500 Broken Promises
By Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy on November 10, 2009 at 4:30 PM in Bamboozling, Campaign promises, Commander in Chief, Current Affairs, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Flip Flopping, Hoodwinking, Obama's Broken Promises, Soldiers/Veterans
On the eve of Veteran’s Day, 500 service people have been discharged from the military under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A policy Campaigner in Chief, Barack Obama, claimed he would end once he became Waffler In Chief. In the first actual interview with the GLBT media The Advocate during the campaign, he said:
I reasonably can see “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” eliminated… I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obviously, there are so many issues that a member of the Joint Chiefs has to deal with, and my paramount obligation is to get the best possible people to keep America safe. But I think there’s increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy — ya know, 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, and what I want are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are making decisions based on what strengthens our military and what is going to make us safer, not ideology.
So, he can “see” doing it, it’s just the ACTUAL doing it with which he seems to have problems.
As a bonus, here is something else Candidate Obama said in this interview when asked this questions:
What event or person has most affected your perceptions of or relationship to the LGBT community?
Somebody else who influenced me, I actually had a professor at Occidental — now, this is embarrassing because I might screw up his last name — Lawrence Goldyn, I think it was. He was a wonderful guy. He was the first openly gay professor that I had ever come in contact with, or openly gay person of authority that I had come in contact with. And he was just a terrific guy. He wasn’t proselytizing all the time (emphasis mine), but just his comfort in his own skin and the friendship we developed helped to educate me on a number of these issues.
Oh, yes, we LGBT people are practically missionaries. So glad this one professor didn’t “proselytize” his students, or push his “gay-ness” on them. What a guy. I’m sure it was difficult for him since, you know, that’s just how we are. Ahem.
And people wonder why I have said all along that Obama is not our friend? Because he is not.
Here is the story of one highly decorated pilot:
Here is a follow-up to Lt. Col. Fehrenbach’s story:
Did you catch the very beginning, the ways in which someone can have a service member investigated in both videos? Shocking. Just shocking.
As is the lack of any action whatsoever by Obama on this issue. Sure he gave a talk to the (sell out) HRC a month or so ago, claiming, once again, that he would abolish DADT at some point. But that’s just talk. Here is what President Obama has done thus far on this issue:
* crickets *
How many more broken promises before DADT is abolished? One thing is for sure. On the Eve of Veteran’s Day, there are too many new Veterans as a result of this law. 500 too many.
(Release: November 13)
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Amy, I was just thinking that Hasan, that Muslim extremist nutjob, who just committed mass murder, was let to stay in the Army. The Feds have been watching him, because he was even trying to contact Al Qaeda, but still he remained. They throw gays and lesbians, who serve their country proudly with honor and loyalty, everyday, just because of their sexual orientation. Our government didn’t think that Hasan was any kind of threat, but they think gays and lesbians are. The stupidity of that is beyond comprehension.
Obama is a fence-sitting coward. I believe that he could have rescinded DADT immediately after taking office with an executive order. I don’t see him doing anything until, or if, he absolutely has to.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Kim. Spot on.
Thank you Amy. The issue of DADT always gets me fired-up, because it an archaic and blatantly discrimatory policy. I hate discrimination of any kind. I’ve experienced it myself on many occasions.
That just shows how low the status of gay people really is and how strong is the prejudice against us.
I think the shooting at Fort Hood brings home the point that troop performance and safety trumps using the military as a laboratory for social experimentation.
But, in regard to gays serving in the military it has been shown in armies around the world to NOT affect either performance or readiness. A simple executive order could have gotten rid of don’t ask don’t tell.
On gender issues I have clashed with Reverend Amy over women having higher insurance rates, and I may well clash again here. Women have shown themselves to perform in a great variety of roles in the military. And, remember, that it was a gutsy female cop who brought down the Fort Hood shooter. But, I think that the issue of putting women into ground combat should be determined on the basis of proven performance and readiness standards, not political correctness. I think, with regard to women, the issue is still to be resolved.
But, to be totally honest, and not in the least politically correct, at least until the military does a complete screening of the loyalties of Muslim soldiers, I’d rather have a gay of female soldier covering my back than a Muslim.
There are NO ROLES that women can’t perform in the military. Period.
And how do you judge “proven performance” if you don’t let them do anything?
Give it up. It’s time for complete equality for gays and women with no restrictions.
And I think you, as my grandmother would’ve said, are full of prunes.
omg, my granny used to say the same thing! Are you from Texas?
No, I’m from Iowa. Grandmothers must be the same everywhere.
Kim you took the exact thoughts I had brewing in my head. Obama tries to be so sneaky with everything he does. He didn’t travel to Ft. Hood when the shooting happened at Ft. Hood, because he was way to busy trying to get votes for his HealthCare crap.
Boy this tragedy at Ft. Hood forced him to attend the services honoring the memories of the 13 people slain and injured. Then he gets Bill Clinton to go meet with Senate Democrats to urge fast action on this Health Care Reform crap.
Wow, gov’t bails out NH Newspaper. Bye Bye Freedom of Speech.
Well said, Kim. When you put it in that perspective, it makes Pr. Obama’s actions even more ridiculous.
Frankly, as a lesbian and a feminist, I think the gay community deserves this. They wouldn’t believe us when we told them, but continued to support this fraud. I think the pro-choice community (I’m one of them) deserves this as well. Many of us tried to tell the likes of Nancy Keenan, Kim Gandy, and Ellie Smeal, to no avail.
It’s the rest of us, those of us who saw through the charade and the empty suit and words, that I feel sorry for.
The left-wing liberals (of whom I am one, although no longer a Democrat) brought us this empty suit, forced him down our throat, and now we’re all stuck with their actions.
I am more than disgusted and continue to stock up on food and necessities.
Sounds like a smart plan.
And yes, we tried and tried to tell them, Senneth.
Obama is a homophobe. He wasn’t “proselytizing” all the time? Oh ferchrissakes. He’s just so “smart” you know,that’s what they say; he’s so articulate, others say; and some even say he’s an elitist. But all the while–hey, who knew–he’s nothing but an ignorant male chauvinist and homophobe who HAPPENS to be BLACK.
But, on another note, I checked back to Aravosis’ blog yesterday for the first time since the primaries and am glad to see his bold new format. But I had to laugh me arse off when I saw that John and Joe are now on a campaign to starve the DNC of money!
Better late than never, John.
Schadenfreude.
Yeah, the prof probably only “proselytized” some of the time.
B0’s comment completely revealed his homophobia. I brought it up in conversations to friends during the primary, it was such a sophomoric comment to make, one we’ve all heard and been angry about in our own lives. But no-one cared, they all dismissed it. I kept saying, he is not some bumpkin who just needs to learn, he wants to be the president. Blank stares, they were on heavy duty kool aid, and unfortunately many still are.
Gee the Prof didn’t proselytize? You mean unlike all the gays I knew at college who set up booths on campus trying to sign people up to be gay?
I wouldn’t have thought it possible to get a laugh out of this subject but you managed, Ellen D, and made your point perfectly doing it.
Thank you.
LOL, Ellen D - oh, yeah, that’s just what WE did in college! Teehee…
I know, right? Hmmm - I was saying that in response to Aravosis, but I guess it’s appropriate to everything you and Scout wrote!
Can you believe Obama said that, though? It just makes the HRC pandering to him even worse…Blech and grrr.
There was an incident with Aravosis and Andrew Tobias from the DNC I saw recently. There were MANY people there already disgusted with Obama, and fed up with the DNC. Too bad they weren’t paying attention sooner, huh?
Amy,
I too think LGBT discrimination is ridiculous in the 21st century, whether they are members of the armed forces or any other group.
As always you manage to make the case in a manner that soothes and lets others really “Think” instead of react on bias.
However not only is Aravosis going on the offense, apparently there are several of our former Democrat compatriots joining forces.
Here is the link:
http://gay.americablog.com/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-give.html
IMO they have actually done a pretty professional job. Please read the whole forum. I and many others look forward to your unique perspective on their entire campaign to force the LGBT issues.
Yes, I got that yesterday - the PUMA people sent it via Facebook. I thought abt signing it, but since I’m no longer a Democrat (!!), I plan to give them no money anyway (just to individual Dems who walk the walk. Know of any?? Ahahahaha, I couldn’t resist.).
And I agree. There are so many countries that do not discriminate, and there are no issues whatsoever. If you had a chance to listen to Lt. Col. Fehrenbach, people in his squadron could care less. A conservative Christian wrote that he was the best leader he had ever had. I might add, we spent MILLIONS of dollars training the good Lt. Col. By all accounts, he is an outstanding officer. So naturally it makes sense to fire him. Ahem.
Lovely compliment, Nellie. Wow! Thank you so much.
And thanks for the link, too.
Hey, J.J., you know, the beauty of this site is that we can discuss, and agree to disagree. So, no worries abt clashing over issues. Many of us may agree on many tings, but not all. That’s what makes this such a great place to be.
And honestly, shouldn’t EVERYONE have to prove they are “battle ready”? It seems, though, that the whole issue of women not being on the front lines is a little more fluid than it used to be. You have women pilots who fly missions, women in convoys, and women killed in war.
Amy,
I stopped giving to ANY Dem group by March of last year. Still, despite the awful rancor these groups have thrown to Hillary people, this LGBT campaign seems pretty well thought out, and it will be interesting to see if they follow thru, or somehow the WH intervenes and makes the Kool-Aide people MORE empty promises, which they buy into for awhile.
Wish I could say I did! Nope, nary a one! Somehow I fell down this darn rabbit hole over a year ago, and ended up in some horribly corrupt 3rd world banana republic. I cannot seem to find the door to get back to the good ole USA.
Any ideas on how to get back home again??
Well, the DNC completely disgusted me, so I’m not surprised that some people are beginning to regret the bitter taste of that rancid kewl-aid they’ve been drinking. It’s sort of sad to me though that it all went down the way it did. They can all regret their choices now, but what good does it do?
I’ll never respect the DNC or the Democratic Party again, not ever; not after what they did. And, I was a long-time committed Democratic party member and activist. A precinct chair and more. Never again, after what they did to Hillary Clinton.
Right there with ya…They’ve lost me after the way they treated Hillary and women in general, not to mention the LGBT community…
And Nellie, that’s a good question. I think some people are finally starting to wake up and realize our country is changing in ways that are not democratic. Little by little, people are speaking up all across the country. The pendulum will swing back, I hope…
I think it will. I hope we can also see the swinging stop altogether and find a way towards moderation and centrism. That’s the only sustainable answer in my mind.
HAPPENS to be half BLACK. It is part of the lie that BO is “Black”. He is not, he is a mutt of the worst bread. (Please, I make no inference on ANYONE else. Just BO.)
Rev.Amy many hailed the anti-discrimination bill.
The sad fact is that BO left it to the budgetary process and stuck it on the ass of a military appropriations bill. He coulldn’t take this on as a principled statement about this country and those that serve. BO is a coward.
For me, anyone who is GLBT who saw where BO sat for twenty years listening to the bigotted homophobe Wright and voted for him and now is complaining is full of it. Rev Wright got the invite to the WH and not a discharged military servicemember… You would think he could order at least a stop loss order to suspend this crap. Or at least ask all 500 discharged members to the WH to honor their service. NOPE
I get that many would never vote for a Republican and were sold a bunch of horse shit, but they DID buy it. To all others in this wonderful community of human souls, don’t give in and don’t give up.
I stand corrected.
Obama’s a homophobe who happens to be half-black. The other half is macho chauvinist.
Heh.
mountainaires, I will volley for a spell with ya,
The other half is macho chauvinist.
That is only “half” right. LOL He isn’t macho in the least. You recall until not so recently when being macho was a silent way of carrying oneself?
For example, recently daughter #2 19, said that the young man who was on leave from Afghanistan she was hanging with, and who she knew from high school (just last year) , really liked her and she him.
He asked her if she liked him and when she said she did, He said, “Why? Do you know what I do for a living? I wish you had said you didn’t, because the pain of being rejected would have been easier than the pain of missing you.”
When I met him the first thing I noticed is a 20 year carrying himself like a “macho” person. You can’t miss it when you see it.
He asked my daughter “to wait for him”. Now I do not what fate has in store, but I do know that our men and women that serve need to know there are people they can depend on.
PS. Macho is also a Marine in Dress Uniform. Sharp as a tack.
That should be half black.
This is just plain crazy–so much talent put out to pasture.
When I was a practicing attorney I worked with active duty gay people to keep them in the military and I also worked with veterans to get their less than Honorable discharges upgraded. You have no idea the waste of talent.
Ironically, if Dr. Hassan wanted out of the military so badly all he needed to do was declare himself to be gay. That would have done it!
Now for an OT comment. Bill Clinton has urged Senate Dems to pass health care legislation and not lay down any kind of marker saying (if he is quoted correctly) that ANY kind of bill is better than nothing. What the hell does that mean? Is Bill Clinton telling pro-choice Dems not to fight over this horrendous restriction on abortion coverage? Will no one speak out against this?
We the voters will be speaking out next year and on 2012. And VERY LOUDLY!
who the hell are we going to vote for? they’re all in it together.
We vote for the lessor of two evils: the opposition party. The systems works best when there is balance, which we have to restore. No more blank checks for whatever big idiot is in the oval office.
I never want to see one party in control of all three branches of government. Too dangerous (unless they are all centrist and inclusive which they all promise) so you have to do it for them…split it up.
Its too bad both parties so royally suck that the best we can do is keep them busy duking it out with each other so they do minimal damage to us while they for better lack of a term “govern.”
Excellent point, Katherine. And thank you for the work you did.
I have a hard time accepting that Bill is lowering himself to peddle this horrible bill. Not only in terms of the potential damage for women you mentioned, but the debilitating COST of the whole thing will further push this country down a difficult economic road. The taxes to individuals/businesses, the fines, all of that when many of us are already dealing with loss of, or decreased, income. How are we supposed to shell out MORE when we are already making less?
The whole thing is extremely disturbing.
Again - thanks for the work you did.
Hello Rev Amy. Can you kindly rescue my comment from the jaws of the evil giant purple ravenous spam eating monster: comment-1275580
Thanks!
Done, and sorry, Galt! That filter has a mind of its own!!
Katherine,
If Dr. Hasan had declared himself gay, his own family would have murdered him.
It may have gotten him a discharge from the military, but in their culture, a male who declares himself gay should have their life insurance premiums paid to date, because they will need them shortly.
Hmm…that really is true isn’t it?
A salient point that might have a very profound impact on DADT if it were introduced into the wider media narrative. Some columns, some commentary, some interviews on major cable outlets discussing it.
It’s a bit intriguing that Hasan didn’t use it; I wonder why, since he must have known he could get out if he said he was gay. Was his religious fervor prohibiting him from considering it seriously because it is against Islam? Or was he so obsessed with his radical views, he decided to become a martyr instead?
As I said on another thread, another waffle from his campaign rhetoric: “Yes indeed, it was much easier for him to pretend to be President while he was campaigning and perpetrating fraud to gain the office.”
To repeal DADT would let most of his friends get caught up in a draft, should it become necessary.
ROTFLMAO - good one, HARP!
Harp that’s perfect, and sooo very true!
The all-too-often overlooked big-picture on allowing prejudice to flourish via policies like “Don’t ask don’t tell” and other bass-ackwards (sic) means such as denying same-sex couples equal (civil) marriage rights:
Our LGBTQ youth grow up feeling they are second class citizens, suffer discrimination at home and at school, suffer a higher suicide rate than hetero youth, engage in unprotected sex and substance abuse due to low self-esteem, drop out of school or become homeless/runaways, etc.
Ask anyone who has worked with these kids or do a little bit of research if you doubt this.
Absolutely true, Galt. Well said.
Thanks Rev. Amy. I’ve volunteered in the past to help these precious young people. They deserve far better than they get.
Amen to that, Galt…
It is a shame all the equal opportunity being afforded most minorities by the military does not extend to the gay and lesbian community. I can’t remember the last time one went on a rampage or demanded anything out of a sense of entitlement.
This is a stupid, stupid policy. And yes, I did serve and yes we had gays serving with us. We ALL knew and frankly didn’t care. We had more important things to occupy our minds. There, I said it. I may get a bucket full of grief but I stand by this comment.
May I offer a partial diversion to deflect said bucket full of grief?
I hope the tragedy in Texas does not create an increased climate of prejudice in the military for Muslims as well as folks presumed to be Muslims because they “look” like they are.
Shields to max! Prepare to warp out of orbit!
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/10/reservist-attacks-priest/
Case in point. Thanks!
And I hope that the military tragedy does not lead to another round of “Let’s Shred the Constitution” simply because the week-kneed or hand-wringing “progressives” might get the idea that some terrorist, somewhere, somehow might get some hurt feelings. Frankly that document is worth more to this Republic than extremists of any ilk and when the times comes to choose between them, my choice is already made. People come and go but the law must remain constant. This is much more important than one single individual or one single system of belief.
And if that document isn’t good enough, then those who think that way are certainly entitled to leave on the next plane, boat, goat, by foot, or however they got here in the first place. My ancestors shed a lot of blood for this Republic and I for one would rather honor them by maintaining it than by abusing it by coddling some malcontent with an eye on destruction. Enough.
And BTW: My roommate in the Army for two years was from Syria and we got along quite well. And HE was just as mortified by the extremists as any of us are.
And there’s the clincher–I lost another comment.
That will conclude any further commenting on my part on this web presence. Over a year of this insanity is no longer worth the trouble. The bots may take the reigns since they seem to be able to post at will with comments consisting of yesterday’s reeking trash.
I’m done.
Damn Ferd we’ve just begun to slay the Obots! Where would we be without out MVP!
Stop leavingfest!
I meant “our”
Me too, Unabashed Galt. I hope for a balance between vigilance, tolerance, and diversity, with safety and security for all.
Ferd — don’t go! This site needs commenters like you! I’ve had seemingly innocuous comments vaporized, too, so I don’t think it’s a personal attack on you or your words. I still haven’t figured out what the spam trigger is, but I don’t think it has a watch list. And if it did, don’t you think certain people (*Tammy*) other than you would be on it?
(Tammy — I don’t mean to single you out. But you seem to draw fire more often than other posters here, so if there were such a list, I’d expect your name to show up on it among others.)
I lose comments, Ferd. Usually it’s because I’ve used the dreaded i*d*i*o*t word.
Don’t go, please.
Ferd,
PLEASE STAY - WE NEED YOU!!!
I lose my comments all the time, you are not the
only one…..
Ferd, I swear it is nothing personal. I have had comments caught in the filter, too. Buzz is right - if you use the word “i.d*i-o,t” in any variation, it will grab it. You can use just abt any curse word in the book and sail right on through! It has a mind of its own, I tell ya.
And honestly, we all try to check it regularly, but sometimes we get busy or are away from our computers, or what have you. I swear it is NOT a person sitting there scanning the comments. It is just our whacked out filter.
Please do not go - you are a valued member here!
Don’t Ask, Don’t Give.
Gay Donors are taking a “pause.”