DADT: Obama Where Art Thou?

[Gemini Cricket]

An interesting commentary from Rachel Maddow on Don't Ask Don't Tell and Obama's lack of movement getting rid of it.
Maddow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgWPbotqJt8&feature=player_embedded)

When I lived in Monterey, several linguists at the Defense Language Inst. who were fluent in Farsi were dismissed because of this policy. I don't understand DADT at all. These were skilled professionals who could have helped the US in a big way. Now according to recent reports (cited in the video clip), 13,000 people have been dismissed because of DADT.

Some defenders say it will ruin morale. If this can destroy cohesion and morale with a bunch of soldiers, then something is wrong with our military. Our soldiers can handle a great deal. They're strong enough to get over this issue. We're not giving them enough credit.

I am disappointed in Obama. I'm starting to feel the way I felt under Clinton. Despite being "liberal", the LGBT community is still being ushered to the back of the bus. I'm hoping for some sort of announcement from the Obama camp regarding this policy and DOMA this month. But I'm no longer hopeful.

[wendybeth]

I feel very much the same way. I'm starting to get pissed about all this as well- the Prop 8 situation, threatening to cut AIDS funding, DADT.....things just seem to be going backwards. Very discouraging.

[Gemini Cricket]

wb ~ But the thing that really irks me is that I felt that things (GLBT rights etc.) would be better with the Democrats in control. Things aren't. And it's confusing why things aren't better. Where are the brave people? People need to speak out and act out against things that are just flat out wrong. It seems like people, politicians, reporters are too scared now. Why is that?

[Kevy Baby]

Why is that?They found out that the Conservatives have WMD's

[Snowflake]

VKBM

Allow me to chime in as well. I watched Rachel Maddow last night and found myself asking the same thing. A friend of mine who works at Rand tells me that DADT will go away, she is sure of it especially in view of what she hears from the brass she deals with. But that does not help people today or the people fighting their dismissal from the various service branches.

We all know President Obama has a lot on his plate, but he stated quite plainly during the campaign that this was one issue that would be dealt with and quickly. I had hope when Lt. Choi was recently dismissed as he had outted himself on Maddow's show, that this would be addressed then and he would not be dismissed. Sadly not the case. West Point and all that, it's a real shame.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Can't believe the machinery on this is still hunting people down.

He needs to put a stop to it.

[Strangler Lewis]

I remember when the policy was first discussed, a colonel testifying in support of it said that he would not want his gay son to serve in the military because he would expect him to be murdered in his barracks. Thus, it seems that for purposes of public discussion, we are committed to a military comprised of the most boneheaded members of society. I am not happy ceding pride of ownership of the military to the bonehead class. Plus, if I had a family member in the military, I would not be comfortable with an official policy that my family member was a homicidal bonehead and, therefore, more expendable.

[innerSpaceman]

Hahahaha, I think I'm also going to start calling him "President Fierce Advocate!"

[alphabassettgrrl]

I agree- our soldiers can handle their fellow soldiers being gay. You can't tell me they don't know, anyway. One of my coworkers is a vet, who served (and roomed) with a soldier who was gay. Nobody cared.

Making a big deal out of it does lead to increased danger to gay soldiers. If we just say "get over it" things will be calmer. Get it out in the open.

I do agree, though, that Mr. Obama needs to get on with repealing DADT. We are losing so many valued soldiers, in a military that needs every capable body it can get- we are shooting ourselves in the foot for no good purpose.

[Promo-Man]

This is the same old BS.
There has always been Gays in the military.
Just do it and get over it.
No big deal

[innerSpaceman]

Well, maybe in the miltiary, but never in the Navy. ;)

[Strangler Lewis]

Well, I watched it finally. Or some of it, anyway. I think some of the points are overstated. For example, it's pretty rare for a justice department, state or federal, not to defend the constitutionality of government action when it's challenged. Dan Lungren did that some years ago as California AG when he refused to defend the constitutionality of the Unruh Act against a claim by a landlord that being forced to rent to an unmarried couple infringed their freedom of religion. While the landlords (wrongly) won, Lungren looked more political than principled in doing that.

It's also a little dicey to tell prosecutors not to enforce a law that's on the books that they're used to enforcing.

That said, if somebody sticks a mike in Obama's face on the subject, he should say that he'll do what he can to repeal this and then do it.

[SacTown Chronic]

I'll always regret not killing Dan Lungren when I had the chance.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Colbert debates DADT (http://blog.indecisionforever.com/2009/06/10/colbert-debates-dont-ask-dont-tell-in-iraq/)

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, one of the openly gay members of Obama's cabinet gets it.
This is a quote from John Berry's Pride speech today:
I would like to end on a personal note. I come from a family with a proud tradition of service. My father enlisted in the Marines before Pearl Harbor and served at Guadalcanal and my uncle for whom I am named, was killed in battle in the Pacific.
In the year before he died, my father told me that he didn’t know what all the fuss about gays in the Military was about. He said “we didn’t call em gays – but they were there and they died as bravely as everyone else.” I know he was right. A good friend of mine was a Colonel who honorably served in the Middle East. His sacrifice and risk of life was no less dear than anyone. I ask America, where do you stand -- with his honorable service or with those who would make him lie to do so?
Source (http://www.advocate.com/print_article_ektid89581.asp)

[Betty]

GC - that was a profound statement and it gave chills and got me a little choked up.

Now, I'm pretty sure I've got some PMS going on but even considering that, just wow.

How could anyone want someone to lie just to serve their country? They would prefer lies over honor?

[innerSpaceman]

No PMS necessary. That gave me the shivers and choke-up as well.


Of course, I'm da gay and all.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I think it's a version of the "homosexual panic" thing- if we don't make gays lie, we have to admit they exist, which will panic those poor people who just can't deal with the truth. Same thing about gay marriage, I think. Enough people just don't want to deal with the whole issue, that they just want it to go away. So we hear "why do you have to be proclamatory about it? Can't you just not say anything?"

Um, no.

[Chernabog]

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903545,00.html?imw=Y

Just to add to the debate: Obama's administration is now arguing FOR Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Again, he is no longer just doing nothing for LGBT people, his administration is actively trying to hurt us.

[Gemini Cricket]

June 15, 2009
Sen. Reid: No Sponsors for DADT

Click the byline to view more stories by this author.
By Kerry Eleveld (http://www.advocate.com/authors.asp?author=Kerry%20Eleveld)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking at a press conference Monday said he has no plans to introduce a bill to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" in the Senate.
"I haven't identified any sponsors," he said. "My hope is that it can be done administratively."
A Democratic aide later clarified that Reid was speaking about the possibility of using an executive order to suspend discharges or perhaps halting enforcement of the policy by changing departmental regulations within the Department of Defense.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has continually said in recent months that President Barack Obama believes the only "durable solution" to repealing the military's gay ban would be to do so through legislative action.
Senator Reid also indicated that he is waiting on the House of Representatives to take action on the bill that was introduced there in March.
"If the House moves on this," he said, "I would be happy to take it up."


Source (http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid90581.asp)
And goes round and round and round in the circle game...

[Morrigoon]

Wow, it's kind of like Arnie on Gay Marriage. They're all for it as long as someone else does it.

[Alex]

Since I'm generally opposed to the president saying "I'm going to just not enforce this properly legislated and confirmed constitutional law" I'm all in favor of the burden being on congress to repeal it (yes, I'm aware that there is a currently in play loophole that allows Obama to do this without actually just ignoring DODT, page 3 (http://www.palmcenter.org/files/active/0/Executive%20Order%20on%20Gay%20Troops%20-%20final.pdf)).

That said, I certainly would put complaining about it at the top of my priority list if Obama were to do so while waiting.

And while part of me admires the vigor with which the president is supporting constitutional laws on the book with which he claims disagreement it is still pissing me off since he has done nothing to show he is planning action towards getting them reversed.

[Scrooge McSam]

Anyone heard any news on a primary challenger for Reid?

[Alex]

Finally: Obama's Plan for Gay Rights (http://www.obamasplanforgayrights.com/)

Actually, I think it is still too soon to be quite so dismissive but this being politics in many ways perception is reality so if the perception is wrong, Obama really needs to start getting in front of it -- assuming he cares that it is wrong.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What concerns me is that it doesn't seem to be covered enough. I haven't caught any part of this on news.google.com's front page.

[Betty]

77 members of Congress sent a letter to the White House urging President Obama to take the lead on "don't ask, don't tell" by issuing an immediate moratorium on further gay discharges. Following the moratorium, Congress would then have time to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law by legislation on its own schedule.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-belkin/thank-you-congress_b_219052.html

[Ghoulish Delight]

On its own schedule? WTF does that mean?

Punt.

[Gemini Cricket]

Despite the fact that Obama is ticking me off right now with his nonexistent "fierce advocacy" of gay rights, when I see pics like this I have to give him credit for being a frickin' cool guy...
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b268/braddoc310/slide_1818_24410_large.jpg

[Alex]

I know! GWB probably would just have kicked hown the stairs.

[Betty]

I love kicking hown down the stairs though. Doesn't everyone?

[Gemini Cricket]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-belkin/thank-you-congress_b_219052.html
The White House responds:
The White House has responded to an inquiry from The Advocate about a letter sent from 77 House members Monday urging President Barack Obama to take immediate action to stop the investigations of "don't ask, don't tell" violations.
"President Obama remains committed to a legislative repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which he believes will provide a durable and lasting solution to this issue. He welcomes the commitment of these members to seeing Congress take action," read the statement.
Source (http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid92523.asp)

[scaeagles]

Remember that in spite of what many think, Obama is first and foremost a politician. I don't doubt he would have escorted Nancy Reagan around anyway, but it was certainly a photo op. Likewise with DADT, he's going to play both sides and do whatever he feels benefits him most as a politician.

Politicians may have things they want to do. But first and foremost they are politicians.

[innerSpaceman]

Go Fvck yourself, President Fierce Advocate.


(in response to Gemini Cricket's post, not scaeagles')



But in response to scaeagles ... he may be a politician .... So let him see what it's like to have the gAyTM out of order until he does more for us that talk out of both sides of his mouth.

[Betty]

And this is what bugs me about politics. Stand for something damnit. Say it and mean it. Or don't.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Punt.

[Gemini Cricket]

It's disappointing how spineless he is being about DADT and DOMA. Here he is in the White House, the Dems control the Senate and the House... He could do it with very little resistance but still he's being lame about it. Yes, he's a politician, but I can't think of anything that supports his mantra of "Change" like dismissing both of these idiotic laws. I guess he's willing to "change" things as long as it isn't about the GLBT community and it's a cause safe enough to help him retain his popularity. He's even popular enough to do this and his ratings wouldn't take that big of a hit...

[Alex]

Definitely sad level of spinelessness.

But all those supposedly anti-DODT people in congress and not one of them is willing to put forward the bill to get the ball rolling? I can understand temerity on DOMA since even the most liberal districts will still have 30+% opposition but I can't see any reason for strong concern to hold them all back.

[Gemini Cricket]

Definitely sad level of spinelessness.

But all those supposedly anti-DODT people in congress and not one of them is willing to put forward the bill to get the ball rolling?
That ticks me off too. How can these people live with themselves? Squirmy, shifty, c0ck-eyed idiots...

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've written my congressman as well as both Boxer and Feinstein on this. I find it utterly cowardly to see Congress, who has the power to at least attempt to do something about this, try to have their cake and eat it to. "Something should be done......by someone else." B.S. Congress has the authority to start the change. If you truly want to "demonstrate our nation’s lasting commitment to justice and equality for all," then grow a pair and introduce legislation. I don't care if you think it will be voted down or you think you might lose political points. If it's right, do it.

[Chernabog]

That ticks me off too. How can these people live with themselves? Squirmy, shifty, c0ck-eyed idiots...

Seriously. From the outpouring of anger I've seen all over the web, the Democratic Party is losing a ton $$ and support from the gays. As I mentioned elsewhere, they've lost me too. The Obama administration has done some incredibly lousy PR on this one. Same old Washington, President "Fierce Advocate." There's only so much lip service one can take before realizing that you've been duped.

[Strangler Lewis]

Perhaps his title should be Fierce Advocate General.

Jokes aside, I still say it's early. Obama has a lot he wants to accomplish. He knows that Clinton thought he could lift the military ban and that the response screwed him up for two years. I think he also knows that if he takes the lead on this, his liberal supporters will thank him for doing the reasonable thing, perhaps write him a check and then go to dinner. His opponents will hijack the House and Senate Floor with little else and will blast hundreds, if not thousands of hours of hysterical talk radio and it will be early Clinton all over again.

[innerSpaceman]

There's only so much lip service one can take before realizing that you've been duped.
And I won't even accept the kind of lip service that wraps around my dick, even though I'm curious to know what else he can do from both sides of his mouth.

[Chernabog]

And I won't even accept the kind of lip service that wraps around my dick, even though I'm curious to know what else he can do from both sides of his mouth.

Oh my. I think you can turn that idea into a protest sign.... :evil:

[Betty]

Yeah - I was thinking that he was going to STOP trying to pick up guys during the protests. That comment makes me think otherwise. ;)

[Chernabog]

Yeah - I was thinking that he was going to STOP trying to pick up guys during the protests. That comment makes me think otherwise. ;)

Protest Chant:

Hey Hey! Ho ho! innerSpaceman Needs a Blow! :D