Obama on DADT Repeal: "It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly"

[jefferson_dem]

History in the US Senate: A win on DADT 63 -33

UPDATE @ 12:37 PM: Here's the statement from the President:

Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/12/history-in-us-senate-win-on-dadt-63-33.html

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm thinking of a great big Rose Garden signing ceremony

with Lt. Dan Choi sitting by the president's side as he signs it.

[wndycty]

3. Harry Reid owes Dan Choi a ring/pin back and that will be very emotional

:kick:

[Clio the Leo]

9. lol we just had the same thought....

.... little cold and snowy for a Rose Garden ceremony .... East Room perhaps?

[Pisces]

2. A beautiful statement!!!

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stray cat]

5. LOL! Proof that DUers and Free Republic are sometimes identical twins!

[Clio the Leo]

7. When folks run out of rational arguments, they start cracking bad jokes. nt

[vaberella]

13. Yup yup!! n/t

[4lbs]

15. I've noticed that some of the biggest complaints and backhanded compliments regarding today's

DADT vote(s) have been from people who have "proudly" displayed the tombstone avatar.

Hmmm, makes one wonder.

[jberryhill]

32. Have you been reading some OTHER DU?

Because the DU I read has been calling Obama a homophobe for months and swearing this would never get done.

[11 Bravo]

19. Perhaps a little empathy is in order. (It probably hurts to be that stupid.)

[emulatorloo]

8. What is wrong with you?

[jberryhill]

18. Obama hates gay folks. Been reading that here on DU for months

[emulatorloo]

27. Ah, you forgot the sarcasm smilie then!

True, there are DU'ers that claim that.

[jberryhill]

30. There are a LOT of DUers who've had a free pass on it for months

[vaberella]

36. For Months!! I've heard on DU he actually never wants DADT to be repealed. n/t

[jberryhill]

43. Yeah - he calls himself a "fierce advocate" to dupe gay donors

It's surprising what you learn on DU

[SidDithers]

10. Sarcasm smilie needed...

Sorry, too many actual posts like this over the last year. Someone who didn't know you might think you were actually serious. :hi:

Edit: too late

Sid

[lamp_shade]

34. Guilty as charged

Me >

[SidDithers]

37. That poster's one of the good guys...

and I share their frustration at what's been posted about DADT and Obama over the last 2 years.

Sid

[lamp_shade]

40. I know that now but I was probably one of many who hit the alert button.

It's hard to tell what's up and what's down around here anymore.

[SidDithers]

42. Don't blame you for alerting...

I would have done so myself if I didn't already know that poster.

:hi:

Sid

[Cherchez la Femme]

47. "One of the good guys"?

Who, then are 'the bad guys'?

Unbe-fucking-lievable.

[SidDithers]

48. The bad guys are the ones that don't support the repeal of DADT...

the good guys are the ones that do.

Sid

[Cherchez la Femme]

49. Sorry, but I don't believe you

So who ARE these people? No, I won't receive any names or links,
not for the DU rules about calling any poster out by name.
But more importantly, for one thing anyone here who doesn't support the repeal of DADT will, according to Skinner, receive a pizze muy bueno pronto; and that along with another site principle of 'supporting' the LGBTQI community.

But hey, you have links or names of those who do not support gay rights, DADT to be specific, on DU send them to me privately.
And the people must still be members of DU -- it doesn't count if they bash the efforts to repeal DADT yet are still allowed ('a la the finally gotten-rid-of OMC) to remain members in good standing.

It would be fascinating reading, but I believe it is a piece that hasn't been written yet, nor indeed can be.


For another, you are obviously, and very strongly, 'on a side' and most if not all of your posts
--at least that I've seen here--
have been derogatory towards &/or unrecomending anyone's posts who dare to criticize the Presidents policy(s).

For yet another, your own words in this thread give it away: "I share their frustration at what's been posted about DADT and Obama over the last 2 years." (emphasis mine)

I've already covered the alleged members who don't support DADT (while I DO appreciate your anger at those trolls who have been against DADT) all that is left in quoted post is your outrage over those uppity enough to criticize Obama.


Sorry, but it just doesn't wash.
But please, prove me wrong... awaiting your email filled with links.

[jberryhill]

44. Lol - now ALL Americans can fight Americas illegal wars of imperialist aggression

..and have their genocidal crimes exposed by Wikileaks, regardless of sexual orientation.

[namahage]

11. You are being sarcastic, yes?

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law veto it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. Who Is A Homophobe?

.

[jberryhill]

22. Obama is. Don't you read DU?

What DU have you been reading for the last two years?

He opposes gay marriage, won't issue an EO to temporarily stop DADT, the DoJ defends US statutes...

I've been reading about how much he hates this, here on DU, constantly.

[vaberella]

39. There's at least a post a day on this. Have you heard he doesn't want DADT repealed?

I loved that one. His push for DADT is just a front to keep the LGBT vote, but he wants it to stay the same.

[lamp_shade]

16. Say what?

[The Doctor.]

17. Just what I was thinking.

Because we all know just how much Obama hates teh gay. :sarcasm:

[jberryhill]

26. According to a good deal of DU, yes he does

But it is great that now ALL young Americans can fight America's illegal wars of genocidal imperialism.

[The Doctor.]

45. Ouch. Hard to argue with that.

I respect everyone who signs into the US military for their courage. I find no solace that they are sent to die for profiteers.

But here we are near the eve of repealing DADT. Do you really think a single DUer will go out of their way to try and cast aspersions upon him to remind us how terrible he really is?

No... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x31514">of course not.

[namahage]

20. Yup. Just like the Matthew Shepherd Act he signed.

Crimes motivated by a person's sexual orientation are now considered hate crimes--because as we all know, "hate crime" refers to crimes against people the President hates.

[emulatorloo]

31. You forget Obama's unrelenting and vociferous criticism of states that have Marriage Equality!

Oh, wait he doesn't do do that. That would be Focus on the Family etc.

[jberryhill]

33. How about the "fierce advocate" line used here on DU as a sarcastic insult repeatedly

[Tx4obama]

21. Sorry but you're wrong.

President Obama has 'always' wanted DADT to be repealed (by Congress).
The repeal of DADT was one of his campaign promises.
If Obama had not been elected, we wouldn't have seen DADT repealed today.

[jberryhill]

23. Only repeating what I've heard on DU constantly for months

[Tx4obama]

25. That is as bad as repeating what is said on Fox News ;p

[jberryhill]

29. Yeah, well, I've been sick of hearing it - will those people leave now?

Obama's been called every name in the book by shortsighted pinheads on this site, and I'm surprised we don't see:

"Obama planning to invade Iran - increases pool of potential recruits"

[Clio the Leo]

6. Would love to post some pics of Choi and Fehrenbach in full uniform...

..... flanking their Commander in Chief as he walks out to sign this repeal into law.

Would be surprised if that happened ... but just putting it out there, you never know.


(old pic)

[Tx4obama]

24. Dan Choi would have to be out of the hospital first for that to happen. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

35. ah, good point. nt

[polmaven]

46. He is out of the hospital.

he was on CNN this afternoon after the vote.

[bigwillq]

14. Good statement.

K and R

[mtnsnake]

28. Now THAT is the Obama that sounds just like the one that delivered Kerry's Keynote address

and made everyone take notice. This was a huge achievement of a major issue.

[Radical Activist]

38. Obama deserves a lot of credit for making this happen.

It's fair to criticize him for not doing it faster and suspending enforcement. But, he still deserves credit for doing in this in a way that kept a Republican Secretary of Defense and most top military leaders in favor of repeal. He set a time line of doing it this year, and despite the naysayers, he kept his word.

I lost track of how many emails and texts I received from OFA to pressure Senators on it. He mobilized people to make it happen and that has to be a major reason why the Senate finally acted.

[vaberella]

41. He couldn't really suspend it.

The fact being that DADT is a law that causes problems on putting an executive order on it. And there's this other clause. However, I do agree he deserves credit, but DU is not really known for giving him much. So far he's been a fail, there was even a locked thread calling him a bigot.

[Bluenorthwest]

50. This thread tells so many stories

nt