Your thoughts? Will he repeal don't as don't tell? Will he make a push to repeal the Defense of Marriage act?

How about for once, a POTUS actually makes a surprise announcement of DADT being repealed instead of the news getting wind of it hours before and spoiling the surprise?

Can Obama win over the gay community? - Josh Gerstein - POLITICO.com

Discuss.

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"Reagan proved deficits don't matter" - Vice President Dick Cheney (2002)

I predict a bunch of empty promises to go along with:

1. Closing Gitmo (still open)
2. Restoring Habeas Corpus (still suspended)
3. Leaving Iraq (still there)
4. Public comment period before signing legislation (not happening)
5. Negotiating drug prices (bought off)

In other words, business as usual for another typical politician.

Why would anyone expect anything different?

No argument about those broken promises from me except for still being in Iraq. Seeing through the timeline put in place before he took office is a broken promise?

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"Reagan proved deficits don't matter" - Vice President Dick Cheney (2002)

You're probably right on that one. My bad.

Matt

So the real question is, if Obama shoots down the idea of allowing openly gay service members, at what point do conservatives (and liberals) admit Obama is more conservative than bush?

They're progressive and progressive light. I don't see much difference between their policies other than how fast they move.

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He's come to save the day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVFdAJRVm94

I'm actually a fan of don't ask don't tell, I see it as a pretty decent compromise. As unfortunate as it is, from what I gather from servicemen/women with whom I've spoken, in some cases being openly gay in the military can have a detrimental effect on unit cohesion, and DADT allows gays to serve without this potential problem. Yeah it's not perfect, but the military's only concern should be efficiency, not making everyone feel included.

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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice Doggie! while you're looking for a rock. ~ Wynn Catlin
"There are no innocent civilians." - Gerneral Curtis Lemay. A.K.A Bombs away Lemay

DADT should be repealed because it discriminates against gay Americans. It's particularly offensive because gay people in the military are supposed to fight for our freedom and yet their own government denies them their freedom to declare who they are.

Like I said, the military's goal is not to make everyone feel included, it's goal it to be as effective as possible, and if being openly gay in the military has a detrimental effect on it's efficiency, then too bad IMO. Would it be nice if being openly gay caused no problems at all? Absolutely, but the fact of the matter is, right now it has the potential to cause problems between servicemen, and in a situation where unit cohesion and teamwork is key, that is unacceptable.

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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice Doggie! while you're looking for a rock. ~ Wynn Catlin
"There are no innocent civilians." - Gerneral Curtis Lemay. A.K.A Bombs away Lemay

Try asking Israeli and English soldiers from combat units about how gays effect unit cohesion.

If one of our servicemembers here was so upset by a gay serving in their unit, then he or she isn't fit to wear the uniform.

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All things serve The Beam

Don't ask-don't tell............when they say morale is already falling. That may not be such a good idea for our No-Bell prez. But like health care, I'm sure Barak will disregard the wishes of the overwhelming majority to pander to a very small number. Those campaign promises are a bitch, eh?

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Want government run healthcare? Join the military.

Different cultures man, it's apples to oranges. A big chunk, if not the majority of our servicemen come from southern states with a culture that makes some less comfortable around homosexuals, it's too bad but it's just the way it is. Cultures change and I'm confident there will be no need for DADT in the future, but right now it is what it is, and it's not the military's job to be PC.

And I disagree that being uncomfortable living with a homosexual makes someone unfit to wear the uniform, there is a difference between hating someone for being different and being uncomfortable with someone who is different. Personally I wouldn't be at all uncomfortable serving with a homosexual, but I respect the opinions of those who are, too.

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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice Doggie! while you're looking for a rock. ~ Wynn Catlin
"There are no innocent civilians." - Gerneral Curtis Lemay. A.K.A Bombs away Lemay

If I remember correctly, he promised to withdraw troops by a certain date, but the actual withdrawal was then planned to occur much, much later. If that hasn't changed since I last checked, then yes, he lied about that one, too.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe it's more accurate to say that what's affecting military cohesion is the presence of intolerant pricks who can't bear the presence of a gay man.

What about southerners who don't like blacks?