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Obama: Repeal of 'don't ask' possible
AP via Yahoo! ^ | 0410/08 | NEDRA PICKLER

Posted on 04/10/2008 3:48:17 AM PDT by Brilliant

Barack Obama says if elected president he will not require that his Joint Chiefs of Staff be opposed to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prevents gays from serving openly in the military.

The Democratic presidential front-runner favors repealing the policy, which was instituted during the Clinton administration. He said his priority for the Joint Chiefs will be that they make decisions to strengthen the military and keep the country safe, not their position on the policy.

"I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Obama said in an interview with The Advocate, a gay newsmagazine.

"But I think there's increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy," he said. "We're spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn't make us more safe."

The Advocate provided The Associated Press with excerpts of the interview, to be posted on its Web site Friday.

The interview comes after Obama was criticized by gay advocates for not speaking to the gay media. The Philadelphia Gay News last week ran a large blank space on its front page next to an interview with Hillary Rodham Clinton to highlight that he did not talk to the publication.

"The gay press may feel like I'm not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times," Obama told The Advocate. He said he's frequently spoken out against homophobia and in support of gay rights.

Asked what he could reasonably accomplish for the gay community as president, Obama said he can "reasonably see" repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as well as signing legislation to ban workplace discrimination against gays. He said he'd like transgendered people to be covered by the law, but thinks it would be tough to get such legislation through Congress.

Obama also said he's interested in ensuring that same-sex couples in civil unions get federal benefits.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: clinton; hillary; homosexualagenda; obama
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To: Brilliant

Why? So Obama can get votes?


21 posted on 04/10/2008 6:58:27 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Get Reid. Salazar, and Harkin out of the Senate.)
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To: markomalley

Agreed. A repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell would technically mean that the question could be added back into the enlistment contract and that the military could pursue and investigate suspicions. If the Joint chiefs are smart, and Odumbo doesnt clarify his position/intent, they should roger up and head in the opposite direction from what he is aiming for.....if he gets elected.


22 posted on 04/10/2008 6:58:32 AM PDT by USMCGunnut (Be polite, be professional....but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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To: popdonnelly

Obama: Repeal of ‘don’t ask’ possible

“I GIVE YOU HOPE!”


23 posted on 04/10/2008 8:21:10 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: informavoracious

Homosexuality is imcompatible with Military Service. The abnormal deviant behavior is “Prejudice To the Good Order of Discipline in the the Military.

Yes, you are way out of line and did you serve as well???

The military is not a place for liberal social experimentation. The military is designed to kill and break things(our enemies)

If you are a Patriot and love America, how can you be for something that will in time destroy our Military/ Country as well.

Soldier On,
NSNR


24 posted on 04/10/2008 8:40:41 AM PDT by No Surrender No Retreat (Xin Loi My Boy!!!!)
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To: No Surrender No Retreat

You misunderstand. I am not “FOR.” But I AM a realist. If you think there were no homosexuals in the military prior to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” then you are exceedingly naive. They may have been in the closet, but they were and are there. I am not a veteran, but I am in a military family, parent, siblings, spouse, and our eldest boy is in service. I work with people who are gay and are or were active duty or reserves. Don’t be angry with me about it. Take the rose colored glasses off, it is reality.


25 posted on 04/10/2008 9:43:43 AM PDT by informavoracious (Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!)
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To: informavoracious

Not angry with you, and yes we had some on active duty, but were later discharged.

I worked in civilian, military and federal LE, and now retired. I always treated everyone the same, though I did have my own personal feelings.

I consider myself a realist and that you have a right to your opinion, as I of mine.

The military is just not the place for homosexuals and social experimentation.

If I misunderstood your true feelings on the matter, please accept my apology.

The rose colored glasses are not part of my accouterments, but you did make me laugh.

Sincerely,
NSNR


26 posted on 04/10/2008 10:30:53 AM PDT by No Surrender No Retreat (Xin Loi My Boy!!!!)
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To: Brilliant
I, too, believe "Don't Ask" should be repealed - a worthless piece of PC legislation signed into law by Clinton.

Military commanders should ask. And then discharge.

27 posted on 04/12/2008 9:05:48 AM PDT by fwdude
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