www.ditl.org

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama says if elected president he won't require that his appointees to the Joint Chiefs of Staff support allowing gays to serve openly in the military.


Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday a repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' is possible if he's elected.

The Democratic presidential front-runner told The Advocate, a gay magazine, that he wants to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays, which was instituted during the Clinton administration.

He said his priority for the Joint Chiefs will be that they make decisions to strengthen the military and keep the country safe, not their position on the policy.

"I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Obama said in an interview with The Advocate.

"But I think there's increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy," he said. Video Watch more of Obama's stance on Iraq »

"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."

The Advocate provided The Associated Press with excerpts of the interview, posted on its Web site Thursday.

The interview comes after Obama was criticized by gay advocates for not speaking to the gay media.

The Philadelphia Gay News last week ran a large blank space on its front page next to an interview with Sen. Hillary Clinton to highlight that Obama did not talk to the publication.

"The gay press may feel like I'm not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times," Obama told The Advocate.

He said he's frequently spoken out against homophobia and in support of gay rights.

Asked what he could reasonably accomplish for the gay community as president, Obama said he can "reasonably see" repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as well as signing legislation to ban workplace discrimination against gays.
advertisement

He said he'd like transgendered people to be covered by the law, but thinks it would be tough to get such legislation through Congress.

Obama also said he's interested in ensuring that same-sex couples in civil unions get federal benefits.

What else is there to say except: about goddamn time. Really if I was a Yank, I'd already vote for him in a heartbeat. This is just more ammo to prove that the other candidates are obselete.

Monroe wrote:I like how 'Don't ask Don't tell' sounds by just its name. That it shouldn't be anyone's business. But I don't agree with the kicking people out (chapter 15) when they are found to be gay.

Monroe wrote:I don't see how that comment makes any sense.

I also don't think women should be infantry.

Cpl Kendall wrote:

Monroe wrote:I like how 'Don't ask Don't tell' sounds by just its name. That it shouldn't be anyone's business. But I don't agree with the kicking people out (chapter 15) when they are found to be gay.

It's interesting how most of the NATO militaries are fine with gays but the US continues to persecute them because their soldiers can't mature past high school.

Duskofdead wrote: Well said and very true. It fails to get through many skulls that someone being gay doesn't mean they're going to kiss you, rape you, or sit around fantasizing about you. And that even if you suspect somoene likes you, you should be a mature adult professional and not sit around obsessing over how icky you think it is.

Cpl Kendall wrote:

Duskofdead wrote: Well said and very true. It fails to get through many skulls that someone being gay doesn't mean they're going to kiss you, rape you, or sit around fantasizing about you. And that even if you suspect somoene likes you, you should be a mature adult professional and not sit around obsessing over how icky you think it is.

The most common saying is "I don't want him checking out my ass in the foxhole when he should be doing his job". Don't flatter yourself buckwheat, I served with several gays and a couple lesbians and no one was that overt. In fact it was the straight guys that were the most unprofessional. Even then, after the second day in the field your so dirty and tired that it's a stretch to jerk off let alone screw.

Duskofdead wrote:
I don't like smiling at rude, ugly clients who are being nasty to me but hey... work is work ey? The military should be about serving one's country and defending it, not a post-school fraternity.

Monroe wrote:Inner city outnumbered rurual in my basic unit. Suburbia outnumbered all in my rehabilitation program.

Teaos wrote:I wonder what gay people in the military think of the "dont ask, dont tell" law. I can' imagin they would mind to much. After all they wouldnt be allowed to be in a relationship anyway.

Just to make it clear I think it was a stupid law. But as far as stupid laws goes it was a kinda minor one. I'd rather them finally being given the right to marry over this.