Watch: Rachel Maddow Talks to Two Closeted Active U.S. Military Fighter Pilots Fed Up with 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Last night, Rachel Maddow interviewed two closeted active duty service members who say they are fed up with DADT, and concluded her three-part segment, with this bit of advice for the administration (my transcript):
"Unless you believe that the United States Senate after this year's elections is going to do the right thing by gay service members — HA! — then the decision by the Obama administration whether or not to appeal this ruling is likely a decision between killing this policy, now, and letting it survive, probably forever. This is not the conclusion I expected to reach after today's report on the subject and after today's interviews...
...Everybody says the Justice Department appealing this ruling is an inevitablity. It does not have to be. It is not inevitable. If the administration believes the law is unconstitutional, there is precedent that supports the administration not appealing it and letting the law die. An orderly timeframe for the death of a law can be arranged with the court. I hereby declare that I will never get another call back in Washington ever again for putting it this way to you, but it is the way it is. A plan that has no chance of becoming reality is not a real plan, no matter how much you say it is. You can either end it, or you can stop saying you will."
Watch all three segments, AFTER THE JUMP...
Bravo Rachel-as usual-
Wonderful interviews and a terrific, succinct commentary at the end of that segment. She is correct in her assertions.
It will be a long time before DADT is overturned. The Republicans and DINO's have alot of political hay they can still make over this issue and THEY will.
Posted by: nick | Oct 14, 2010 6:38:13 AM
Let's get this straight: Obama says he wants DADT gone. He tells us that over and over. He wants it off the books.
Okay. So, he can, by merely picking up the phone and telling the lawyers at the DOJ not to appeal. It would take maybe five minutes of his day. Probably less time than it takes him to take a dump.
But he won't. He "wants Congress to repeal the law." So it's not the result Obama wants it's the process. Because the result would be the same if he took care of it now or waiting -- in vain after the mid-term elections puts (at least) the House back in Republican hands...with a few total white cracker/tea party Republicans in those seats. Hell, they still believe the earth is flat much less anything progressive dealing with gay folks.
So Obama is f*cking us (again). Plain and simple. He has lied. Gotten nothing passed but some benefits for gay federal workers. Wow. Thanks, great gay hope. With friends like Obama......
Posted by: Bart | Oct 14, 2010 9:01:44 AM
A truly powerful segment. A couple of decades from now, anyone who looks back on these shadow interviews will be amazed by the ridiculousness and obviousness of the injustice. And, unless the President lets the ruling stand, he will go down in history as being, disgracefully, on the wrong side. Rachel's concluding statements sum it up:
"A plan that has no chance of becoming reality is not a real plan, no matter how much you say it is. You can either end it, or you can stop saying you will."
The administration keeps insisting they plan to repeal DADT, but how? The window of opportunity has passed. Are they planning to pull it off in the lame duck session? Good luck. Or after the Republicans gain more seats in the Senate in Nov? Impossible. It's sad that the Court has to step in to do what the politicians--who claim to be on our side--should have and could have done with the appropriate will.
Posted by: Ernie | Oct 14, 2010 10:12:27 AM
I am so impressed with these two brave, professional, intelligent, and dedicated service members. We should all be proud that they are serving our country, and we need them to continue to serve our country.
Posted by: Dan | Oct 14, 2010 10:29:37 AM
Thank you, Rachel, for this excellent succinct segment, especially the end where (as usual) you simply "tell it like it is". Also, thank you to the two fighter pilots for being willing to be interviewed on how DADT affects them personally.
Posted by: Frederick | Oct 14, 2010 11:39:35 AM
obama won't do the right thing the doj will appeal the judges order. he is a fierce advocate of what i am not sure. we will continue to lose qualified individuals in the miltary as long as GLBT service members are forced to make choices about family and living openly.
Posted by: walter | Oct 14, 2010 1:28:05 PM
thank you rachel
Posted by: r | Oct 14, 2010 1:45:14 PM
Heartbreaking and Courageous report and commentary.
Posted by: mcNnyc | Oct 14, 2010 5:19:17 PM
Some information about DADT policy: "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons from military service. The restrictions were mandated by United States federal law Pub. L. No. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). The policy prohibited people who "demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States, because their presence "would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." The act prohibited any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation or from speaking about any homosexual relationships, including marriages or other familial attributes, while serving in the United States armed forces. The act specified that service members who disclose that they are homosexual or engage in homosexual conduct should be separated (discharged) except when a service member's conduct was "for the purpose of avoiding or terminating military service" or when it "would not be in the best interest of the armed forces."
Posted by: dịch vụ seo | Oct 14, 2011 2:42:03 AM