Posted on 02/19/2007 9:33:33 AM PST by pissant
Hillary Rodham Clinton this week told a group of gay contributors to her campaign that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, intended to make it easier for homosexuals to serve in the military, had been a failure, her aides said Wednesday.
The first lady, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from New York, said that if elected she would work to revise what was one of the first programs put in place under President Clinton.
Hillary Clinton, speaking Tuesday night at a fund-raiser in Manhattan, said gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, according to participants.
Acknowledging that it was politically unrealistic to expect Congress to approve such legislation now, she said the Pentagon should take steps to reduce the instances of gays being discharged from the military.
Hillary Clinton's remarks, made at a private appearance organized by gay supporters that raised about $100,000 for her campaign, were related by people who attended and confirmed by her office in a written statement Wednesday evening.
"Gays and lesbians already serve with distinction in our nation's armed forces and should not face discrimination," Hillary Clinton said in the statement. "Fitness to serve should be based on an individual's conduct, not their sexual orientation."
The statement puts Hillary Clinton, once again, at odds with a policy implemented by her husband's administration that her aides believe could cause her problems for her as a candidate in New York. But it puts her in line with the views of MAYOR RUDOLF GIULIANI, her likely Republican opponent, who aides say also supports allowing gays to serve in the military and has been critical of the "don't ask, don't tell" initiative.
Hillary Clinton's comments marked the first time she had publicly discussed her views about one of the more difficult episodes of Clinton's first term in office, according to Jeff Soref, the co- chairman of the Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay rights group, and an organizer of the fund-raiser.
The fight over President Clinton's attempt to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military -- an attempt to fulfill a pledge he made as a presidential candidate in 1992 -- dominated his first months in office, raising questions about the new president's competence and ideology, among both supporters and opponents of the ban.
President Clinton eventually abandoned an executive order, instead agreeing to legislation that permitted gays and lesbians to serve in the military providing they did not disclose or act upon their sexuality, and prohibiting the military from initiating unfounded inquiries about homosexuality. That approach ended up angering many of the people whom the president had set out to please in the first place.
Hillary Clinton, responding to a question posed at the fund- raiser held at the studio of the artist Ross Bleckne, voiced her displeasure with the policy in unequivocal terms, according to participants.
There were murmurs of approval and soft applause as she described "don't ask, don't tell" as a failure, taking note of the fact that there had been an increase in the number of gays expelled from the military since the policy was put in force.
Gay groups say that since the policy was put into effect, the number of such discharges has doubled, to 312, last year.
"I think, quite frankly, she expressed a view that is an emerging consensus among people who are following this closely," said Richard Socarides, the former White House liaison to gay groups, who attended the fund-raiser.
Socarides said Hillary Clinton stated her views "directly and forcefully," adding: "I suspect that if you asked the president directly, he would say that this is an area that requires a lot of work also."
The fact that both Giuliani and Hillary Clinton have embraced the same position on an issue that so deeply split Congress in 1993 -- and caused political problems for the Democratic White House -- reflects the extent to which both of the Senate hopefuls view gay men and lesbians as a source of votes and contributions.
Both Hillary Clinton and Giuliani already have gone to some lengths to court support from gay voters, and Hillary Clinton's advisers said they were concerned that the mayor might do well among a group of voters that has historically been viewed as a reliable part of the Democratic base.
At the fund-raiser, Hillary Clinton also voiced support for domestic partnership measures that would allow gay partners to receive the same benefits as married couples.
On this, her position is similar to the one taken by Giuliani, who supported a domestic partnership law in 1997. The mayor frequently remarks that he signed the city's first domestic partnership legislation.
Here are some pictures of the CSQ and one Arafat or another:
I couldn't find any of Giuliani together with Arafat, and it's not because Rudy didn't have an opportunity for such a photo-op but rather because he shunned them.
Read more about Hillary and Hamas here in an article by Steve Emerson.
ML/NJ
And for goodness sakes, it was a statement from Hillary's own campaign staff. Like it wouldn't be past them to falsify the record of a potential opponent?
For the record, I've been critical of the "Don't ask; Don't tell" policy, as I'm against homosexuals serving in the military in any way.
ROFL!
I was only addressing one topic. Of Course Rudy is far superior to Shrillary in dealing with terrorism and war. But so are the conservatives in the race for GOP nomination.
Both Hillary Clinton and Giuliani already have gone to some lengths to court support from gay voters, and Hillary Clinton's advisers said they were concerned that the mayor might do well among a group of voters that has historically been viewed as a reliable part of the Democratic base....
BEWARE!... Social-conservatives, Christian conservatives or moral-conservatives of ANY KIND..
********************* WE NEED TO UNITE IN OUR PURPOSE!!! ************************
Just a reminder to conservatives out there... The CONSULTANTS are working feverishly to find new angles to "sell" this LEFTY to us conservatives, somehow...
So Beware! keep your eyes on the ball. No matter how you slice it... Giuliani is the ULTRA-LEFT on social issues. And as far as FISCAL issues, I pity anyone whose main, and central passion in their lives is "fiscal restrain." I care about it too... but in view of all the heavy duty issues this country currently experiencing, they are way down my priority list.
We should hold STEADY for a CONSERVATIVE candidate across the board whose word and character we can TRUST. I know this is a TALL ORDER from a politician, but DUNCAN seem to have those qualities.
Is either "holding steady," or no longer be relevant in the Republican party... THE STAKES ARE HIGH! Evil forces have been engineering a way to take out the social issues conservatives (Christian right/Moral conservatives) out of the loop for a long time... So don't be surprised they are pushing for this LEFTY with all their might. If they win, then it will be demonstrated we NO LONGER MATTER... because we can be manipulated, bamboozled and tricked like a bunch of ignorant idiots, not to mention, the 'fragility of our CONVICTIONS.' I believe Guliani's CONSULTANTS tactic is simply to DIVIDE the Republicans. To attract as many Lefty Republicans (I still don't get used to the label /s) by selling Mr. Guiliani as the CHAMPION OF NATIONAL SECURITY! to us, but I would not be surprised if we get a new batch of "converts" from the 'other side,' to push him over the top. Either I am paranoid but actually BELIEVE this "adoration," for this guy is orchestrated by some special interest out there. Just because, yes, He cleaned up N.Y. and acted with leadership on 9/11... Great as those things are, does not make him the Republican Presidential candidate by default...HARDLY!
No, read the story again. It is Hillary's aids they are quoting.
Excuse us while we stick our heads back in the sand.
I sure hope you are referring to someone other than McCain!
Giuliani has a big advantage over the others when it comes to the Reagan Democrats. I'd rather the 2008 election weren't close. Tearing him down doesn't serve our interests.
ML/NJ
Rudy's military experience consists of numerous suspicious deferments to avaoid the draft. The most interesting was his request for an occupational deferment. It was denied. Julie-Annie appealed and had a judge friend write a letter for him to the draft board. This got out of serving alongside his countrymen in Vietnam.
"Giuliani had been turned down in his bid to obtain an occupationa deferment for his work as a law clerk before the judge wrote to the draft board in 1968 " - UPI 6/11/89
"but more than a dozen draft experts and lawyers knowledgeable on the vietnam-era draft told The Post an occupational deferment for a law clerk in 1969 was almost unheard of.....One leader of a veteran's group called it a 'one in a million' occurrence." - New York Post 6/11/89
"The special draft status came in a year in which more than 14,500 American servicemen lost their lives in Vietnam." - UPI 6/11/89
Is it restricted in some areas? That's another debate.
Nothing serves our interests better than exposing his radical left leanings.
Tearing him down serves nobody's interest. Knowing where he stands certainly does. What he says now, and what he said and did before.
That may help explain you liking Rudy and others here preferring Hunter. By all means support him. I never heard this before and thought it might be of interest for those making up their minds who they want in the primary.
Don't want to know THAT.
EXACTLY - Giuliani himself is not quoted nor his aides.
"Like peas and carrots" /Gump
According to Southern Voice, a gay publication, here are Rudy's views:
Gay Rights Positions: Supports civil unions, but not marriage equality.
Opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Wants to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Stances on ENDA and hate-crimes legislation are unclear.
http://sovo.com/2007/2-2/news/national/
Isn't it possible that Giuliani will revamp his position on this issue (assuming that the posted article is correct) now that he's not mayor of NYC and is campaigning for the presidency?
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