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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama Told Military Leaders: Accept Gays In Military Or Step Down, Admiral Says
In a 2010 meeting in the Oval Office, the president told service chiefs they could go do other things if they didnt support abolishing DADT, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp said.posted on March 31, 2014 at 6:37pm EDT
In a meeting with the heads of the five service branches in 2010, President Obama offered the leaders a choice: Support my efforts to end the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, or resign, the Commandant of the Coast Guard said.
In a video obtained by BuzzFeed via a Freedom of Information Act request, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp revealed that Obama was unwilling to compromise with service leaders over DADT during a meeting in 2010. We were called into the Oval Office and President Obama looked all five service chiefs in the eye and said, This is what I want to do. I cannot divulge everything he said to us, thats private communications within the Oval Office, but if we didnt agree with it if any of us didnt agree with it we all had the opportunity to resign our commissions and go do other things, he said.
Papp talked about the meeting during a Q&A session with U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadets following a leadership address to the corps on Jan 8. The admiral was asked how officers should respond to policies that they disagreed with but were required to enforce. If I disagree morally with [a policy], its my obligation to voice that, regardless of the risk it might give my career, he said. Ive been in those situations. Ive been fortunate to have good leaders that have appreciated that. Using himself as an example, Papp said it was OK for leaders to not be thrilled with a certain regulation, but if they didnt see anything terribly wrong with it, it was their job as officers to support and enforce it.
The admiral, who will be retiring from active duty on May 30, added that he thought the U.S. military made the right decision by abolishing DADT.
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http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/obama-told-military-leaders-accept-gays-in-military-or-step
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Obama Told Military Leaders: Accept Gays In Military Or Step Down, Admiral Says (Original Post)
DonViejo
Apr 2014
OP
Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)1. “go do other things”!
Liberal Veteran
(22,239 posts)2. Obama rocks, no matter how much some people say otherwise.
Not perfect, but he has done so much good in the face of such resistant from congress, I'm glad he is my president.
get the red out
(13,467 posts)3. Me too
I agree.
tridim
(45,358 posts)4. Fucking used car salesman.
rocktivity
(44,577 posts)5. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" Awards
Well, he IS the CIC, after all...and what kind of commander in chief puts himself above his own country's laws?
Sorry I asked...
rocktivity