Obama to discuss rule on gays in military (SOTU Wednesday)

[Duncan Grant]

During his 2008 campaign for the presidency, Obama vowed to end the rule discriminating against gays and he renewed that pledge in a speech last year.

"We were told by the Pentagon that they expected the president to say something in the State of the Union on it," said Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, referring to the speech Obama will deliver on Wednesday evening to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.

But Levin added: "I have no idea" what Obama will say.

The rule, which dates to the presidency of Bill Clinton, requires homosexuals to keep quiet about their true sexual orientation if they want to be in the U.S. military. It also stops recruiters or commanders from asking members of the armed forces whether they are gay.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60O5R520100125

[nosmokes]

1. WTF is there to discuss?

End the ban on gays in the military. It is just that simple.

If some homophobic POS isn't man or woman enough to serve next to someone who is openly gay then they ain't man enough to serve my country.



edited because i still can't proofread.

[inna]

2. +1.

If he's going to mention something, it MUST be about actually ending the ban. Otherwise, it just makes absolutely no sense to even bring the issue up (unless the plan is more pandering to the RW.)

[Toasterlad]

11. Are You Familiar With President Obama?

All he ever DOES is talk about things he has no intention of ever acting upon.

[Tyo]

13. And then he might just deny that he ever supported it in the first place

See, "public option" Obama is neither fierce nor an advocate for us or for anyone else.

[TheWraith]

16. It'll probably be a mention that changing DADT is on the agenda for the year.

Currently they've got it scheduled for March, attached to the 2011 defense appropriations bill.

[Smashcut]

3. +1000

[jonnyblitz]

5. no blue ribbon panels for you eh? I hear that! nt

[donheld]

8. It's a lavender panel thank you very much

:D

[jonnyblitz]

15. ..

:spank:

[Smashcut]

4. I really hope it isn't a passing "shout-out" and is actually a commitment to back repeal NOW

[tbyg52]

6. One can hope, but I doubt it. :-( nt

[TheWraith]

17. It's slated for repeal in March as part of defense appropriations. nt

[Starry Messenger]

7. Yes We Can (Take Meetings)

There's nothing left to discuss. This country needs to grow up and join the 21st century. End of story.

[donco6]

9. Wasn't really motivated to watch it until now.

I'm curious.

[David Zephyr]

10. No more fucking words. He should order the immediate end to discharges...

and then they can study the issue to hell freezes over and play politics.

But, he has the power tonight to stop the discharges.

No more fucking words.

[Toasterlad]

12. He Should, But He Won't.

[mitchtv]

14. Wake me when something real happens

until then it's just drivel