As of now, I am in control here, in the White House

Tag Archives: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Obama’s Latest Nasty Accusation

Posted on by • 5 Comments

I’m sorry, I meant to mention how contemptible this statement was by the president yesterday on the failure of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal in the Senate. So I’ll correct the oversight.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided to link DADT repeal to the Defense spending bill, just so he could get this kind of reaction from Obama and others if Republicans voted it down.

I am extremely disappointed that yet another filibuster has prevented the Senate from moving forward with the National Defense Authorization Act. Despite having the bipartisan support of a clear majority of Senators, a minority of Senators are standing in the way of the funding upon which our troops, veterans and military families depend. This annual bill has been enacted each of the past 48 years, and our armed forces deserve nothing less this year.

How much gall can Obama’s gall bladder contain? Plenty, because this statement TAKES A LOT OF GALL.

Work the issue, Mr. President, but please spare us the disingenuous and divisive accusation that Republicans don’t care about the nation’s troops.

The person who is having a problem with his give-a-shit with regard to the military is Reid, who decided to HOLD MILITARY FUNDING HOSTAGE by PLAYING POLITICS WITH IT and linking approval of funds for the armed services to revoking Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

I thought you abhorred these kinds of tactics, Mr. President?

Mr. President? Are you there?

Obama Embraces Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Report

Posted on by • 4 Comments

President Obama today said a new Pentagon report on the effects of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell should impel Congress to overturn the law before the lame duck session ends this year.

The report found that, overall, some 70 percent of military personnel do not believe the change would have a negative effect on morale. But within combat units, as many as 58 percent are wary of allowing gays to openly express their sexuality.

Here’s a portion of Obama’s statement.

With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all.  The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation.  Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally.  Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the best led, best trained, best equipped fighting force the world has ever known.

Gibbs: Obama Strongly Opposes Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Posted on by • 3 Comments

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs today emphasized that President Obama wants an end to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, even as his administration appears likely to appeal a judge’s ruling that the law in unconstitutional.

Briefing reporters today off-camera, Gibbs found about seven different ways to say Obama opposes the policy, apparently seeking to reassure gay rights groups that have become increasingly vocal – often within hearing range of the president – in their demands that he end it. Gibbs asserted:

The president believes this policy is unjust and detrimental to our national security. He strongly believes it’s time for this policy to end.

But the ruling has put Obama in an awkward position, since it seems that as a legal matter the Justice Department has an obligation to challenge a ruling that voids a standing law of the United States. This won’t sit well with gay activists and others who want to put DADT to bed.

Gibbs said the policy should be ended “in an orderly way,” calling on the Senate to act to abolish the law, as the House already done.

Gay Protestors on Boats Try to Disrupt Obama

Posted on by • 4 Comments

This is great. Planned like a military operation. Obama fundraiser at Alonzo Mourning’s Miami pad looks out on turbulent waters. From the pool report.

As he is speaking, air horns can be heard across the bay, and pool is told by a GetEQUAL spokesman that they are activists protesting the administration on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Appear to have several small boats, at one point pool can hear some yelling. Some members of the audience look over but noise is not loud enough to disrupt and POTUS continues uninterrupted.

Pool is told the Miami Dade police have circled the GetEQUAL activists’ boats and sirens can be heard.

Obama Heckled by Gay Activists

Posted on by • 5 Comments

President Obama tonight got a dose of something he’s not terribly used to – heckling.

The president is waging a tricky juggling act trying to please various Democratic Party factions while keeping his ratings like, above 40 percent. With the Senate having failed Tuesday to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” one of the traditionally more vocal and colorful factions is not happy.

Here’s the pool report out of a New York Fundraiser, where Obama is raising money for the House and Senate Democratic campaign committees.

Shortly after the president began speaking at 6:45 p.m, a woman began shouting, “President Obama, President Obama” and two or three men held up signs that said “Broken promises,” and “No retreat, fund AIDS.”

The president addressed the demonstrators, saying, “Apparently you’re interested in funding AIDS … We have increased aids funding,” and went on with his remarks.

The woman shouted again, and the president replied, “We listened to you, we heard your point . . . It’s a conversation I’m happy to have.” The woman stopped interrupting but the men held up their signs, printed out on letter-sized sheets of paper.

Later, on the other side of the room, a man shouted out, “Don’t ask don’t tell,” twice, interrupting the president a second time. The president also addressed him directly.

The crowd chanted “Obama, Obama” to drown out the speakers, and someone tried to snatch the signs, but the demonstrators were ultimately quieted after Obama spoke to them and their remarks directly.

“That’s why we need your energy and enthusiasm,” Obama said. “This young lady here, she wants an increase in AIDS funding … I”m sure we could do more, if we’re able to grow this economy again. That young man shouted, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ . . . As president, I said we would reverse it … “