(Robert) Gates says courts should not set policy on gays

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that abruptly ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy as a federal judge has ordered would have enormous consequences.

A day after a judge in California ordered the Pentagon to cease enforcement of its policy barring gays from openly serving in the military, Gates told reporters that the question of whether to repeal the law should be decided by Congress, and done only after the Pentagon completes its study on the issue.

"I feel strongly this is an action that needs to be taken by the Congress and that it is an action that requires careful preparation, and a lot of training," said Gates. "It has enormous consequences for our troops."

The defense secretary said that besides the changes in training, regulations will need revisions and changes may be necessary to benefits and Defense Department buildings.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxIyhWP4o0LCQi15rYE_GrzGWauwD9IQT5J81?docId=D9IQT5J81

[DonCoquixote]

1. There is a long list

Of people Obama should have fired a while back, and while we can all drop names (Tim, Rahm, Arne) the top of the list is this a--hole.

[Autumn]

2. Well bless his

fucking little heart.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. Kick that can down the road some more --

:eyes: :mad:

I am so over this Administration on this issue.

[EFerrari]

4. F#ck this career Bush fixer. n/t

[BeFree]

5. Uphold the constitution? Screw that piece of paper?

Everybody who is the slightest bit interested in equal rights needs to vote the damned republicans out of office.

No if's and's or but's. Get in line or get the fuck outta here.

[Angry Dragon]

6. "and a lot of training" .. ??

What training, what change in buildings, what am I missing??

You just treat them like people, is it that hard to understand and treat everyone the same, treat them like people??

[kenny blankenship]

7. I mean, since when do Federal courts have the power to adjudicate matters of Constitutional rights?

They're putting on airs! No, no, this is a matter for randomized sample opinion survey.

[zipplewrath]

8. changes in ....DoD buildings?

"The defense secretary said that besides the changes in training, regulations will need revisions and changes may be necessary to benefits and Defense Department buildings."

What in sam hell is he talking about? What kind of changes, for loves sake, can he POSSIBLY be talking about? He CAN'T be serious. He MUST realize that they are already filled with gays. I've said it before, I'll say it again. They're gonna screw this up. If they don't write a law that clearly tells theses knuckleheads in the DoD to just give it up, they'll write the dumbest, most abusive regulations you can imagine.

[Solly Mack]

9. Buildings? WTF?

[defendandprotect]

10. Gates shows his hand here -- he's still able to intimidate Obama and Congress ....

and that's the way he wants to keep it --

If liberals/progressives win for human rights, Gates and the right lose a huge

"wedge" issue.

This is important -- keep pounding on it!!

Human rights -- for everyone!

[mopinko]

22. +1

[EFerrari]

23. That's right. Exactly. n/t

[Evasporque]

11. So...right wing thugs should set policy....on their boots....

that are applied to our necks....??

[sallyseven]

12. Gays have served honorably

for years. What is he talking about. I never heard of any problems with the gays. The repuks in the senate are holding up the legislation so shut up Gates. Can you imagine McShame being able to snatch away a right from another person because he wants to get elected???

[Unvanguard]

13. Halting the discharges will have no consequences whatsoever

except for gay, lesbian, and bisexual troops, who will finally be able to serve honestly and openly, and for national security, which will be improved by the retention of perfectly suitable and talented servicemembers.

:eyes:

[herbm]

14. He's totaly right. Congress and the President or the Chiefs of Staff should have don it.

[damntexdem]

15. Courts should defend constitutional and other legal rights.

Policies that violate such rights should be struck down.

Next question!

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Of course, Robert Gates has never once turned away the

integrated troops of other nations, all of our allies have gay people serving openly, and Robert Gates always takes their assistance, never claimed the need for any training whatsoever, no preparation at all, and the fact is, they took all of that help without so much as batting a bigoted eye at the 'consequences'.
Robert Gates is insulting every NATO nation save for Turkey, which agrees with him. And yet he asks for and accepts the lives of an international array of GLBT service members.
His words and his actions do not match up. He is dishonorable and hypocritical.

[NC_Nurse]

17. Fuck these idiots. I am so sick of these "centrist" shitstains who claim to be patriots.

Fuck them all.

[liberation]

20. Gates is a pretty reactionary douche...

... speaks volumes about Obama's "centrist" tendencies that he chose to keep him as Secretary of Defense.

[Divine Discontent]

25. amen... shame on Obama for keeping him around. it's literally OFFENSIVE.......

F*ck their 'sensitivities' on this issue. They've destroyed thousands of lives... jerks.

[bowens43]

18. Hey Gates , you babbling idiot

our inalienable rights can NOT be taken away or granted through legislation. This is absolutely a Constitutional issue and the government of the USA has been violating the Constitution for many decades. Obama and Congress won't fix it , the courts had better.

[katsy]

19. Of course not.

So sayeth hitler.

So, military rule over a nation of laws suits ya fine, mr. gates?

Maggot.

[The Uncola]

21. Fire him, yesterday. n/t

[JDPriestly]

24. So now the military wants to be exempt from the application of the Constiution

even as to discrimination. How arrogant can they be.

[hootinholler]

28. The military has *always* wanted exemption from the Constitution.

Well, maybe not always, There was a period the military existed before the constitution was ratified.

-Hoot

[rosesaylavee]

26. At least one branch of the govt has the balls to do what is right and uphold the Constitution.

Gates should retire.

[speppin]

27. What kind of 'training" is needed? Not to hate???