John Edwards says "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was "always wrong"

[Bluebear]

November 26, 2007
Chris Johnson

In conjunction with the 14th anniversary of the signing of the military policy banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, the Human Rights Campaign has asked the leading Democratic candidates for President to respond to the question, “If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?’” Starting Monday, November 26th and ending on Saturday, December 1, one statement from the Democratic presidential candidates will be posted each day on Back Story.

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) kicks off the week today with his statement on DADT:

“If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?' ”

John Edwards (D-NC): “It is long past time to end the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy and to allow openly gay men and women to serve in the military. It is critical to our national security that we have the best people in our military. Gay men and women have continually served our country with honor and bravery, and we should honor their commitment and never turn away anyone who is willing to serve their country because of their sexual orientation.

“This is an issue of fundamental fairness – and our military ought to treat everyone fairly. ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ did not become wrong. It was always wrong. Instead of fumbling when people question the morality of the 12,000 gays and lesbians who have unjustly lost military careers, we must repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2007/11/john-edwards-sa.html

[saracat]

1. And again, Edwards is the voice of the voiceless!

[GreenTea]

2. “This is an issue of fundamental fairness – and our military ought to treat everyone fairly".

!!!

[Skittles]

3. so is not allowing gay marriage

yup

[frazzled]

4. Too bad he was rarely there on the question (or other gay rights questions) in the Senate

An editor of the Washington Blade isn't too impressed with Edwards's record on gay rights:

Edwards does seem to have an attendance problem when it comes to gays. In July 2003, seven of nine Democratic presidential candidates addressed a first-of-its-kind forum sponsored by HRC. You guessed it, Edwards was a no-show.

There were about 500 people, mostly gay, in the audience (including me). I guess that’s too many of “those people” in the room for his comfort.

Edwards scored a 66 out of 100 on HRC’s congressional scorecard for the 108th Congress. Where I went to school, that’s a big fat “D.”

http://www.washblade.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=5/24/07&end=5/25/07

It's almost a no-brainer for Democratic candidates to oppose Don't Ask Don't Tell these days. He doesn't get a ton of brownie points from me for this almost universally accepted truism within the party--and, currently, within much of the military itself.

[Bluebear]

5. Well, I match 'an editor' with this list of progressive LGBT leaders: :)

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – The John Edwards for President campaign announced today that prominent LGBT leaders from across the country endorsed Senator John Edwards for President.

"I am honored to have the support of so many well-respected LGBT leaders," said Edwards. "They work hard every day to make our country a better place and I am proud to join with them to fight for equal rights for all Americans."

The following LGBT leaders endorsed Edwards for President:

* Skip Paul, Corporate Executive
* Darren Star, TV Producer
* Julie Johnson, Human Rights Campaign Public Policy Committee Co-Chair
* Eric Stern, Former National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director; Former Democratic National Committee LGBT Outreach Director
* David Mixner, Former Bill Clinton for President Adviser; LGBT activist, fundraiser, author www.davidmixner.com
* Dennis Erdman, TV Producer/ Director
* Mary Snider, Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Executive Committee Member
* David Tseng, Kerry-Edwards 2004 National LGBT Advisory Committee Co-Chair; Former Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National Executive Director
* David Mariner, Former Out for Howard Dean Co-Chair; Founder, www.outfordemocracy.org
* James Duff, TV Producer
* Ramon Gardenhire, National Stonewall Democrats Black Caucus Co-Chair; Former DNC LGBT Deputy Outreach Director
* Scott Benson, Majority Leader Minneapolis City Council
* Shane Larson, AFL-CIO Pride @ Work National Executive Board Member; Association of Flight Attendants (AFA)-Communications Workers of America (CWA) Government Affairs Director
* Scott Wiener, Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Member; San Francisco Democratic Party Chair* (for identification purposes only)
* Jeff Gardner, Garden State Equality Vice Chair; New Jersey for Democracy Co-Chair
* Lynne Wiggins, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Leadership Council Member; Former Human Rights Campaign Board of Governors Member
* Ken Keechl, Broward County Commissioner; Former Dolphin Democrats President
* Linda Elliott, Human Rights Committee Board of Directors Member
* Dave Garrity, Former Democratic National Committee Member
* Mark Periello, Former Human Rights Campaign staff member; Democratic strategist
* Ron Ginsburg, LGBT Community Activist; business owner
* Randall Kelly, LGBT Community Activist; attorney
* Stephanie Kornegay, LGBT Community Activist; business owner
* Robert D. Horvath, Mautner Project Board of Directors Member
* Patrick J. Lyden, LGBT Community Activist; Homeland Security Advisor


http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/200700410-lgbt/

[Blackhatjack]

11. Now that pretty much puts the wood to the former Repub(Blade) criticism...

Quite an impressive list.

OF course the criticism is part of another agenda entirely.

[CorpGovActivist]

15. Edwards' Answers at the Human Rights Campaign/LOGO-Sponsored Forum

http://visiblevote08.logoonline.com/2007/08/09/video-john-edwards-rewind/

In her remarks, Hillary said those of us in the LGBT community have not struggled long enough yet:

http://visiblevote08.logoonline.com/2007/08/10/video-hillary-clinton-rewind/

"But this has not been a long-term struggle yet."

- Dave

[dsc]

8. His previous record in gay rights is why I am not pulling the trigger to support Edwards

but the editor of the Blade is a Log Cabin Republican (he did become independent in 2004 after Bush endorsed the Amendment). I would be very careful using him for quotes.

[dysfunctional press]

9. one thing to remember about his time in the senate-

and it's not a complete pardon, but...

he WAS elected to represent the views/opinions of the people of north carolina at the time.

[notanotherday]

6. this is a no win issue to be avoided. fair or not. now is not the time for this.

This is a classic wedge issue trap.

[Bluebear]

7. Oh, do tell, when would be the "time" for this?

[CorpGovActivist]

16. "At the Sound of the Tone, the Time Will Be...

... a quarter to never. Thank you for calling the DLC time line."

- Dave

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. .

:spray:

[CorpGovActivist]

18. Think That's Spew-worthy? See the DLC Candidate's Answers at the LOGO Forum

http://visiblevote08.logoonline.com/

- Dave

[Lone_Star_Dem]

19. You must mean spew as in the purgative sense.

Because the DLC always tends to evoke a strong feeling that I need to purge.

[CorpGovActivist]

20. Your Emoticon...

... was spewing water. But I couldn't agree more.

; )

- Dave

[bobbolink]

21. .

:applause:

[NMMNG]

10. Freaking uppity gays, get under the bus so we don't lose the election!

[Beausoir]

12. Jesus. I am so sick of that meme. When IS the right time for basic human rights?

I'll be sure to pencil it in on my schedule.

[Lex]

13. If not now, when? If not us, who?

-- JFK

[LostinVA]

22. Actually, most Americans support the repeal of DADT

BTW, please let me know when you think it's okay for gay to ask for civil rights. Thank you.

[helderheid]

14. Error: you can only recommend threads which were started in the past 24 hours