07/13/2009
Obama: 'I'd Like to See [DADT Changed] Sooner Rather Than Later'
Anderson Cooper pressed President Obama on his wishes regarding the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in an interview broadcast over the weekend on CNN.
Said Obama: "Look, I've had conversations with Bob Gates as well as Admiral Mullen about the fact that I want to see this law change. I also want to make sure that we are not simply ignoring a congressional law. If Congress passes a law that is constitutionally valid, then it's not appropriate for the Executive Branch simply to say we will not enforce a law. It is our duty to enforce laws. I do think that there is the possibility that we change how the law is being enforced even as we are pursuing a shift in congressional policy. But look, the bottom line is, I want to see this changed, and we've already contacted congressional allies. I want to make sure that it's changed in a way that ultimately works well for our military and for the outstanding gay and lesbian soldiers that are both currently enlisted or would like to enlist...I'd like to see it done sooner rather than later. And we've begun a process to not only work it through Congress, but also to make sure that the Pentagon has thought through all the ramifications of how this would be most effective."
It was also reported over the weekend that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) may be close to introducing a bill that would put a moratorium on military discharges under the policy.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 7:41 PM EST by Andy Towle in Anderson Cooper, Barack Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Military, News | Permalink
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Ted, you sound very clueless.
Posted by: Paul | Jul 14, 2009 10:30:17 AM
Obama, whose opposition to same sex marriage puts him firmly in the camp of the christian bigots, says Bill Clinton's infamously bigoted law DADT is ‘constitutional’. Constitutional or not Clintons DADT has the force of law because the same bigot who signed it signed DOMA. Clintons bottomless well of hostility and bigotry towards the LGBT communities got us into this mess.
So what if Clintons DADT is constitutional? So was slavery. So was the denial of votes for women. The bigoted law signed by Clinton has to be repealed, not changed or amended. It leads, as Clinton, a constitutional scholar knew all along that it would, to harassment, loss of benefits and at least two murders we know of.
Obama's real reason for upholding Clintons DADT has nothing to do with partisan equivocations or legalese. It has everything to do with the fact that during his campaign, helped by the pandering expertise of bigots like Joshua Dubois and Leah Daughtry, Obama was able to capture many of the southern baptists, mormons and catholics back from the Republicans.
"gawd's in the mix" was his battle cry and it got him the bigot vote and torpedoed our chances to defeat Prop 8. He's not about to do anything that might drive those bigots back to the Republicans. We’re paying the price for Obama’s replay of the Clinton and Bush presidencies. Obama, unfortunately for us, is the perfect Clinton clone.
(How long will it take that burnt out old shill Leland Francis/Michael Bedwell, using his alias d’jour, to conjure up some more lies? He really has no option other than lying because the facts of history always prove him wrong.
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Jul 14, 2009 10:38:03 AM
Gee, if only he knew the commander and chief...
He has no problem covering the tracks of the Bush administration. They broke laws and violated the Constitution and he completely supports not persecuting them. All talk, no action.
Posted by: David Ezell | Jul 14, 2009 10:39:01 AM
But Bill aka Rainbow RED aka Donal1944 aka ExploitMurderedGaySoldiers aka who the fuck cares...you left out that Clinton killed Christ, gassed 6 million Jews, invented slavery, created AIDS with his Boy Scout Chemistry Set to annihilate gays, and cancelled "Laverne & Shirley."
Posted by: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com | Jul 14, 2009 10:59:22 AM
As a gay veteran and a senior citizen, I find Obama's remarks pathetic. I gave him mony during the primaries and the general election. I wish I had my money back. Maybe if he had to put on a uniform and fight for his country and then be treated like a second class citizen he would feel my (our) pain. Like Cheney, he found ways to stay out of uniform. Well, Barack, "Fool me once ok, but twice, you are a fox in sheeps clothes.
Posted by: Mike Pickett | Jul 14, 2009 11:20:25 AM
Um, Cheney avoided service DURING A DRAFT by securing 5 deferrals. Obama cunningly avoided service in THE ALL-VOLUNTEER ARMY by not signing up.
Posted by: 24play | Jul 14, 2009 11:34:35 AM
I was watching "Definitely, Maybe" with Ryan Reynolds the other night. Ryan played a Wisconsin guy who worked hard to have Clinton elected. When Ryan's character saw Clinton running in Central Park one day, he waived at him and yelled "I worked on your campaign". "Clinton" just kept running and sort of waived at him. That's how I feel about Obama--he just waives at us from afar...after we helped him up the side of the cliff and now that we need help getting up, it's just "yeah, thanks. See ya later".
Cheap and not classy.
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jul 14, 2009 12:29:02 PM
"Change" doesn't necessarily mean overturning.
Posted by: redbearded | Jul 14, 2009 1:25:14 PM
Mikie Bedwell, or is it Leland Francis, or whatever your alias d’jour is, you’re just not firing on all cylinders.
If you imagine the Clintons are anything but common, run of the mill political hustlers out to make a buck you’re in a dreamland. One of them is a lawyer, just like you. How sordid. They're Democrat pols and you're a Democrat shill. That’s sickening.
They’re right centrist, pro-war, anti-union, and anti-worker and anti-GLBT. They gave us DADT and DOMA. They ran a racist campaign against Obama. Most people don’t like that about them but you like them precisely because they're such tawdry rightist hustlers. Right wing shills like you are pestilential and your politics are dangerous. If Leland/Mikie is a guide, the older and more rigid you get the further right you go, until finally, like Mikie/Leland, you’re living in log cabin land.
Thankfully, most people don't end up channeling Roy Cohn like our Leland.
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Jul 14, 2009 1:59:23 PM
This is f*ing bullshit!
Im trying to support him but words are no use
Posted by: Michael C. | Jul 14, 2009 5:37:42 PM
Hey Mr. Ehrenstein, just because a person is gay doesn't mean he can't be a patriot. Obama talked about the importance of "Service" during one of the themed Presidential debates in '08. It is the everyone's right to serve for this country.
My partner served in the US Airforce as an F-16 fighter pilot and a decorated veteran of two wars. He still wanted to serve but had to retire in 2008 after 21 years of service for fear of getting discharged through DADT—and risk losing all what he had worked hard for, not to mention the honor to defend your freedom, our freedoms, and the freedom of this country. Back home, he couldn't even fight for his own—the freedom to serve honestly and openly as a proud gay soldier.
So, shame on you Mr. Ehrenstein! My partner fought for this country because he loves this country, he cares for all Americans and because he believes in the US Constitution. DADT is unconstitutional and should be repealed, and LGBT service members should all be treated equally just like every other US citizens. And Mr. Ehrenstein, you don't just sit around allowing to be treated like a second class citizen. You stand up and fight for your right. What kind of fucktard mentality do you have? And shame on all those who think that its OK to put DADT in the back burner. Like most of you guys here, I am disappointed with President Obama whom we supported overwhelmingly, but we remain hopeful that he will keep his promise. Please don't delay this anymore. Don't Fuck This Up Barack!
Posted by: Wingman28 | Jul 14, 2009 11:49:21 PM