Great points, Woman VOter and Ani! Thanks!

One more reason to get rid of both of these awful parties:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/10/mccain-dont-ask-dont-tell/
McCAIN: But in all due respect, right now the military is functioning extremely well in very difficult conditions. We have to have an assessment on recruitment, on retention and all the other aspects of the impact on our military if we change the policy. In my view, and I know that a lot of people don’t agree with that, the policy has been working and I think it’s been working well.

President Obama doesn’t have Collin Powell working to undermine him (even going public to undermine Clinton) and threatening to quit and bring on the
wrath of dissent. Obama has the press/media eating out of his hand, he could correct the wrongs, but he chooses not too and that is truly the sad part. Everyone deserves Civil Rights and Human Rights…everyone!

That’s the big issue – that he continues to drag his feet on this instead of making it a priority.

I like your “congresscritters” – good one!

And you KNOW I am all for Rabble Rousers to get to work!

But I disagree abt HRC – I think she would have pushed the issue much sooner. She has been opposed to DADT since its inception.

Thanks for the comment!

The only way DADT gets placed on the ash-heap of history is if Congress voids it. The only way that happens is that political grass roots pressure forces Congress to do the right thing. Right now there are probably not enough Senator to pass a repeal of DADT on an up or down vote, forget the sixty votes required to overcome a Republican filibuster.

RRA we can’t even get Congress to stand strong on torture, all of a sudden they are going to find their inner civil libertarian? They are going to stand up to the Christian Crazy Homophobes and other bigots that still support DADT? Not in a month of Sundays. The only DADT gets repealed is if Rabble Rousers are able to convince voters to punish supporters of this rotten law. Once Senators and Congresscritters get the message that homophobia is a loosing proposition DADT days will be numbered. Congress made the law, it can unmake it. But while it is still law the president has no choice but to enforce it.

ANd that’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? You have these incredibly well trained people who WANT to serve their country, and do so with distinction, yet because of whom they LOVE, they are kicked out. Other countries all over the world have out people serving in their armed services with NO problems at all. In fact, if people aren’t trying to hide who they are, they will be happier, more well-rounded people. IMHO, that is…

Discrimination is discrimination.

How can you fault someone for trying to serve their country. President Obama needs to make a helluva lot more noise about this and keep his promise. Aside from the more important issue that it is the right thing to do, we are losing out on the service of military personnel who are vital to our efforts.

DOASKDOTELL VIDEO REVIEW “Gays in the Military” and “To Support and Defend”

Benecke describes military brass as “apoplectic” about Clinton’s campaign promise to lift the ban, once they suddenly realized he really wanted to fulfill it. Senator Sam Nunn would actually hide behind the idea of violence against gays, and Colin Powell would reportedly threaten to resign.

http://www.doaskdotell.com/movies/vgaymil.htm

&

Collin Powell
The US secretary of state dislikes military intervention because he has problems understanding the world
Lawrence F Kaplan

recounts Edward Luttwak, “Powell overruled the newly inaugurated Clinton with contemptuous ease.” In at least one instance-the 1993 dust-up over gays in the military-Powell skirted the edge of insubordination. Exploiting Clinton’s weakness vis-à-vis the armed forces, Powell went public with his opposition to the plan to integrate homosexuals into the military, letting it be known that he might resign over the issue and humiliating Clinton into negotiating with-and all but surrendering to-his own military chiefs.

http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=3392

It was Collin Powell who led the charge blocking the doors of the military, Civil Rights, and Human Rights of men and women who were serving their country. These men and women had served honorably and bravely and he stood like a bully blocking their Civil Rights, not with a cogent argument (there was none), but threatening to undermine the Commander and Chief, the President of the United States, by throwing a tantrum and threatening to quit. A few months later, he retired, after having acted against the Commander and Chief, President Bill Clinton.

Colin Powell, Who Led U.S. Military Into a New Era, Resigns
By ERIC SCHMITT,
Published: Friday, October 1, 1993

In a farewell ceremony today on the parade grounds of Fort Myer, Va., bands played, flags flapped in a blustery fall breeze and fighter jets soared in salute to a soldier who President Clinton said symbolized “a victory for the American dream, for the principle that in our nation, people can rise as far as their talent, their capacity, their dreams and their discipline will carry them.”

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/01/us/colin-powell-who-led-us-military-into-a-new-era-resigns.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/C/Clinton,%20Bill

So, he left most pleased with himself (having gotten what he wanted, while threatening to leave) and today others would have you believe that he has changed his position, but if you listen closely to his words, he never says what he did was wrong or that he regrets the harm it has caused so many (thousands) soldiers.