DADT: Obama Where Art Thou?

[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

[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

[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/arti...,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

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By Kerry Eleveld
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
And goes round and round and round in the circle game...