Comments on: Little traction on DADT repeal

By: charley

charley — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:17:23 +0000

Congress need to take up this issue and repeal DADT without waiting from leadership from the Administration, which appears to lack political will on gay issues.

By: SPC, Wilson

SPC, Wilson — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:53:41 +0000

I am a soldier. I know DADT is harmful to our gay soldier. We must push for its repeal. A protest is in order. We need to march on the white house and present President Barack Obama with a large 8 foot plate. Then maybe he can fit improving the lives of soldiers on it!

By: Ed Gould

Ed Gould — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:05:13 +0000

This is not too surprising. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Obama backed down on this or put it as a way low priority. I didn’t believe him when he said it. I hope he proves me wrong but I do not think so.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:10:26 +0000

As a Canadian, I have already written a letter to the President opposing “don’t ask; don’t tell (just lie)”. Both the United States and Canada, key allies of the United States already have done away with any restrictions on Lesbians and Gays in the military. Furthermore, all countries have long histories of Lesbians and Gay men serving in the armed forces with distinction. All LGBT people, both in and out of the United States must write to the President and politely demand repeal of DADT. We are not asking for equal rights here and definitely asking for special rights. We are saying we have a moral obligation to fulfill all our responsibilities as citizens.

By: Michael Duffy

Michael Duffy — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:51:31 +0000

Shane-
I agree, he has not said a word in awhile himself about how he feels. He has decided to let others deal with the burden of the gays.
Sad- lets hope the congress can get their collective acts together.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:43:52 +0000

The president could make this happen. Call and leave a message for him at 202-456-1111, and demand that he end this state-sponsored discrimination called Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. He should tell Congress that this is a priority, and he wants the Military Readiness Enhancement Act passed this year. He’ll get it if he asks for it.

He has a Democratic majority that will last who knows how long. He has the majority of Americans wanting this policy to end. Why not act? The ONLY reason he would hesitate to press this is that he isn’t so committed to LGBT equality after all.

By: drewski

drewski — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:09:44 +0000

I voted for Obama because it was him or McCain, and that old man is scary. Obama has made many noises in the past that were gay-supportive. He’s backed off of every one of them. We are not a priority for him, and we won’t be until we force the issue.

A leader takes risks. Obama is more risk-averse than an insurance adjustor. He can keep being risk-averse. There are midterm elections in November 2010, and now is the time to start looking for and donating to people who support us instead of enabling discrimination. Obama’s failure to lead is a choice, not an inability.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:42:51 +0000

NOTE: Kniights Out and SLDN want us to do action TOMORROW.
Call Whitehouse.
Here is link to action described.

gayrights.change.org/actions/view/call_the_whitehouse_on_tuesday_may_12_in_support_of_ltchoi_and_all_the_12500_others

By: R&R

R&R — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:41:49 +0000

Maybe someone might be able ask the adminstration why countries such as Canada, Israel, England and several other countries are able to allow gays to serve openly in their military without any “real” problems, but our country which prides itself on liberty, freedom, “separation of church and state (and there will be pork in the tree tops in the morning)”, can’t find the balls to do the same. What do these other countries know that our brilliant politicians and military geniuses don’t know?

Obama already has a full plate? GET A BIGGER PLATE!

By: Robert, NYC

Robert, NYC — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:29:07 +0000

I don’t know why our government foot drags on this one. Obama is not getting directly involved because he doesn’t want to upset or offend his fellow “christian” cultists. He’s a coward. He has to stop kow-towing to the religious wingnuts and right wingers almost of whom are in the party of NO. Almost all western European Union countries, Canada, Australia, New ZeaIand, Israel allow their gay citizens to serve openly, including our closest ally the UK. The UK in fact allows its gay military personnel to have their partners live on base when away from home.

You watch, these same right wingers and religous bigots will push for a ballot initiative and ask the voters to decide as with everything they don’t like when it comes to LGBT equality.

Another thing, does anyone really believe that in the absence of the economic downturn, we’d be any further along than we now are? I don’t buy it. This all gets back to homophobia, from the White House down.