Today, the Supreme Court refused to hear argument from 12 former servicemembers dismissed under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. The lawsuit claiming the policy is unconstitutional has officially failed.
The justices refused to hear it based on a specific request by the Obama administration.
The administration said in a release, quote, “the appeals court ruled correctly in this case when it found that don’t ask, don’t tell is rationally related to the government’s legitimate interest in military discipline and cohesion.”
If anybody in the gay community has any delusions whatsoever that Obama is our friend and is still planning to strike down DADT, lay them aside now. We have them on the record proving the reality that they do NOT have our interests at heart. The truth hurts, folks, and it’s time to face that reality that we’ve ignored for the sake of “The One.”
steveflesher
Philip
Mel Maguire
Mark Ciavola
Comments
That’s a bit of a stretch to say it won’t be repealed or that Obama is somehow hostile to the gay community. The fact of the matter is, DADT is the LAW. It’s a dumb law, it’s one that needs to be repealed, but as it stands now, it is law. The President cannot undo it with the stroke of a pen. Congressional action must be taken to get the ball rolling. As much as I know it must suck to be told to wait for equality, I don’t expect to see this debate begin until after we see health care reform. And let’s not forget why we have DADT to begin with; it was a compromise from a president whose desire was to allow gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military. If the Republicans (who you HAVE deluded yourself into thinking are your friend) had their way, they would outright ban homosexuals from serving. I don’t think Obama was posturing, or lying to secure votes, or anything nefarious. If he were, he wouldn’t bother to reiterate his stance on the subject AFTER he was elected, and he certainly wouldn’t have sent this to a discharged lesbian, Second Lieutenant Sandy Tsao last month:
http://glaadblog.org/2009/05/07/a-personal-promise-from-president-obama-on-dont-ask-dont-tell/
Robert:
President Obama stated he doesn’t favor redefining the definition of marriage and he was opposed to California’s Measure 8. Measure 8 prevented redefining marriage. This is a concept Obama supports. I do not consider Obama a friend of the gay community. His comments regarding same sex marriage are typical Democrat bull. They pull us in with one hand and push us away with the other.
“The justices refused to hear it based on a specific request by the Obama administration.”
Mel
The justices vote among themselves which cases they will hear. Five of the nine have to vote to hear a case. Obama can make a request this case not be heard. But the SCOTUS isn’t legally bound by that. In fact, if they paid that request or any request any heed, then the concept of an impartial judiciary would come into question. Judges at all levels are supposed to be impartial arbiters of the law.
One more thing, assuming this Obama request had any pull, perhaps Obama did what he did because he knew the votes on the SCOTUS were not there to overturn Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. That might be a good move.
Recently the SCOTUS ruled the military can conduct ocean sonar testing even if it harms marine life. National security trumps environmental concerns in this case. Perhaps this SCOTUS is very pro national defense. Anything that could or does undermine national defense won’t win at the SCOTUS. This includes Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
I know all about Lt. Tsao. I know about Obama’s note to her. I don’t trust it. A politician will say whatever he needs to say to get into the good graces of voters, which in this case means he will say one thing and do another as long as it keeps us happy. It’s nothing new to him, as I’ve pointed out before. He’s very good at convincing people that he’s going to do one thing while he does another, and the MSM will cover him because he’s Obamessiah.
I completely didn’t see that one coming.
I’ve never understood why openly gay people join the military or stay in if they were in the closet when they joined up.
The military doesn’t want us. Choose another career.
I understand gay folk are patriotic. I understand they need the money the military can provide for college through the G.I. Bill. I get the job training aspect of the military too. That does not change the fact the military hates us.
Gays in the military is almost the same as black people wanting to join the KKK.
That’s the problem, John–the military doesn’t hate us. Not one of the soldiers I know cares if a comrade is gay or lesbian. As long as they’re not being flamboyant about it, they really don’t care. Even my brother, the most macho of all men on the planet, doesn’t care if someone is gay. It doesn’t bother him.
“A politician will say whatever he needs to say to get into the good graces of voters, which in this case means he will say one thing and do another as long as it keeps us happy”
And why, pray tell, would he need to placate you after winning an election? If he’s as devious as you claim him to be, why not simply ignore your plight altogether? Your argument is mere disappointment cloaked in skepticism…
No. I tried to warn the gay community during the elections that this dude wasn’t on our side, and nobody paid attention. This is merely an extention of that argument.
“No. I tried to warn the gay community during the elections that this dude wasn’t on our side, and nobody paid attention. This is merely an extention of that argument.”
One requirement for being openly gay and political is you have to check your brain at the door and submit to tyranny.
The Republican party has never lied to me. I know where I stand. The only way is up.
The Democratic party has lied time and time again. The Democrats know they are the lesser of two evils for gays. They exploit that for every vote and $$$$ it is worth. They take our money. They willingly accept our volunteer efforts to win elections. They demand we vote for them. When it is all over they deliver zero.
So the Republican party is homophobic and that is a sick condition. But the Democratic party is full of evil liars.
Better to be sick than evil.
I served 4 years in the AF. In basic training, me and about 70 other girls had to file into an 8′x8′ set of showers every day. There was barely room to move, let alone wash. Our bay was strictly female. As were the males. When I went to tech school, again the sexes were separated to discourage sex and help keep our eyes on the mission. It isn’t that the military hates gays, it’s that there is no room for them. Do we create separate barracks for gay men and lesbians? Do we put gay men in female barracks? How do you get around the sex factor? We separate the sexes for good reason. Tossing gays into the equation messes up the formula. I support equal rights, to include gay marriage, but I believe that the gays in the military issue is a tricky one. I hate the idea of having to force an entire group of people out of the military, but I really see no other choice.
“I hate the idea of having to force an entire group of people out of the military, but I really see no other choice.”
Lifting the ban on gays in the military is putting the cart before the horse. Lifting the ban won’t get rid of homophobia. Homophobia is the bigger problem. Eliminate homophobia and there won’t be a need for a ban on gays in the military.
I know about all of that. Yet every single soldier, airman, sailor and marine I know has personally said that they work with other servicemen and women whom they know to be homosexual, and they don’t care.
Just because I love women doesn’t mean I want to have sex with every single woman I see.
“I know about all of that. Yet every single soldier, airman, sailor and marine I know has personally said that they work with other servicemen and women whom they know to be homosexual, and they don’t care.”
What about the sharing of quarters aspect? I know the sharing of quarters can vary from location to location and branch of service to branch of service.
Gay or not I would not want to be at sea on a Navy ship or submarine. No way, no way, no way.
“Just because I love women doesn’t mean I want to have sex with every single woman I see.”
I see your point. It always annoys me when the bar of soap hits the floor in the shower and all I can think is “will someone please pick it up”