I received this "on the record" release from SLDN less than 30 minutes ago. I urge readers to read it and to contact the White House and their members of Congress. Each and every one of us needs to make it clear: either support us NOW or expect no support and no money from the LGBT community in November. With friends like Obama, who needs an enemy. All we receive is talk, appointments of gays and lesbians to bureaucratic positions and no legislation that would protect those of us in fly over states from arbitrary firing and discharge from the military (even as convicted felons and gang members are accepted into the ranks). Here is the message (more information is on the SLDN website): *
This on-the-record email is for media and others monitoring the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT):
*
**Aubrey Sarvis – Army veteran and executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network -- a group fighting to repeal DADT and representing active and former service members -- will join repeal activists at the White House protest TOMORROW at noon** (Excerpts from Sarvis’ prepared remarks follow below)
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WHAT HAPPENED? Late Friday evening, the Obama Administration shot a simultaneous salvo – from the Pentagon and the White House -- at advocates fighting for repeal this year, appearing to reverse on the president’s commitment in his State of The Union Address to the American people: “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do.”
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EXCERPTS FROM AUBREY SARVIS’ SUNDAY REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY:
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“Harry Truman led; Barack Obama defers, kicking repeal down the road -- again.
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“In his State of the Union message President Obama said repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was the right thing to do. But Friday evening President Obama did the wrong thing, and in doing so he and Secretary Gates delivered a devastating blow to getting repeal done this year. Their joint political decision showed a lack of respect for our LGBT service members who are on the frontlines every day risking their lives for our safety.
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“As a result of the Commander in Chief's decision to defer to Secretary Gates' wishes and timeline, gay service members will continue to be treated as second class citizens, and any sense of fairness may well have been delayed for yet another year, perhaps for another decade.
*
“The President did not sound like a fierce repeal advocate. He sounded like someone who wants to have it both ways. And that is not leadership. That is politics as usual.”
This on-the-record email is for media and others monitoring the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT):
*
**Aubrey Sarvis – Army veteran and executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network -- a group fighting to repeal DADT and representing active and former service members -- will join repeal activists at the White House protest TOMORROW at noon** (Excerpts from Sarvis’ prepared remarks follow below)
*
WHAT HAPPENED? Late Friday evening, the Obama Administration shot a simultaneous salvo – from the Pentagon and the White House -- at advocates fighting for repeal this year, appearing to reverse on the president’s commitment in his State of The Union Address to the American people: “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do.”
*
EXCERPTS FROM AUBREY SARVIS’ SUNDAY REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY:
*
“Harry Truman led; Barack Obama defers, kicking repeal down the road -- again.
*
“In his State of the Union message President Obama said repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was the right thing to do. But Friday evening President Obama did the wrong thing, and in doing so he and Secretary Gates delivered a devastating blow to getting repeal done this year. Their joint political decision showed a lack of respect for our LGBT service members who are on the frontlines every day risking their lives for our safety.
*
“As a result of the Commander in Chief's decision to defer to Secretary Gates' wishes and timeline, gay service members will continue to be treated as second class citizens, and any sense of fairness may well have been delayed for yet another year, perhaps for another decade.
*
“The President did not sound like a fierce repeal advocate. He sounded like someone who wants to have it both ways. And that is not leadership. That is politics as usual.”
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