We first learned about this former Navy Seal in the tragedy at Benghazi. Unfortunately one of our Presidential candidates has tried to take political advantage of a one-time chance meeting with Doherty several years ago. By now most people paying attention know that Doherty's mother objected, and his best friend has offered what he says Doherty told him about that encounter.
But there is another side of Glen Doherty. He was on the board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, founded by Mikey Weinstein, himself a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, when he learned about Christian fundamentalism being imposed especially in the Air Force and his alma mater.
Today Mikey Weinstein wrote The Darkest of All Lies at Huffington Post. Among the things he notes that Glen Doherty supported were
- exposing and demanding the removal of New Testament biblical citations on defense contractor Trijicon's ACOG rifle scopes issued on almost a million military weapons;
- repeatedly exposing and then demanding the end to the practice of U.S. Military officers requiring participation of subordinates in mandatory religious events;
- ending the invitation of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic speakers to U.S. Military training events;
There is more. Weinstein writes powerfully, concluding with this paragraph:
As informed citizens of the United States, we are all too aware of the rampant grandiose hyperbole generated as a result of our political campaigns. This absolutely disgusting, opportunistic travesty however was so much more, and so much lower, than the usual political 'pablum' that courses through our normal campaign emissions. This "performance" was simply naked and shameful exploitation of the life and memory of an actual American Hero. Romney did not "know" Glen. His insinuation that he somehow had a connection to Glen is disingenuous at best and a naked lie at worst. It is bold and bald untruthfulness. As Alfred Tennyson said, "A lie that is half truth is the darkest of all lies." A timely and heartfelt apology is truly in order here.
Go read Weinstein's piece. Pass it on. Honor Glen Doherty in the right way.