Obama to make announcement on gay ban

[unhappycamper]

Obama to make announcement on gay ban
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 26, 2010 6:38:07 EST

The announcement of congressional hearings on the ban on open military service by homosexuals has been delayed at the request of the Obama administration until after Wednesday night’s State of the Union Address because the president may announce that military leaders will support changing the law, according to a key lawmaker.

The Senate Armed Services Committee expects to have a series of hearings, one focusing on the views of military leaders, another on the views of outside witnesses and possibly panels of junior officers and noncommissioned officers, said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the committee chairman.

Levin said Monday that an announcement of the hearings has been delayed at the request of senior Defense Department officials until after President Obama’s speech. Levin said he does not know what Obama might say, but he expects it will be an announcement of the administration’s intentions.

Hearings were supposed to start with military leaders, Levin said, but he might change the order to get hearings underway if senior military officials need more time to prepare.

“I am willing to switch things up,” he said. “I am committed to starting the hearings in February.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/military_dontask_hearings_012510w/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Hearings? What do we need hearings for? nt

[muffin1]

6. Yep. Fuck that.

Whatever happened to ending DADT upon taking office? Oh, that was put on the back burner while "more important" issues were tackled.

Then dear leader tries to take the edge off the Equal Rights March on Washington with a pre-emptive speech to the HRC. Again, more pretty talk and promises and and no action.

Now, let's put it off until February and have "hearings". Then, we will be in the middle of the mid-terms, then his own re-election bid is right around the corner...

Fuck, I cannot believe I fell for his lies.

[TheWraith]

9. Who said "upon taking office"?

And for your information, according to Barney Frank DADT repeal is slated to be part of the 2011 defense appropriations bill to be passed this March.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Don't play dumb.

You live in this city and you know better. Hearings are always done before a major policy shift, even if it is fait accompli.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Oh, Congressional Hearings? That's a start, I guess?

:shrug:

[donco6]

3. Great, so now we get to "hear" how horrible we are all over again.

Lovely.

This'll go nowhere. It'll stir up a bunch of antigay shit, they'll vote "no" and we'll all go back to square one.

[jeremyfive]

4. Hearings Are Stupid

Why is it necessary to give airing to the prejudices of some old men who have schemed to ruin so many fine military careers?

I think they are defending the "frat house" atmosphere which has resulted in scandals at our military bases--out of controll brawls and the raping of young women.

Prejudice is indefensible. These top officers have already ruined so many lives. Hearings are stupid at this point in the game.

If we cannot find ways to make use of the fine military men and women we have, including full use of their talents and abilities, then our overall military efforts are doomed.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Worse than that, they're a complete copout. nt

[Tyo]

5. Yawn

Given our Fierce Advocate's track record when it comes to our equality (he hasn't really left the starting blocks yet) his announcements and promises mean nothing to me. I'll get excited when promises have become reality, not before.

[Jamastiene]

12. You can say that again.

I won't be holding my breath. Nothing ever comes from these hearings...except BS.

[Toasterlad]

8. This Is Completely Fucked Up

Not only are "hearings" just another way of saying "we won't give you shit, but we'll look like we're working on it", but Obama is even putting THAT off, just so he can grandstand and look like a GLBT hero by announcing that "military leaders now support changing the law"...as if wasn't the Commander in Cheif and was supposed to be TELLING them how to conduct business, not begging for their support. And, of course, since nothing will come of these hearings and DADT WON'T be repealled, Obama won't have to take any shit from the right come re-election time.

I didn't expect much from this administration, but it has been a failure far beyond my lowest expectations.

[Jamastiene]

13. Not only are hearings bullshit that rarely lead to any change,

these hearings will be just another bunch of assholes sitting around jawing about how horrible gay people are.

As far as Obama being any kind of "fierce advocate": I'll believe it when I see it.

[donheld]

10. I'm very tired of the talk, He needs to start walking the walk.

[Jamastiene]

11. Global warming could be reduced greatly if our lawmakers would STFU and get their jobs done.

I swear they contribute entirely too much hot air and entirely too little progress.

[Zenlitened]

14. I sincerely hope he will announce he is suspending DADT discharges...

... and says in plain, clear-cut language that he wants Congress to send him a bill repealing DADT right freakin' now.

Then, at whatever hearing the House or Senate may hold while getting the job done, I fully expect EVERY military leader to simply promise that they will carry out the instructions of America's civilian leadership.

Any who feel the need to grandstand at this point should be moved to the front of the discharge line themselves, because they clearly haven't got what it takes to lead responsibly.

There's no new ground to cover here in the year 2010, no new insights to be shed on some imagined "controversy."

DADT is travesty, and it's time to get rid of it so that every American citizen who is ready, willing and able to serve honorably may do so.