Reason Writers Around Town: Shikha Dalmia on Obama's Pusillanimity on Don't Ask Don't Tell

June 4, 2009

In her latest Forbes column, "Obama's Betrayal on Don't Ask Don't Tell," Shikha Dalmia shows how President Obama is colluding with conservatives to screw over gays in the military. (Evidently, screwing over kids in the D.C. voucher program wasn't enough.)

As Dalmia writes, there is solid evidence from both the U.S. and abroad that no one goes through boot camp to get a date. "So the question is, will President Barack Obama lead the way to its repeal—as he promised he would during his campaign—or back-pedal to political safety, as he seems to be doing?"

Whole thing here.

Comments

|6.4.09 @ 11:06AM|#

This shows the problem with being a reliable democrat voting bloc: after the election, why would the politician bother to make good on his promises? You're not going to vote for the other party, and honoring his promises might cost him something.

Gays, medical marijuana patients, anti-war and anti-torture advocates, take note. Obama is NOT your friend.

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 11:10AM|#

Obama went to a church that objected to gay marriage for 20 years. Obama has said marriage is man and women. Obama has been in office for months and has done nothing for gay rights. Just a thought, but maybe Obama doesn't really care about gay people and was lying during the campaign. Rumors of his being on the down low aside, what things has he actually done that indicate he was telling the truth in the campaign?

|6.4.09 @ 11:13AM|#

I've lost HOPE for positive CHANGE with this administration.

I'm retired navy, served mostly on tin cans,* and aboslutely did not give a rat's ass about the sexual orientation of my shipmates.

Unfortunately, like those nigger kids* trapped in the DC school system, gays are a reliable voting block for the Dems. So much so that addressing their concerns is just not important enough to expend political capital on.

♪ I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray ♪

* I apologize for the uncouth disgusting language. I only used it because that's the way the Democrats are treating them. Maybe I should have worked faggots into the comment as well.

|6.4.09 @ 11:17AM|#

I have trouble believing Obama is as closed-minded on gay issues as he pretends to be. But gay rights victories are piling up on their own, beyond anything I would have expected a decade ago. And John's right, what are we gonna do, vote Republican? If Obama waiving a rainbow flag means he loses swing states in 2012 I'd rather he keep his pie-hole shut on the issue. We don't really need him, and he can't do a whole lot for the cause by himself except set it back by overreaching.

|6.4.09 @ 11:21AM|#

"I'm retired navy, served mostly on tin cans,* and aboslutely did not give a rat's ass about the sexual orientation of my shipmates."

Of course you didn't J sub D. How could you? Everyone knows that its not gay if its underway.

|6.4.09 @ 11:23AM|#

I've lost HOPE for positive CHANGE with this administration.

Are you serious? You had some?

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 11:25AM|#

I have trouble believing Obama is as closed-minded on gay issues as he pretends to be.

Pretends? Has he taken some positive action that we haven't heard about yet?

Sorry to break it to you, but Obama's words aren't worth the teleprompter they're displayed on.

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 11:26AM|#

What Obama will do on any given issue is dead easy to predict. Will it increase the scope and power of the State and entrench the Party? If so, he will do it. If not, he won't.

Getting rid of DADT does not increase the scope and power of the State. Nor does it entrench the Party; gay activists are on the Dem plantation and not going anywhere. Tony provides a fine example above about how inaction on gay rights doesn't cost him any supporters.

Ergo, he will not get rid of DADT. Caveat: he might do so if he can find a way to do it that won't cost him a single shiny penny's worth of political capital.

|6.4.09 @ 11:27AM|#

RC,

Obama knows one thing; it is good to be Obama. Anything that doesn't confirm or increase that is of no interest to him.

Civil Discourse|6.4.09 @ 11:31AM|#

"* I apologize for the uncouth disgusting language. I only used it because that's the way the Democrats are treating them. Maybe I should have worked faggots into the comment as well."

Free Markets
Free Minds
Free Speech*

*unless TAO is around

Danny|6.4.09 @ 11:32AM|#

"piling up on their own"

;-)

Danny|6.4.09 @ 11:33AM|#

"We don't really need him, and he can't do a whole lot for the cause by himself except set it back by overreaching."

You're gay?

|6.4.09 @ 11:37AM|#

Tony,

If winning an election involves giving up on your priciples what is the point of winning? At that point, team Obama is just a sports team. You are rooting for laundry not for causes. That is your right. But, if you are willing to give BO a free pass on gay rights in return for winning elections, I don't want to hear any more talk of it being a civil rights issue. You don't give up civil rights to win elections.

Alan Vanneman|6.4.09 @ 11:44AM|#

"Pussilanimity"? It's "pusillanimity," you assholes.

Signed,

Alan Vanneman, the walkin' dic'

PS It's pretty obvious that Obaman, like most Democrats, is not interested in getting in a fight with the military.

|6.4.09 @ 11:48AM|#

[I never had any] HOPE for positive CHANGE with this administration.

I'm [ex-] navy [9 years], served mostly on tin cans submarines and submarine tenders, and aboslutely did not give a rat's ass about the sexual orientation of my shipmates.

In fact, only one time did I ever see any persecution of gay sailors/marines. (circa 1980) In this specific case, the root of the problem is one gay sailor had stolen some drugs from the dental pharmacy on the sub tender (AS-32 USS Holland) I was on at the time. Only because the Naval Investigative Service (NIS) was investigating the theft did they stumble upon the Dental Tech that stole the drugs was living with two gay sailors and a marine. The Dental Tech was sent to Captains Mast (UCMJ article 15, IIRC) and only faced a charge of theft. What happened after that I don't know. The Marine was pulled from his guard duties immediately because his PRP was pulled (google it for an explanation), but was allow to stay aboard for about a year until he completed his full enlistment. I assume he got an honorable with a no re-enlistment code. Another sailor was a cook and probably the only one that was interested in a career. The cook stayed aboard for months and then was sent for discharge. I assume he got an honorable with a no re-enlistment code. The other sailor, who was a Missile Technician 3rd Class (MT3) and was in the shop I was Leading Petty Officer of, had his PRP pulled and was gone in a couple of weeks. Again, I assume he got an honorable with a no re-enlistment code.

I guess my point is, the military was "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" long before Clinton came around. Now, the Navy's response to having a young steamin' Seaman getting caught shagging an effing sheep, is a completely different matter.

Do you know the difference between a fairy tail and a sea story? A fairy tail begins with "Once upon a time..." A sea story begins with "This is a no shitter..."

|6.4.09 @ 11:59AM|#

John,

I'm one who believes that more good can come from baby steps and practical politics than noisy crusades. Frankly even as a gay man, gay marriage is not the most important thing in the world to me. Insofar as politicians I support can be damaged by overreach on gay issues I prefer them to keep quiet and let the lawyers do the gritty work in the states. I can't read Obama's mind, but knowing his nature it makes sense for him not to engage in battles that won't do him (or the movement) any good. As someone concerned with civil liberties, in my opinion, the first, best thing we can do is make sure Republicans stay out of high office.

|6.4.09 @ 12:08PM|#

I can't read Obama's mind, but knowing his nature it makes sense for him not to engage in battles that won't do him (or the movement) any good. As someone concerned with civil liberties, in my opinion, the first, best thing we can do is make sure Republicans stay out of high office.

If Tony were a real person and not a sockpuppet, I would say that this is a classic example of a victim of abuse making excuses for their abuser.

"He may beat me, but he still loves me!"

Mike Laursen|6.4.09 @ 12:19PM|#

If Obama waiving a rainbow flag means he loses swing states in 2012 I'd rather he keep his pie-hole shut on the issue.

Well, he is staying remarkably silent on the gay marriage issue. Curiously, the mainstream media isn't remarking on that remarkable silence.

|6.4.09 @ 12:26PM|#

As someone concerned with civil liberties, in my opinion, the first, best thing we can do is make sure Republicans stay out of high office.

I would agree only if your view of civil liberties was very narrow - so narrow it only includes homosexuality, abortion, and your right to what somebody else earned. I consider it a civil liberty to keep what you worked for, whether that be your pay check, private property, or your guns. But that's just me. Your mileage obviously varies.

BeesInTheBrain|6.4.09 @ 12:27PM|#

In World War II, the United States sacrificed about half a million American soldiers to defeat Nazi racism.

Interesting that I never knew the US entered the war with the primary goal of ending Nazi racism.

while the U.S. valiantly tries to plant tolerant liberal regimes in Islamic countries, at home it harbors among the most intolerant policies toward gays in the military in the Western world.

Also wasn't aware that governments run by Non-Western heathens must be replaced by ones that more closely match Western norms. Nor was I aware that only Western cultures were of a sufficiently enlightened state to be included in comparisons of how they treat their citizens.

|6.4.09 @ 12:31PM|#

Re the first post.

The Dems may betray and disappoint their constituents.

I wish the Repubs were different, but they betray and disappoint at least as much if not more.

The list of Treasonous R's that voted for a tax increase in Nevada is quite long.

The list of R's in congress that went along with the bailouts is quite long.

Shannon Love|6.4.09 @ 12:34PM|#

I think the best model for Obama is Clinton. Both are extreme narcissist who conflate what is good form them as individuals with what is good form the country.

We should remember that Clinton came in in '92 with leftist guns blazing and got the Democrats crushed in '94. Clinton didn't start out as a centrist he was herded their by the electorate. He betrayed all his leftist supporters because he valued staying power more than he valued the ideas of the people who supported him. (He also betrayed all those people when he could discipline himself enough to forego mere sexual gratification.)

Obama has learned from Clinton's mistakes and has started off the betrayals early in order to prevent the backlash that Clinton faced. He has essentially left the Republicans in charge of the War on Terror and he has refused to stand up for Gay rights. Both these issues could hurt him but they can't help him. He won't get credit for preventing terrorism but he will get the blame for any future attacks. Likewise, pro-gay rights people already vote for him but his overt support would energize a lot of opposition.

Obama is guided by the belief that what America and the world needs is Obama, not any particular policies. This is after all the man who became a millionaire by writing books about himself. He has never made a courageous stand, a stand that would have cost him politically, in his entire career.

He won't change now.

|6.4.09 @ 12:36PM|#

Hell, Dick Cheney is more open minded than the Obama.

...that's just crazy.

|6.4.09 @ 12:52PM|#

Hell, [I am] more open minded than the Obama.

...that's just crazy.

|6.4.09 @ 1:10PM|#

I'm one who believes that more good can come from baby steps and practical politics than noisy crusades. Frankly even as a gay man, gay marriage is not the most important thing in the world to me.

I'm sure that gays everywhere are inspired by your pragmatic uselessness.

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 1:12PM|#

As someone concerned with civil liberties, in my opinion, the first, best thing we can do is make sure Republicans stay out of high office.

Yeah, cause democrats will make damned sure that the government will once again uphold the right of habeus corpus!

Oh, wait.

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 1:16PM|#

He has never made a courageous stand, a stand that would have cost him politically, in his entire career.

But, but, but...

He gave lip service to a few courageous positions during the campaign! that's got to count for something, doesn't it? Doesn't it? Huh?

Ok, who wants to start the betting pool on how long it takes Tony to admit that he voted for an empty suit and a teleprompter?

-jcr

|6.4.09 @ 1:26PM|#

Ok, who wants to start the betting pool on how long it takes Tony to admit that he voted for an empty suit and a teleprompter?

I know this will earn me much derision in these parts,

but it took me until TARP and the auto bailouts to truly dislike Bush.

|6.4.09 @ 1:41PM|#

Tony -

It ain't just gay marriage, you ignorant fuck. Does national defense take a back seat to your Obama fellating too? DADT has cost the military some damned fine people. You can look up discharged gay Arabic translators (a specialty in short supply) for more info on that injustice that harmed readiness. There are others, less publicized examples as well.

|6.4.09 @ 1:42PM|#

kwais,

Better late than never.

coyote1284|6.4.09 @ 1:48PM|#

"Obama doesn't really care about gay people"

I just pictured Ellen DeGeneres saying this on a live national broadcast after an earthquake hits San Francisco.

|6.4.09 @ 1:58PM|#

"You can look up discharged gay Arabic translators (a specialty in short supply)"

No, the Middle East is lousy with gay Arabs.

|6.4.09 @ 1:59PM|#

"I just pictured Ellen DeGeneres saying this on a live national broadcast after an earthquake hits San Francisco."

FTW!

Office of The Obama|6.4.09 @ 2:23PM|#

Obama knows one thing; it is good to be Obama.

I believe you meant: The Obama knows one thing; it is good to be TheObama.

As a show of proper respect, you should only refer to him as The Obama from now on.

hand|6.4.09 @ 2:51PM|#

uh, i missed the part where she said Obama was "colluding with conservatives."

other than that, nice link

|6.4.09 @ 3:05PM|#

J sub D,

As an active gay rights advocate I'm touched by your concern. My point is we don't need Obama and frankly he doesn't need us. Obama's a pussy on gay rights, that much is true. He's not even sending us dog whistles. He's actively trying to be to the right of the emerging consensus. But in a way he and the Democratic party are victims of our movement's success. That consensus didn't exist even a couple years ago, and despite his equivocation it shouldn't be unnoticed that Obama is the most vocally pro-gay president ever (not saying much).

If Congress draws up a bill that repeals DADT I expect him to sign it. I think, for now, the marriage issue is best kept at a state level, especially because I do not want the Roberts court getting its grubby hands on the issue.

In other words I'm patient. I'll go back to being richer, more powerful, and more sharply dressed than the average straight person while my rights fall into place through the highly-organized (and recently very successful) grassroots action that's been there all along.

creech|6.4.09 @ 3:30PM|#

Tony, that's just the sort of pragmatism that the Libertarian Party can't abide and thus leaves them getting miniscule vote totals.

T|6.4.09 @ 3:49PM|#

I'll go back to being richer, more powerful, and more sharply dressed than the average straight person

Tony, that's the average gay person. You have demonstrated, rather thoroughly and dare I say flamboyantly, that you are not average in any respect.

Plus, that whole "more sharply dressed" thing is a canard. For every well-dressed homo, there's at least 9 more who are are either dressed ridiculously, inappropriately, or no better than a middle manager from Peoria.

|6.4.09 @ 4:36PM|#

Everyone knows that its not gay if its underway

Any port in a storm.

|6.4.09 @ 4:59PM|#

Any port in a storm.

J sub D said he was retired Navy, not air force. (not that there is any thing wrong with that)