Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Obama to take on military gay ban at `right time’
10.05.2009 8:52am EDT
(Washington) President Barack Obama will focus “at the right time” on how to overturn the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military, his national security adviser said Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s going to be – it’s not years, but I think it will be teed up appropriately,” James Jones said.The Democratic-led Congress is considering repealing the 1993 law. Action isn’t expected on the issue until early next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., recently wrote Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked to share their views and recommendations on the contentious policy. In Sept. 24 letters, Reid also asked for a review of the cases of two U.S. officers who were discharged from the military because of their sexuality.
“At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country,” Reid wrote.
Jones said Obama “has an awful lot on his desk. I know this is an issue that he intends to take on at the appropriate time. And he has already signaled that to the Defense Department. The Defense Department is doing the things it has to do to prepare, but at the right time, I’m sure the president will take it on.”
As a candidate, Obama signaled support for repealing the law. To the disappointment of gay-rights supporters, he has yet to made a move since taking office in January. The White House has said it will not stop the military from dismissing gays and lesbians who acknowledge their sexuality.
Last year, 634 members of the military were discharged for being gay, or .045 percent of the active-duty U.S. force, according to an Aug. 14 congressional report.
The largest number of gays who were ousted under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy came in 2001, when 1,227 were discharged, or .089 of the force.
The House is considering legislation to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allow people who have been discharged under the policy to rejoin the military.
Jones appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
You guys are really interesting. For George W Bush, “the right time to end DADT” was “not during my eight years!” For Obama, it’s promised to be “sometime in the next year or two” and you’re throwing a nutty over it.
…and yes, I understand that pain and suffering are happening to honorable LGBT men and women who will be discharged between now and then. I get that. And it hurts me to think about it. But do you really mean to tell me that introducing a bill in the winter and having it pass by year end 2010 isn’t fairly quick? It would be “within the first two years” of his presidency!
I sadly no longer trust Obama and feel he misled the LGBT community to garner votes. I won’t be holding my breath as he drags his feet on this issue.
The issue has to wait to be in the appropriate time slot. Throwing American Veterans on their asses is compared to a fucking golf game. A stop loss order can happen now, with no loss of work on anything else. But they won’t do it. Because of politics, and nothing else.
Of course our gay rights loss-leaders love to toast Obama, Mr. wonderful, fully cooperative in the discrace to those willing to die for America. GOLF. Obama loves to butter up the inactivists, pour wine in their glasses and talk about the glories of equality. It is so outrageous it makes me want to throw up.
DADT isn’t the most important legal battle of this Administration, but it’s a bellweather. Obama has done this by not listening to his gut. His Administration tries to be cutting-edge and risk-averse at the same time, and that’s not gonna work. That’s why so much of this country–gays and militias alike–is so friggin’ angry. Obama won’t stand his ground AND FIGHT FOR IT. Plenty of conservatives would give him a chance IF he’d stand up for what he claims to support. But he doesn’t…he fades into the background, like he’s facilitating a charette or a group-therapy session. It’s offensive. Any third-tier hopeless GOP wannabe prez would be able to come up with a list of priorities and generally stick to it. Dems are notoriously bad at this, Obama especially so. He wouldn’t face so much opposition on healthcare, environment or financial reregulation if he came out with clear views, presented with unwavering support by his lieutenants. Seems the Dems haven’t learned that lesson, and DADT in particular is looking more and more like very symbolic proof that Obama is a detached egghead, the embodiment of the Adlai Stevenson stereotype, looking ever less capable of the job because he lets others manage him. He needs very desperately to watch some footage of 90’s GOP leaders like Gingrich, as well as newsreels of FDR, Truman, and the Stevenson-Eisenhower election battle. Obama looks totally over his head, and it’s his own fault no matter what the reality is. If he doesn’t start owning his policies, the GOP can stay in utter minority disarray and still chew him up.
So, it was the right time to fly off to Copenhagen and scmooze with the IOC, (when he could have just sent his wife) but it’s not the “right time” to stop the expulsion of numerous qualified, decorated gay service members? Interesting priorities he has.
LGBT people can and will create THE RIGHT TIME by strong involvement in fighting for LGBT equality this coming weekend. If you can be at the March in Washington– BE THERE. If not, find some personal or community action you can do and DO IT!
So-called “pro-family” and “pro-life” groups (who actually want to restrict family rights) are able to swamp the offices of the President and members of congress with millions of letters, post cards and petitions against our rights. Unless we respond with action of our own, we cannot expect political representatives to support and defend our equality.
Right… You’ll get to it. Uhuh…
Does anybody believe Obama anymore? I sure don’t.
I’ll remember “The right time” when I enter the voting booth come 2012.
I’ll be astonished if Obama keeps the House next year, and is re-elected in 2012. Who DOESN’T he throw under the bus?
So far this year, he’s squandered every oppotunity to get things done, including things he actually cares about like health care. Loser.
Unfortunately for us, the ‘Right Time’ will be just after his term is up.
There never is a right time to do the right thing. But if you have integrity, compassion, and courage you will do the right thing today.
It may appear the Obama has neither intergrity, compassion, or courage.
“At the right time”….What the hell does that mean? How many more people have to be discriminated against before we say enough. Think of all the money wasted on training soldiers just to kick them out for being gay. Then the money wasted on proving that they are GAY. Military on military violence is up, military rapes are becoming more prevalent. I think the military justice system has bigger issues on their hand the who people love or sleep with. So If I say I am bi, not gay, do I still get kicked out?
As a gay person, I want this policy changed yesterday–it makes no sense this day in age from a number of standpoints, and troop uneasiness is no excuse for continued institutionalized discrimination. But as an American who trusts President Obama, I also think that now is not the right time to raise this controversial issue in light of the fight currently going on over critical issues facing the country. I believe Obama is a good man who at his core abhors discrimination, who will turn this policy around as soon he successfully can, and whom deserves our support instead of criticism for not doing everything at once.
The fact that this comes right after a waste of resources, and a waste of time that apparently the president doesnt have…on a failed bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago (which I might add is a bit embarrasing for the first time in history a President of the US personnaly appeals to the IOC)… is extremely frustrating, yet again we hear nice words, but see very little action.
Don’t expect anything before 2012. The dems are doing what the republicans are doing with health care. They can use the economic crisis, health care reform all they waynt, delay means failure and DADT will be a casualty of that unfortunately. I’m not that hopeful even if we weren’t in the economic mess we’re in. Nothing has changed.