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Defense Chief Giving Don't Ask Don't Tell a Closer Look

Catz Part Deux

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Defense chief giving 'don't ask, don't tell' a closer look - CNN.com
For the first time, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is outlining potential Obama administration plans to enforce the "don't ask, don't tell" rule selectively so that some gays could serve in the military.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there may be flexibility in applying "don't ask, don't tell."

Gates said he is looking at ways to make the policy "more humane," including letting people serve who may have been outed due to vengeance or a jilted lover. The remarks appeared in a transcript the Pentagon released Tuesday.

In addition, Capt. John Kirby, spokesman for Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday the chairman "supports the idea of a less draconian way of enforcing the policy."

Apparently, the Obama appointees believe that gays/lesbians are stupid, and don't realize that this is far short of what was promised.
 
I suspect a lot of "jilted lover's" might be sending in letters then.

This half-assed crap is just pathetic. Obama is president, and the democrats might even get a filibuster proof majority in congress. There is no excuse to tiptoe around it other than cowardice or lying about wanting to get rid of the policy in the first place.
 
Obama to End Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy - Political News - FOXNews.com

Jan 15, 2009: WASHINGTON President-elect Barack Obama will allow gays to serve openly in the military by overturning the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy that marred President Clinton's first days in office, according to incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Obama: I'll end don't-ask, don't-tell
April 11, 2008: Barack Obama said he's confident he could end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military, but he won't make it a criteria for serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Obama said during an interview with The Advocate, a gay publication.

"What I want are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are making decisions based on what strengthens our military and what is going to make us safer, not ideology," he said.

Obama said ending the policy, which was instituted during Bill Clinton's administration, is something he could "reasonably" get done if elected.
 
I suspect a lot of "jilted lover's" might be sending in letters then.

This half-assed crap is just pathetic. Obama is president, and the democrats might even get a filibuster proof majority in congress. There is no excuse to tiptoe around it other than cowardice or lying about wanting to get rid of the policy in the first place.

Agreed. It should be repealed, but they are afraid of a backlash.
 
This might have to do with not wanting to change policy in the midst of two wars. Thats about the only excuse I could think of. I know that its been argued that it shouldn't matter when they make the change, but I feel its at least a debatable point if right now is the time to do it.
 
This might have to do with not wanting to change policy in the midst of two wars. Thats about the only excuse I could think of. I know that its been argued that it shouldn't matter when they make the change, but I feel its at least a debatable point if right now is the time to do it.

Personally, I think that it's the perfect time to change the policy. We need all the help we can get and shouldn't really be turning people away because of something as silly as sexual orientation. If someone is willing to fight for their country, more power to them.
 
This might have to do with not wanting to change policy in the midst of two wars. Thats about the only excuse I could think of. I know that its been argued that it shouldn't matter when they make the change, but I feel its at least a debatable point if right now is the time to do it.

Since gay people are already serving in the military in some fair number, getting rid of the policy would only stop the military from losing people, with no real downside.

As I understand Obama's position on this right now, he wants congress to get rid of DADT, not for him to do it by executive order. The reason being, if he does it, next president can just change it back, but if congress does it, it is almost certainly permanent. I am not sure I buy that excuse, but that is what it is.
 
Mr Obama was never a friend to the gay/lesbian community. I never understood their affection for him. 1069 posted here that once he got into office, he was going to change laws in favor of gays in spite of what he said during the campaign. It's amazing to me that people barely even listened to what he was saying.
 
Mr Obama was never a friend to the gay/lesbian community. I never understood their affection for him. 1069 posted here that once he got into office, he was going to change laws in favor of gays in spite of what he said during the campaign. It's amazing to me that people barely even listened to what he was saying.

Few politicians are, unfortunately. Politicians have their own agenda and once they win the highly coveted position they could care less about the promises that they made to get to that position.
 
Personally, I think that it's the perfect time to change the policy. We need all the help we can get and shouldn't really be turning people away because of something as silly as sexual orientation. If someone is willing to fight for their country, more power to them.

I'm not saying I necessarily agree with it, but just that I feel it at least qualifies as a debatable reason for holding off. Whether it is or not, is just speculation on my part.
 
Defense chief giving 'don't ask, don't tell' a closer look - CNN.com


Apparently, the Obama appointees believe that gays/lesbians are stupid, and don't realize that this is far short of what was promised.

This 'WeNoAsk -YouNoTell' rule was concieved by a guy who thought be could con, conive, and confuse people into thinking that he feels their pain. Let us not forget that the illigitimate father of DADT was also the same character who smoked grass but did not inhale and IS the same who tried to cloud the issue of his own self being inhaled by attempting to change the meaning of what is, is.

Therefore I do not see anything that anyone can do to salvage a Frankestein's monster of a rule that DADT is, is.
 
Mr Obama was never a friend to the gay/lesbian community. I never understood their affection for him. 1069 posted here that once he got into office, he was going to change laws in favor of gays in spite of what he said during the campaign. It's amazing to me that people barely even listened to what he was saying.

Obama got 7% less of the gay vote than Kerry did, actually.

That said, I strongly believe that Obama has personal feelings in favor of gay rights, but at the same time is a politician like any other.
 
Obama got 7% less of the gay vote than Kerry did, actually.

That said, I strongly believe that Obama has personal feelings in favor of gay rights, but at the same time is a politician like any other.

I think that President Obama has very crafty and carefull not to get himself linked to any specific interest group too strongly. Has anyone ever noticed that he is very careful not to appear to be pro Black issues either. Now maybe tha is becasue he is a Democrat and Democrats have a diverse large tent of groups so he cannot appear to be the god father to any one group yet he also needs to walk the line carefully so that he does appear to be failing to support all of the Democratic groups.

The Republicans have it simple they basically just need to kiss up to the religious right and they are golden LOL !! I am simpliying that on purpose!!!
 
Few politicians are, unfortunately. Politicians have their own agenda and once they win the highly coveted position they could care less about the promises that they made to get to that position.
Obama was a nobody that no one knew anything about. A blank slate that people molded into multiple discrepant characters, each to everyone's unique fuzzy wuzzy imagination. His empty rhetoric fooled a lot of people, mostly the gullible youth.
 
Obama was a nobody that no one knew anything about. A blank slate that people molded into multiple discrepant characters, each to everyone's unique fuzzy wuzzy imagination. His empty rhetoric fooled a lot of people, mostly the gullible youth.

I believe he even mentions that in one of his books. He describes himself as a blank slate upon people project their ideals on him.
 
I believe he even mentions that in one of his books. He describes himself as a blank slate upon people project their ideals on him.

So if he is open about that is that back or wrong ? Would it be better to have said that he was one thing and we found out that was another ?

Let us remember that here was a candidate who said that he will not be a "nation builder" and also a "decider" not a "divider".
 
It could have something to do with one thousand, one hundred flag and general officers signing a letter supporting a ban on gays in the military. Kinda hard for a CIC to go up against 1,100 general officers.
 
It could have something to do with one thousand, one hundred flag and general officers signing a letter supporting a ban on gays in the military. Kinda hard for a CIC to go up against 1,100 general officers.

Which is what percentage of all officers?
 
Which is what percentage of all officers?

That is irrelevant. The military is not run by consensus. Flag and general officers are the highest ranking officials within the military. Nobody cares what a bunch of junior officers straight out of OCS think.
 
Defense chief giving 'don't ask, don't tell' a closer look - CNN.com


Apparently, the Obama appointees believe that gays/lesbians are stupid, and don't realize that this is far short of what was promised.

He's taking things slowly... one at a time. He's got a lot of promises, let him do his job and it should happen. If his term ends and it doesn't, then complain when he is running again. Clearly he is trying to making progress in that direction... then you to respond with a wag of your finger?
 
Generals fear gays openly in the military because it is part of training and doctrine to make homo phobic remakrs and the jargin very commonly refers to male body parts. But, there is also a lot of womanizing and talking about Suzy Rotencrotch yet women account for some 15% of the military. Anyway, the same argument against letting gays in the military could've been made for keeping the military segregated. Progress is inevitable. Gays will be allowed in the military eventually.
 
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