Obama won't criticize Pace, nor say position on "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

[DemKR]

"Obama stopped short or criticizing military Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace for calling homosexuality "immoral" this week."

"We're having a ongoing debate in our culture about homosexuality," Obama said. "I believe that gays and lesbians are entitled to the rights that every American enjoys and if they are able and willing to serve in our military then we should re-examine those policies that prevent them from serving."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3135.html

Now let's see if this thread gets the slams like Hillary's did. Re-examining the policies isn't exactly calling for it to be overturned.

[AndyA]

1. I am disappointed in both Barack and Hillary.

Allowing citizens to be stamped second class is not what this country is supposed to be about.

Both of them should know better. Discrimination is always ugly, and always wrong. I would hope a black man and a woman would understand this and do everything they possibly can to do away with it for once and for all, but I guess that's expecting too much of them.

Shame, shame, shame.

[DemKR]

2. How do you feel about Edwards

listening to his advisers over his own instincts in regards to his IWR vote?

I am not bashing him, just interested in what you have to say about this.

In my opinion, advisers are the root of the problem (look what they did to Ned Lamont)...politicians should not be "politically correct" 100% of the time.

[AndyA]

9. I know there will never be a perfect candidate.

And I'm not totally 100% dedicated to John Edwards. I like him best for right now, but I'm trying to keep an open mind to all the Dem candidates, but when stuff like this happens, it becomes more and more difficult.

I think it's too early for anyone to have decided who they are going to support for certain, as too many important things are bound to come up between now and then.

Face it, if Al Gore decides to run it will totally change everything.

I just want some straight answers. Realizing you can't please all of the people all of the time, they are going to have to piss some people off when they state their views. And that's fine, that's just the way it is. But this "one foot on the dock, the other on the boat" thing of Hillary's is getting tiresome. I want some straight, honest answers that don't change as often as the weather, and I don't get that from her at all.

In fact, I'm not getting that from most of them. Politics is what is wrong with this country today.

[NYCGirl]

3. Was he asked whether he thought homosexuality was immoral? Senator Clinton

was asked a direct question.

[Colobo]

4. They are trying to spin it to make Hill look better

Poor Obama... everytime Hill does something, her supporters will fire at Obama.

[DemKR]

6. Katzen, can't you admit

that Hillary has taken a FIRM position against DADT and that Obama has not?

[Colobo]

8. On DADT, Hill, Edwards and Obama seem to agree

If you feel gays should have the same rights as all Americans, then you are against DADT by default.

[DemKR]

10. Then can't you argue

that since Hillary supports 99% of the gay rights agenda that she doesn't believe homosexuality is immoral? If it's okay for Obama not to flat out say his position on DADT, then it should be okay for Hillary as well.

[Colobo]

11. She was asked one specific question

"Do you think homosexuality is inmoral?" She answered what she answered, and she has to deal with it. That's not anybody's fault but hers...

[DemKR]

5. NYC, do you actually think

Hillary meant to ask us to conclude her own personal morals??? I'm positive she's going to clarify this one. Her main point was that people had the right to conclude what they wish on THEIR morals.

[NYCGirl]

7. A simple "No" would've sufficed on her part. NT

[DemKR]

12. So, NYC, you also believe that

A simple "Yes" or "No" would suffice on Obama's part when asked about DADT?

[NYCGirl]

20. If he was asked a simple, personal, yes or no answerable question. But that was

not what he was asked, it seems.

[Connie_Corleone]

13. Right or wrong, Pace can have his own personal opinion.

It's his position on the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that we can criticize him for.

Hillary was asked her PERSONAL opinion on whether homosexuality is immoral. She didn't giver her PERSONAL opinion. That's what she's being criticized for.

Obama was not asked for his PERSONAL opinion. That's the difference.

Personally, I don't care what their personal opinion is on homosexuality. As long as they don't legislate to deny them rights as everyone else.

[DemKR]

14. So if it were Hillary's position that homosexuality was immoral

which it's not, and that she supports the gay rights agenda, which she does, there shouldn't be a problem. Right?

[Connie_Corleone]

17. Not with me. I can't speak for the other people on DU.

[peacebird]

15. "I believe that gays and lesbians are entitled to the rights that every American enjoys"

That was a much clearer pro-GLBT rights answer and a much better response than Hillarys, but I am disappointed by the following information:

"Sharpton criticized Obama for backing pro-war Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Obama said he supported Lieberman before Ned Lamont entered the race. Lamont, who opposed the war, was the choice of the Democratic establishment and won the party primary. But Lieberman won the general election as an independent.

When Lamont entered the race, "I had already made a commitment," Obama said."

-----
In my mind, any "commitment" should have been a commitment to the person who was selected by the people and won the primary. Backing Lieberman over the winner of the Dem primary is just plain WRONG.

[Connie_Corleone]

16. He supported Lamont in the general election.

Obama's PAC gave his campaign $5,000. The commitment was during the primaries, not when Lieberman ran in the general as an independent. The sentences in the article makes it seem like Obama still supported Lieberman after he lost the primary, which is not true.

[peacebird]

19. Thank you for the clarification!

:hi:

[DemKR]

18. My issue with Obama

is that he recognizes the problems (good), but is afraid to come up with solutions (not so good). "We have a debate going on about homosexuality" -- that's just stating the obvious....what is he going to do about it?? Re-examine the policY?? Okay, re-examine how?


Hillary has been very clear she supports overturning DADT. On the issue of morality, all she meant to say was that it's up to the individual how to define their morals. She was not taking the question in a literal sense on HER position. Why then, would she let "others conclude" it?

[Connie_Corleone]

23. I don't think he's afraid. I think there might be phases to his campaign.

He might be in an "introduction" phase of his campaign where he has to allow people to get to know him. Later he'll get into specifics on what he plans to do if elected president.

At least, that's how I'm seeing his campaign strategy. Everyone knows Hillary and Edwards. People are still trying to find out about Obama's life and experience. Once that's over, then he'll roll out his plans. There is still a lot of time before the race gets really going.

[jaysunb]

21. Good for him !

Just stick to the issues that mainstream Americans--particularly gen x & y -- are concerned about. Do not get sucked into the bullshit !

[DemKR]

22. So does the same go for hillary then, jay? nt