Thursday, April 10, 2008
Democratic front runner, Barack Obama, says if elected president he will not require that his Joint Chiefs of Staff be opposed to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents gays from serving openly in the military.
In an upcoming interview in the gay magazine, The Advocate, discusses the policy implemented by his rival Hillary Clinton’s husband, former president Bill Clinton, that prevents gays from serving openly in the military.
Obama said:
“I think there’s increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy. We’re spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn’t make us more safe.”
The interview comes after Obama was criticized by a Hillary Clinton surrogate, the Philadelphia Gay News editor, Mark Segal, who tried to paint Obama as avoiding the gay press. Segal, is a large ca$h donor to the Clinton campaign. Obama responded to the charge:
“The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times.”
Obama has frequently spoken out against homophobia and in support of gay rights.
Good for Barack! And kiss off to Mark Segal. How dare Hillary and her surrogates try to exploit the gay community so shamelessly.
I never understood DADT. I mean, so many nations in the world allow gay men and women to openly serve in the military and the world doesn’t come to an end. The Israeli model comes to mind. DADT, along with DOMA, are two of the most offensive reminders of the Clinton era.
The gay and lesbian Hillbots still won’t be satisfied.
You just know they will find fault. I can already hear them whining that Obama didn’t go far enough and how he’s only reacting to his critics.
Nevermind that Obama’s record on LGBT rights and equality can trump Hillary’s by a mile.
Barack Obama 2008! I can’t wait for him to be elected our next president and begin cleaning up the mess and carnage from left behind from Bush and Clinton.
Obama is such a perfect example of a man firmly planted in the 21st century. Social conservatives who seek to exploit the gay community for political gain, won’t have any traction in an Obama administration. Obama has a good heart. He won’t let himself be manipulated by the forces of evil. This means people like Tony Perkins will be forced to shrivel up and die.
Barack Obama is such a decent man. I think people like him only come around once a generation. He will make a terrific president and he will be an asset to the LGBT community. Especially following the homophobia of the past 8 years and Bush calling for a Constitutional amendment to make gay marriage illegal in all 50 states. Funny talk from a man who had an affair with male hustler, Jeff Gannon.
Well, another attempt to derail Barack Obama falls into a ditch. What will Hillaryland try next? Maybe a bimbo eruption? Hillary is all too familiar with this sort of thing.
It was blatantly ridiculous for Hillary’s attack queen, Mark Segal, to suggest in the PGN that Barack Obama was avoiding the gay press. The man is busy trying to win the Democratic nomination and then presidency. I hope this pissy queen Segal learned a valuable lesson about associating with Hillary. Now his reputation is tainted as well.
I am so proud of Barack Obama!
I know, I know gay people have struggled in this country and like Black people, have had to fight for every crumb and for their place at the table. Our fight for equality is the same fight and I stand with you in solidarity.
Thank you, Sen. Obama for making me proud!
I am counting the months until Obama is sworn into office and becomes the nation’s 44th president. We have suffered for so long. We deserve Obama!