Obama On Don't Ask, Don't Tell

[babylonsister]

Run time: 01:42 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2xzRMLmEoI   Posted on YouTube: July 13, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 14, 2009 By DU Member: babylonsister Views on DU: 788

 
Related:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8527557&mesg_id=8527557

Sam Stein

Obama Wants Quick "Change," Not "Repeal" Of Don't Ask Don't Tell (VIDEO)
First Posted: 07-13-09 06:31 PM | Updated: 07-13-09 10:18 PM


President Barack Obama said over the weekend that he would like to tackle the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy "sooner rather than later." But in an interview with CNN, he also argued that the White House was powerless in seeking such a reversal, forced to wait for the legislative branch to act first. And, in terminology likely to anger the gay rights community, the president called for a "change" rather than "repeal" of the ban on openly gay men and women serving in the armed forces.

In the interview, CNN's Anderson Cooper pressed Obama as to why his administration had not moved on a key promise it made to the gay rights community -- that it would overturn the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy crafted during the Clinton years.

"Look," the president replied, "I've had conversations with {Defense Secretary} Bob Gates as well as Admiral {Mike} 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.

"But look, the bottom line is, I want to see this changed," Obama added, "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."

"Do you personally have a timetable in your mind of when you would like to see changed?" Cooper interjected.

"I'd like to see it done sooner rather than later," Obama replied. "And we've got 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."

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/13/obama-wants-quick-change_n_231061.html

[Libertas1776]

1. Go bite the big one

Mr. President, you have not and you are not going to do anything for gays this term around, are you? Maybe when a second term is nice and secured then it will be more politically "prudent" for you to do so. Until then, I guess we will just have to shut up and wait :sarcasm:

[BigD_95]

3. or he can commit political suicide and lose

to Palin in the next election and we will see how far we get with gay rights under her. Plus the the law wouldnt have been overturn and his Executive order would just be reversed.

[Libertas1776]

4. Poilitical Suicide my A-S-S

He doesn't want to act because of plausible conservative opposition in congress and congress doesn't want to act until they see action from the White House. So if someone is going to take the first step, it might as well be the Commander in Chief. The president has the authority of "stop loss" but not in making someone to stay in service forcibly, but rather allowing someone to willingly continue service regardless of their sexuality.

If you want more specifics, just read these arguments from legal experts who counter Obama's claim that it is a matter for congress.
http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/releases/New+Study+Says+Obama+Can+Halt+Gay+Discharges+With+Executive+Order


And you have 100% assurance that he will get elected otherwise? What if the economy gets worse and worse, all the Repubs have to do is say Obama fucked up the economy and the Dems have another Jimmy Carteresque one term under their belt. Then what will become of our rights.
I'm sorry, but to me, civil rights is not something to be put off down the road to hopefully be solved later, while "dealing" with the current economic crises by continuing to throw tax dollars at the Banks that caused the problem, and refusing to investigate any violations committed against the Constitution these past eight years by protecting Bush and his cronies.

Obama has the power, and to continue the argument that only congress does is utter b.s. (and by your logic, we should just wait until he does act. Fine then don't ask us for any more campaign contributions until he does.)

[izquierdista]

2. He squeezed a lot of weasels to get those words

There is something a little asymmetric about Bush ignoring laws he didn't want to enforce and Obama hewing to enforcing all the laws. In the former case, you have an idiot who can't tell a good law from a bad one, and in the latter you have man of good judgment bound by bad rules. In both cases the end result is the same though, the good vanishes under the waves of the bad.