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 ...
Good question, ma’am. Let me try and answer it this way.
You know that going ‘absent without leave’ (AWOL) or desertion sometimes happen in the military? Well, some of those absences and desertions go only as far as a hole in the ground in some obscure part of the base. Capisce?
All good points! I also would like to emphasize another soldiers point;
For the soldier in a firefight, sitting next to some aids infested fag, and he takes a hit, imagine the thought of him getting that blood splattered all over him or getting an aids infested field transfusion due to the lack of medical supplies being cut off from the front.
Homophobic is far from the cause of concern. Logic and actual Combat experience is the primary concern here.
you took my words right out of my mouth
being on the ground in a fox hole is very different to flying a plane.
I never had the luxury of a room with only two or three guys, we had a platoon and even more sometimes to share the shower or room.
Then the biggest problem was the guy snoring where you threw your boot at him.
Now what?
We're talking about consenting adults. But, anyway, this is a different issue- no one is telling open homosexuals what to do in their bedrooms. They're just not allowed to be openly gay in the military.
Hey you’re the one who thinks Govt shouldn’t be telling folk what not to do in the bedroom even if that bedroom is shared by 15 other men.
I'm not sure that's a great argument- can't the military address that problem by banning sex in group barracks or whatnot?
remember too that what happens now when say these two homo’s have sex and get caught?
what happens when these two men fall out from each other and now jealousy happens?
The issue I cant believe is so important to obama that he wants to change it and yet he keeps silent on Israel
I hear you
Have you ever served in the Military?
good point and I never thought of that
Aye what happens when one is in the fox hole, rounds are flying and the man the homo gets shot, .
Do I know he has AIDS or not , what do I do, wait till I get gloves on?
This whole thing by obama and Gibbs is down right outrageous
No.
“We’ve got the American people behind us.”
I don’t mind ‘America’ behind me but having a bunch of gay men behind me is a whole ‘nother problem.
I don’t think ‘the American people’ are anywhere near where rep Tauscher thinks they are. Her district is almost nothing like the rest of ‘America’.
I agree with you guys that the military is different. The military enforces a higher moral standard and totally agree with that. It shouldn’t be allowed in the armed forces.
understand .
Folks, Reagan isn't going to descend on a white horse and there is no one out there that is going to be able to right this wrong because the folks that are controlling the government right now aren't going to give it up. Look what happened with Al Franken. Dems are going to have a superior majority after 2010 by hook or crook.
Then I guess you are a willing accomplice to the demise of our military and our country. There comes a time when blind obedience is not only stupid in principle, but deadly to the common good. Let us put your argument in context: If the founders of this nation followed your rule, then we would still be a colonial possession of Great Britain.
So, no matter what Barak Hussein Obama does... you will blindly obey, thinking that just your voice of dissent is sufficient action. The perfect answer of a coward. So be it. We loose our nation outright, or else it becomes so disfunctional, as to cease to exist for all practical matters... and all because of individuals who cling to the principle of obedience even when it is destructive and suicidal to the whole organism, not merely one of its parts. That is not honorable sacrifice... that is insanity.
You are absolutely correct. These damn politicians do not give 1 single crap about our military. Every soldier is a lab rat for them and nothing, I mean nothing more.
no one is telling open homosexuals what to do in their bedrooms.
here’s the crux
it is not their bedroom in the military, it is shared by many men, so is the toilet, shower, etc
I would rather have an outright ban on this. If you are a homo then you are not too be admitted, full stop.
that is my view and yes I might be coming across as strong as this but I love the military with all my heart and it gave me my best years of my life.
I t sickens me to know that this man obama will be in charge and that he wants to force his ;left wing Marxist agenda onto a great institution.
I am honestly sick in my stomach right now thinking about this.
I have just talked to a friend who is being deployed soon and he said he will leave if it is the case with homos.
I know many others who I served with who feel like this too.
sad it is really sad
You, sir, are exactly right. The problem is not that "dang buncha homos gonna ruin evrythin". The problem is that the military will have to incorporate homosexual issues into existing equal opportunity framework. Which is to say that a servicemember that publicly disagreed with the homosexual lifestyle but agreed to peacefully coexist anyway would see his career obliterated.
What's more, is that there is no peaceful coexistance in the military. You must not only obey official policy by word and deed, but you have to teach it, believe it and ensure that your subordinates do as well. There is no religious exemption. It is not optional. You must never give off a hint that you disagree with promoting the gay lifestyle, either in uniform or out.
You, as a military leader, will be responsible for teaching your young troops that being homosexual is not only okay, but an integral part of America's highest values. You, as a leader, must ensure that your troops feel unAmerican and criminal for disagreeing with the lawful guidance from their superior officers and civilian leadership.
Fail to do so with a straight face will earn you EO complaints as sharp as sniper fire. Any straight troop with a grudge can dust your career over a stray anti-gay lifestyle statement. They'll make examples out of as many people as they need to. Toe the line 100%, or you'll be replaced.
no disrespect but thought not
the military is totally different , different rules different way of life,
especially for those who do combat face to face .
civilians are different , I notice that now and I have left, different humor, different outlook on life and lifestyle.
to have homo’s sharing the shower, foxhole, toilet, room is not right and I cannot believe we are even discussing this
I have been on the front line and it is truly gruesome. For any civilian to tell us what to say and think, especially when we fought, were wounded and many died to preserve their right do do just that, it is patently wrong to tamper with our mental security. War is bloody and our only hope is for our fellow soldiers to be there for us. Even if that includes giving blood directly in the foxhole. Gays in the military will take that security away completely.
Obama has done that very thing and has taken it from us. In due course, the greatest fighting force on Earth will be no more.
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