http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/29/714383/-%5BUpdated%5D-Obama-fully-funds-LGBT-witch-hunts-in-FY2010-budgetThis morning on Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace interviewed Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Wallace asked Gates a couple of questions that gave us some disturbing insight into the President's commitment to his campaign promise to repeal the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy.
anscript:
WALLACE: In January, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave a one word answer, "Yes" when asked if this President is going to end the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for gays in the military. Where does that stand and why is there currently money in the 2010 budget to keep enforcing that policy?
GATES: Well it continues to be the law. Uh and any change in the policy would require a change in the law. Uh, we will follow the law, whatever it is. Um that dialog, though, has not really progressed very far at this point in the Administration. Uh I think the President and I think we've got a lot on our plates right now and um, let's push that one down the road a little bit.
Pam Spaulding on Pam's House Blend:
So the first question is why hasn't the dialog progressed? Presidential candidate Obama needled John McCain for not being able to "walk and chew gum at the same time"; in this case he had the data points in hand supporting repeal before he took office. If the administration doesn't want to use the political capital, someone should just say it and take the heat rather than issue this mealy-mouthed position -- and continue the discrimination.
Blender Keori, also on Pam's House Blend:
In the first two months we have gotten the President hosting FRC (Family Research Council) and CWA (Concerned Women for America) at the White House, a beefed-up Office of Government-Endorsed Christianity - sorry, Office of Faith-Based Initiatives headed up by an evangelical anti-gay "pastor", a signing of a non-binding U.N. resolution that doesn't actually obligate the Administration to DO anything for LGBT people in this country, and now this. We have heard NO declarations of support for marriage equality at the state level. We have heard NO official statements of support for immigration equality, AIDS research and treatment, an inclusive ENDA, the Matthew Shepard Act, or the repeal of DOMA. And now, we have it from Obama's own Defense Secretary that discriminating against gays willing to die for their country is perfectly okay with him.
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Wow Im sure someone will stand up for this type of behavior but I wont. Its time we demand real leadership for the Democratic party.
(Edit to add I did not see the other post on this already, sorry for the dupe!)