Posted on 01/14/2009 2:34:57 PM PST by Zakeet
President Obama will end the 15-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy that has prevented homosexual and bisexual men and women from serving openly within the U.S. military, a spokesman for the president-elect said.
Obama said during the campaign that he opposed the policy, but since his election in November has made statements that have been interpreted as backpedaling. On Friday, however, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs, responding on the transition team's Web site to a Michigan resident who asked if the new administration planned to get rid of the policy, said:
"You don't hear politicians give a one-word answer much. But it's 'Yes'."
The little-noticed response, made in a video posted on change.gov, made barely a ripple outside blogs focused on the gay community, but that's not surprising, said those who have been pushing to overturn the ban. Not only was Obama's position expected, they said, but support for reviewing or repealing the policy has grown markedly in recent years, including from some unexpected quarters.
The end of "don't ask, don't tell" may not happen immediately, several critics of the policy said. Although they appreciate clarity from Obama on the issue, they anticipate that the demands of the economy and two wars are likely to trump a speedy policy reversal.
"The question isn't if we do it and the question isn't when we do it, it's how we do it," said Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Walnut Creek, whose 2006 bill to repeal the ban earned broad support among Democrats in Congress but did not move forward in the face of a near-certain veto by President Bush.
"I'm going to reintroduce the bill in the next few weeks," Tauscher said. "We've got the American people behind us."
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
As usual, the article misses the point about don’t ask/ don’t tell.
Prior to Clinton, gays were not allowed to serve at all. The question was asked during the admission process. I also distinctly remember that question being asked on security clearance applications (the logic being a gay person could be blackmailed).
Well, Clinton changed that. For the first time, he opened up the military to gays. Contrary to popular belief, you are not prohibited in any way from serving, if you are gay. That is the ‘don’t ask’ part of the equation. Nobody knows you’re gay, if they can’t ask you about it.
Obama wants to get rid of the ‘don’t tell’ part of this. Even though it is perfectly legal to serve if you are gay, he finds it necessary to up the ante. He wants it to be acceptable for a soldier to be in a gay pride parade, date another soldier of the same sex, keep gay porn in his barracks room, go off base to a gay bar - sporting the military haircut, open an on-post gay bar, have two life partners sharing base housing, etc.
I don’t see how any of this is beneficial to our military....and we are kinda sorta in a war right now. I’m starting to think he doesn’t have an ounce of respect for the people in our military, whodathunkit.
When enlistment drops 40% it will be Hussein’s fault.
I was just wondering about the percentage. Maybe it’s up to 2% now, but I doubt it. I do know they’re vocal and a huge political lobby.
They ruin every institution they invade. They can shove down our throats all they want, but me and mine will never consider them normal.
that is what my wife just said.
There will be so many problems with this and it doesn’t bring anything to the table unless it is to upset the apple cart so to speak.
I have a feeling now I have calmed down that obama knows it will never pass and is just playing the homo’s.
to be a good leader one has to be a good listener.
Now the question is will he listen to the generals and foot soldiers on the ground?
If he does not then his arrogance is even more than I first thought
This is insanity. According to the article, America’s young people are more accepting of open homosexuals poodling around in the barracks showers. How wonderful. Our morals are being determined by the Will and Grace generation.
Too many of our kids are raised outside of conservative churches. Huge numbers of our promiscuous young people are hooking up and shacking up and don’t want to be “judgmental” of gays. Spare us from this generation. One generation can indeed be worse than another.
same here and its good to know you feel the same as many others on here.
I have told my kids all about this and that they do not just go along with the flow of teachers at school, but instead stand up for your own views regardless of the lefts name calling.
I just hope there will be more children with the same upbringing.
Remember Peggy noonan saying how she accepts them and that it is only old people who do not now and that the republican party should welcome them.
well she is wrong there for me I am 40, my wife 36, and I know many other servicemen and women who are younger who feel the same as you and I
Actually, many lewd conduct arrests occur around the fringes of nude beaches and frequently LE has undercover (clothed) officers stationed there.
but more so to homo’s and druggies
welcome to FR as well
maybe he wants recruitment to drop and have our military weakened
Hes not that big a fan of it anyway is he?
bo is as bi as they come, of course he will cram gays down our thoats
I will do it for four years if I want to. If it bothers you, too damn bad. You do not like to hear it do not respond to it. By the way check your blood pressure, you might need more meds.
Thanks for the compliment. I need to get out and shoot some more shots, holidays got in the way!
I agree with you post and your anger.
As a Chritian, I hope that you will figure it out someday.
My blood pressure would be fine if not for all the incessant whining I come across while reading these threads.
Great well thought out post. And I agree, let’s not experiment on our military, it’s way too important. They are the best, and I’m glad of it and I want it to stay that way.
I am wondering though. Ask soldiers and they will tell you that they have served with others they either suspected or knew were homosexual, but as they kept to themselves and did not bother anyone they were left alone regarding their behavior. This seems to be the type of homosexual that would serve in the military. Do you that the flamboyant homosexual would even want to serve?
True. I have 4 kids, ages 11 to 18. They certainly don’t accept homosexuality as normal. We even make a game out of who the token homo/perfect character is on TV shows/movies.
I have seen homos and their lifestyle accepted by many, some family members or friends or neighbors. Even had a conversation recently with my next door neighbor who fell for the “it’s not their fault, everyone deserves to be happy, it’s not wrong, they can’t help who they are” crap.
Many fall for the “white guilt” or racist crap too.
I worry about this for our Military. I don’t know one dead, retired, or current Military who would be ok with this.
You’re kidding, right?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.