DISQUS

AMERICAblog: Obama admin. won't appeal DADT case to Supreme Court, but will "defend the statute when it is challenged in the justice system"

  • missmarple · 7 months ago
    I'm a straight old lady and I'm disgusted with Obama for his wishy washy attitude over DADT, to mention just one of the promises he made while campaigning. I see him as a one term President and Lord knows what we're going to get after him. I am sorry at this point that I voted for him.
  • nokkonwud · 7 months ago
    "Is this defense of laws with which Obama disagrees consistent across all policy areas, or just gay issues?"

    Well, let's see...

    Torture prosecutions are off the table even though it is against our laws and international law.

    Seems clear to me.
  • KarenMrsLloydRichards · 7 months ago
    But: He's a Finding-Common-Grounder! There's got to be common ground between homophobic senior military officers, homophobic lawmakers in Congress, homophobic Muslim jihadists, homophobic advocates for banning ALL homosexuals like Elaine Donnelly, homophobic military chaplains.

    And, by golly, Barack Obama will find it.
  • Gridlock · 7 months ago
    The wheels on the bus are a bright fabulous pink color, having run over gays so many times..
  • Butch1 · 7 months ago
    Now I got that silly tune going through my head, " The Wheels on the Bus Go 'Round and 'Round." Pink wheels definitely are an appropriate analogy.
  • wmforr · 7 months ago
    I just sent another e-mail to the White House--I recommend that everyone send them a short letter every day--be respectful, no invectives, no rants. Just make sure his daily briefing tells him certain issues are not going away.

    I compared the legal defense of DADT (because it is the law) with the decision to ignore laws against, say, torture and crimes against humanity.

    Personally, I think the U. S. Christian Missionary Army and the U.S Christian Missionary Navy and the U.S Christian Missionary Air Force are twisting his arm and pulling a Rummie-Bible-quote on him, and he doesn't have the balls to assert his authority as Commander in Chief.
  • gaydem · 7 months ago
    Good advice...I just sent an e-mail to the WH, and will do my best to repeat this action regularly.
  • dula · 7 months ago
    How hard would it be for Obama to stop firing Gays in the military until he can further review DADT? The man is a coward/Centrist.
  • obamacrat · 7 months ago
    John,

    Read Bob Herberts column today about all the mental health problems that the troops are experiencing in Iraq and back home and tell me this is all about concern for 'unit cohesion'. What does it do to unit cohesion to send a troubled man back to Iraq for his 4th tour of duty there so that he ends up killing 5 of his fellow servicemen. It's a ruse and I suspect the real objection has more to do with the conscious cultivation of a kind of religious zealotry in the military. See Rummsfeld Worldwide Intelligence Update Coversheets.
  • Gary · 7 months ago
    So when is the next March on Washington? You think we can get a couple million queers on the Mall? I'll be there. We need to stay visible and keep the pressure dialed up.
  • gaydem · 7 months ago
    Folks...there is still a climate of discrimination all over the country.

    We need potent Hate Crimes legislation, ENDA, and repeal of this ridiculous policy. What I don't understand is why there is not planning going on at every level for a 5,000,000 Queer March on Washington, D.C. Have we become so complacent, so indifferent with all these years of waiting and disappointment?

    Won't someone besides HRC, GLAAD, NSD (i.e. someone with some balls and fortitude) PLEASE plan a peaceful, high-profile week-end long action? It is long past time for cajoling, checks and cocktails. A mega march is called for!
  • Gridlock · 7 months ago
    Sure, go ahead.

    See, that's the problem: Everybody is waiting for everybody else to do something.
  • ndtovent · 7 months ago
    I wish we would, but a few years after the march-on-washington in 2000, all the powers-that-be glbt organizations/groups came up with the reasoning that major mow's were no longer effective in getting legislation passed, and that they were no longer worth the effort. They also cost a fortune to organize, and every time we've had one, they always come up with a big $$ shortfall. There were a few good articles about this in our gay paper, the washington blade a few years ago regarding this. Personally, I think a rip-roarin mow is overdue.
  • Mike_H · 7 months ago
    I think too many gay activist groups have become complacent after electing Obama. This year's Pride season really ought to be about agitating, speaking up. If we continue to relax and take a "wait and see" attitude, we'll continue to get nowhere.

    We need to be respectful but active.
  • Monrocsol · 7 months ago
    I am glad I backed Hillary Clinton for President. Obo is a jerk!
  • Agi · 7 months ago
    Everyone's favorite rapture-ready eliminationist Randall Terry is back!
  • wmforr · 7 months ago
    No mention of his estranged gay son?

    I think there is a rule, that if you are a prominent homophobe and not a closet case yourself, at least one of your offspring will come out.
  • Deacon_Blues · 7 months ago
    "An administration doesn't have to defend a law with which it doesn't agree or thinks is unconstitutional." Really? Like those against torture? Change the freakin' law!!! And whose responsibility is that? Congress!
  • DemVet · 7 months ago
    Obama promised during the campaign that he would be a "fierce advocate of equality" for gay and lesbian Americans. His silence betrays his words. Not even a peep out of him in support of the recent gains in marriage equality. In my opinion, here's what he should do right NOW: There are many retired flag officers and 0-6's (including me) who oppose DADT. Obama should invite them to lunch at the White House and ask them to run with the ball, with a sense of urgency. They have the credibility to educate the public, influence the congress and neutralize the recalcitrant old-fart generals and admirals who cling to the status quo.
  • cowboyneok · 7 months ago
    Some of us have been fighting for DECADES for our rights and we WILL NOT STOP until we get every single right any other American enjoys! We have to give our young LGBT kids HOPE! We do it for the NEXT generation to not experience the discrimination we have, and we WILL NOT go backwards!

    "We've got to give them hope!" - Harvey Milk
  • cantagallo · 7 months ago
    I agree that the time to undo DADT is way overdue but I don't agree that the best way to do that is to ignore current law. the Bush administration did enough of that and it sets a dangerous precedent. New legislation is needed and as a previous poster said that is the job of the Congress. Clear legislation that unambiguously undoes DADT is the right course. I beleive Obama would sign such a bill. The problem, as with health care reform, may lie with the conservadems.
  • Gridlock · 7 months ago
    Nobody is asking him to ignore it. We're asking him to SUSPEND IT pending congressional review so that more good soldiers aren't witch hunted out of the military in the meantime.

    That is, of course, if Failbama ever gets off his ass and even bothers with that campaign promise. I'm not holding my breath.
  • Butch1 · 7 months ago
    "Until Congress passes legislation repealing the law, the administration will continue to defend the statute when it is challenged in the justice system."
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    So instead of leading, he would rather hang on to his "capital" and pass the buck to Congress to have to deal with it. So much for "hope" and "change" and his favorite slogan should read: "Yes, YOU can." Since he won't be expending any effort on our equality except cheer-leading, lip-service, platitudes.
  • vkobaya · 7 months ago
    president remains committed to repealing the law "in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security"

    The fundamental assumption here is repealing DADT will damage our arm services and weaken our national security. Alternet this morning has an article about the H-bomb lost over Georgia that was never found. Turns out there are missing bombs all over including our losing bombs in Spain and Portugal. Weaken our arm services and national security? Ha ha! Article even mentions the lost navy destroyer. Sounds more to me like our arm services are the major threat to our national security. Getting rid of our incompetent, stupid, lazy, greedy, permanent, standing military will be the most effective thing we can do enhance our national security. Gays are zero threat and have served time after time with honor in the military if that is honor.
  • RitornaVincitor · 7 months ago
    Since way back in the presidential campaign I have been saying that some one in the Obama team is very conflicted on gay issues and is probably a closeted gay. Do I know this to be a fact? No. Do I strongly believe it to be the case? Of course. Even if it is not true, the administration is behaving exactly as if it is true. Furthermore I believe Obama himself is conflicted on gay issues. They need to stop playing games with our rights and behave as if their rhetoric during the campaign was sincere.

    P.S. I'm a gay Viet Nam vet.
  • Weltallica · 7 months ago
    Like the Abu Ghraib photos, now that Obama has power, he'll just "change his mind".

    I accept my role in this mistake.
  • sheiler · 7 months ago
    Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al. only seek to challenge a part of DOMA and not the part where certain homos in MA can marry, say, a foreigner. My car just quit at 381,000 miles, in my weekly commute to my foreign-born spouse who lives in Canada. I know any ruling on this won't help me with short term car trouble, but it sure would be nice to have a future to look forward to, one that involves knowing that I can be in the same country/home as my loved one.
  • Gridlock · 7 months ago
    .. move to Canada. It's better anyway.
  • Indigo · 7 months ago
    We already know that Obama isn't gay-friendly. Why are we still fishing for ways to negotiate. Bring it out in the open, he's afraid of Equal Rights!
  • MrHeathen · 7 months ago
    For the life of me I just cannot even fathom how any self-respecting gay or lesbian person would volunteer to serve a country that considers them a second class citizen in the first place... I say "TELL TELL TELL" and let the fundies who've taken over all the branches of our military to do it by themselves. Obama is no friend of GLBTs, not now, not ever. He's the biggest disappintment and deserves to be a one termer!