It seems that yet again Obama's pretty words seeking to appease LGBT citizens will once again NOT be followed by any real action. Just as Obama has failed to provide strong leadership on the health care reform effort, so too with the repeal of DADT. Once again Obama is punting the heavy lifting to the do nothing Congress and the bureaucrats at the Pentagon where glacial change is the norm. Meanwhile, careers will continue to be ruined and many honorable men and women will live in daily fear of being outed and discharged. To say that it pisses me off doesn't even begin to describe my thoughts. Obama campaigned as the candidate that could change the system and make a difference, yet time and time again he throws the ball to Congress where he knows full well little or nothing will be accomplished. With very lopsided polls showing public support for the repeal of DADT, this ought to be a no brainer - except that it's not and more delays and hand wringing appear to be all that LGBT Americans can expect - once again from our "fierce advocate." Here are some highlights from Google News:*
As promised, the Pentagon has begun examining how the ban on gays serving openly could be eased and then repealed, but a complete repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is probably years away.
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The two officials appointed to lead a yearlong internal assessment — Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe, and Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson — met for the first time on Feb. 9.
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As that study gets under way, officials were expected by mid-March to suggest ways to relax enforcement of the law. Of particular interest is minimizing cases of "third party outings," where a service member is kicked out after being reported by others to be gay.
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The protracted time line is about more than giving military leaders time to assess the impact on troops and put new rules in place. The multiyear process also is a strategic way of getting troops used to the idea before they have to accept change. Politically, the time line puts off congressional debate over lifting the ban until after elections this fall.
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According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, three-quarters of Americans say that they support openly gay people serving in the military. The 75 percent figure is far above the 44 percent of Americans who said so in May 1993.
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Had Obama been the "fierce advocate" for black Americans that he has shown himself to be for LGBT Americans, we would still have segregation laws and he'd not have been able to win the White House. I'd say he's a pretty pathetic advocate.
The two officials appointed to lead a yearlong internal assessment — Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe, and Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson — met for the first time on Feb. 9.
*
As that study gets under way, officials were expected by mid-March to suggest ways to relax enforcement of the law. Of particular interest is minimizing cases of "third party outings," where a service member is kicked out after being reported by others to be gay.
*
The protracted time line is about more than giving military leaders time to assess the impact on troops and put new rules in place. The multiyear process also is a strategic way of getting troops used to the idea before they have to accept change. Politically, the time line puts off congressional debate over lifting the ban until after elections this fall.
*
According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, three-quarters of Americans say that they support openly gay people serving in the military. The 75 percent figure is far above the 44 percent of Americans who said so in May 1993.
*
Had Obama been the "fierce advocate" for black Americans that he has shown himself to be for LGBT Americans, we would still have segregation laws and he'd not have been able to win the White House. I'd say he's a pretty pathetic advocate.
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