Gillibrand’s proposal will be back as a stand-alone bill, but there’s thin hope for its approval in a Congress that clearly doesn’t get it.
It doesn’t get that 26,000 instances of sexual assault and harassment — by comrades in arms, not the enemy — is daunting, even terrifying, for women considering a military career. It doesn’t get that thousands of unprosecuted instances of sexual assault and harassment is a disheartening and demoralizing statistic for women who already serve in uniform.
Congress may not get it. But it shouldn’t be surprised to find that women get the message, loud and clear.
