Subscribe to Breaking NewsVanasco: Obama caving on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
This is what I was worried about.
According to the Washington Times, Obama’s team is saying that even ASKING for a repeal of the ban on open gays in the military may not happen until 2010. First, he wants to build consensus.
Fair enough.
But it seems to me that consensus is already built – or at least as much as it’s going to be. Earlier this week, 104 retired generals and admirals called for DADT’s repeal.
A former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke out against DADT in 2007. So did a former Secretary of Defense. 143 members of the House have co-sponsored a bill to overturn the policy; a bill approved by the House Committee on Armed Services.
We know the US military needs more soldiers to fight the two wars we are engaged in – last year alone, 627 servicemembers were dismissed under the DADT. The military needs servicemembers and gays want to serve.
You know what else? DADT is expensive. In February 2006, a University of California Blue Ribbon Commission concluded that so far, it has cost the government (meaning, us, the taxpayers) $363 million.
Don’t Ask is a failed policy. The only people who don’t think so are homophobes.
I understand what Obama is trying to do here. He’s trying to avoid a Clintonesque debacle like the one that gave us DADT in the first place.
But of everything we’re fighting for, DADT seems like it’s the least controversial and would make the most sense. If this isn’t even being looked at until 2010, then when is he going to start making good on his campaign promise of federal civil unions? When (if) he’s re-elected?
I’ve got a better idea. Why doesn’t Obama name a gay person – like Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer, say – as Secretary of Defense? That would signal real change – and give gays and lesbians real hope.
The Washington Times is a right wing paper that was founded in 1982 by Sun Myung Moon. It is a sort of Fox News of newspapers.
Obama Backtracking on Promises to the Gay Community Before He Has Even Taken Office?
I AM SHOCKED! SHOCKED I TELL YOU!
I’m just sitting here now trying to figure out when I start saying, “I Told You So.”
Can we say, “thrown under the bus” boys and girls? I get really tired of Democrats being bailed out and excused for every inaction and direct setback on gay rights. I feel sorry for those of you who voted for this lying Marxist.
Dan said: “Is the Washington Times a reliable source of news?”
Good question. According to a Wikipedia entry:
“The Washington Times was founded by the direction of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon in 1982. Bo Hi Pak, called Moon’s ‘right-hand man’, was the founding president and the founding chairman of the board. In 2002, during the 20th anniversary party for the Times, Moon said, ‘The Washington Times will become the instrument in spreading the truth about God to the world.’”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Times
Is the Washington Times a reliable source of news?
I was fully behind Obama and donated money to his campaign. He hasn’t even taken office yet and I am questioning whether I will support him in 2012.
Your lack of understanding of why the whole mess blew up in Clinton’s face 8 years ago and why Obama needs to be surefooted about this is stunning.
He will make this change as soon as the NON-retired members of the military sign off on it. 2009? maybe. 2010? more likely. But make no mistake, it will happen.
As is usual with our movement, we are like impatient children not realizing that change takes time. That is not to say we shouldn’t press, but to denounce this administration before it even begins is arrogant, immature and out of touch.
Give the guy a break. He’s just in the middle of hiring his team. Let him have a chance to fill it out and then create policy.
Vanasco said: “But of everything we’re fighting for, DADT seems like it’s the least controversial…”
Either you’re kidding, or you know little about the radical right and their tactics. They’re just waiting for that kind of mistake.
The radio talk show hosts and the leaders of the religious right would accuse Obama of showing insensitivity to our patriotic soldiers and of trying to undermine the military. By lobbying and threatening congressional Republicans and “blue dog” Democrats, they’d turn this into a major controversy overnight, throwing the administration off track on all the crucial issues the rest of the American public cares about. The media would have a field day. There’d be hell to pay, and it’s the Democrats – and gays – who’d pay in the next congressional and presidential elections. And that could also mean losing the opportunity to realign the Supreme Court with moderates or progressives.
At last, we have real potential to get many of our rights at the federal level through the new administration and the new Congress. Let’s not blow it by being politically rash and naive.
Let’s not be too selfish. One must ask, “Is DADT worse under Obama that under Bush?” That answer is no. And after the scalding we took in the last election, we know that there are lots of powerful forces out there who hate us – or who need some issue to stir the pot of discontent with. Give Barak some time.
If he doesn’t have the courage to end this soon, I fear we may be in for 4 years of big let downs. The DODT is so unjust and unfair. I think Obama will be in constant state of campaigning and trying not to alienate any groups. This man is not a leader, he is a consensus builder. I am very disappointed. So much for change!
Reality check: Anybody in a uniform with enough seniority to get past the first ring of the Pentagon is a “shrub” appointee and how many of those do you thing are going support repeal of DADT? It may take a whole year just to get officers with stars on their shoulders who won’t try to sabotage any of his other policies. Plus, there’s the fact that it looks like he will be keeping Gates on as Sec of Defense just to have some continuity. The man was elected because of his opposition to the war and continued presense of troops in Iraq – not to repeal DADT. Should it go? YES. But give the man some time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all the damage done by “shrub” and his friends won’t be undone in a day either.
Obama got my vote in 2008. At this rate he won’t have my support in 2012. I’ll be supporting a 3rd party candidate as a protest against Democrats and Republicans.
I know this won’t help our cause, but this country is going down big time. It’s going to make the fall of the U.S.S.R. look like a Sunday picnic.
Obama has been backtracking from his vow to end DADT ever since he won the primary against Hillary. Obama’s promises were just political rhetoric.
Jennifer, I can’t believe you’re surprised by this. Did you honestly think Obama would touch this? And don’t tell me you expect him to do soemthing about federal civil unions. With everything that is going on with Prop 8, that issue is radioactive. He wants to heal the divide and reach across the isle. He will cave on our issues to look like a moderate.
I know this is off topic, but I’m just wondering if Obama can find a spot in his administration for Christine Quinn. I think she would be great in charge of HUD or some similar program…