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Subscribe to RSSSenior defense officials tell NBC News that the Pentagon will announce tomorrow that both Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and all of the Joint Chiefs have certified that the military is ready to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell."
Each member of the Joint Chiefs had to submit a recommendation to Secretary Panetta, indicating that they are far enough in their training to repeal DADT, and that it will not have an impact on military readiness.
The next step is for President Obama to certify the repeal, which then begins a 60-day waiting period to implement the repeal -- before "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is officially a thing of the past.
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Is the President in favor of gay marriage? Or not?
Or does it depend on the latest polls?
And the uncomfortable non sequitur award goes to...
Well it is about time on the DADT. Also President Obama needs to address the DOMA. I know he is not defending that Law in court anymore as he feels it to be unconstitutional. He needs to now take it to the next step - like get rid of the DOMA altogether.
More States have same sex marriage laws ready to be voted on following NY'S last week. It also appears that the American people are ready to accept Gay Marriages as well.
Navy..
This is very hard for me but I have to agree with every word you wrote.
We both served with gay men who served their country with honor and many gave their lives.
As for DOMA ....ditto. It's time to repeal this archaic law.
There is always some way to find common ground---glad you 2 have found it here. This is good news on DADT for sure.
So True.
The christians think that gay is catching.
Glad we finally have a government accepting the truth that gays are the exact same human as everyone else and deserve the same rights.
Yeah, those christians and republicans are destroying this country. We need a one party system right American First? Hey maybe get rid of the American christians beliefs which this country was founded on and replace it with Sharia Law.
Hey American, what do you think happens to gay people in other countries? Come on, give it the good American First try......
No, Paul, we need at least two political parties but if the GOP had their way and they are trying hard for it, there would be only one. As for the rest of your comment, nothing but repeated lies told to you and you buy them.
Really Jody, what lies are you referring too? That gay people in Middle East are treated fairly? That lie? Here's a little fact, look up Hamtramck, Michigan and tell me what replaced the Church bells there? I would bet you're probably one of the Liberals that wants to get rid of "In God we trust", am I right? By the way, I'm not a bible thumping person, I believe in fairness all around.
If you're going to open your pie hole, post some facts to prove I'm lying.
I agree with you on DOMA Navy Vet - I read just a bit ago that Boehner isn't going to bring DOMA up for a vote, according to him this was settled years ago and there's no reason to address it. Pathetic.
So Paul, we should go down to those countries' level?
Nearly every first world country allows gays in the military. Why shouldn't we?
This is no time to be playing with your wee wees, there is a war going on out there...
worse yet with the guy sleeping next to you.
It's great to finally let them serve openly. We need more gay military heroes like Bradley Manning.
I know you meant it as a slur but Bradley Manning is a hero.
You so don't trust government to even raise taxes and when someone tells you the lies and all the bad stuff the government is doing in your name he is the bad guy.
If more guys like Bradley would stand up and tell the truth we wouldn't have such slime and corruption in our government.
Is that it, republicans are fine with slime and corruption as long as they don't have to hear about it. Kill the messenger kind of thinking.
There is absolutely no rational reason to not support the repeal of DADT.
Americans First, you really think Manning is a hero? He's a piece of garbage that should be hung or shot. You're clueless on what he did. He committed a crime of treason and you call him a hero. Interesting how you relate what he did to politics? You're clueless.
I know everything is about national security until you out a CIA agent in your charge to a war of choice. They threw her under the bus to discredit her husband who disagreed with cheney and was threatening the march to war.
The things the government does in my name and with my tax dollars should for some reason be hidden behind a veil of secrecy. If it is that damn bad maybe our government shouldn't be doing it. One of the reports I read about was the cover up of a murdered family. Torturing people who nothing to do with anything. If we knew these things we might understand why we are hated all over the world.
Much better we stick our heads in the sand and keep all our slime well hidden in our military and elsewhere in our government and punish anyone who tells outside our little war monger circle.
What I am not allowed to point out you don't trust the government about taxes but do trust them about anything the military says. I thought I was pointing out your hypocrisy.
Then you really say nothing and call me clueless.
No you don't. You know nothing of the sorts, just by your stupid comment. That person who outed the CIA agent went to jail and never received a pardon when Bush left office.
The government doesn't do anything thing in your name, they do it for the people, what makes you so freaking special? Ok, you read ONE freaking report, that traitor released 10000+ reports that put my brothers/sisters/friends in harms way. So American First I'm part of that military that you hate so much. You don't care if our military gets killed as long as Manning is a hero-right? You're a piece of work and you might want to consider to change your screen name to "Me First"
Do you know we are hated MORE now under Obama than Bush? Do you realize this? By the way comparing tax dollars to what the military is apple and oranges.
Yes, you are clueless and support your hero Manning!!
Paul-Florida, as usual you do not know what you are talking about.
Being gay is not what motivated Bradley Manning to leak those documents. Your attempt to link the two, and your implication that gays are treated worse in other countries (not true in most other countries, not all, but most, by the way), exposes your bigotry towards gay people.
'Scooter' Libby Lewis did not go to jail for outing Valarie Plame as a CIA agent, he went to jail for lying to a federal prosecutor. Dick Cheney, who directed others to expose her, has yet to spend a single day in jail for that traitorous offense.
The country was not founded on Christian principle, it was founded on principles that happen to agree with many, but not all, Christian principles. In my studies of early American history and the many biographies and autobiographies of the founding fathers, I have found that they based the principles they infused into our Constitution on their own study of history and past governments that worked and did not work. They even studied the Muslim religion and found that it embraced many of the same principles as Christianity, and had great respect for it.
And your assertion that we are hated more now under Obama than we were under Bush is just an out right lie. It is so wrong it is sad that you continue to try and peddle that BS.
Seriously, Paul-Florida, day by day you come on here and expose your lack of historical, political, economic, and current world events knowledge. Try reading a book, try turning off Faux Noise and Rush Limbaugh, try thinking for yourself, if you can.
I do have to compliment you on one thing, for the most part, you actually use good spelling and know the difference between 'your' and 'you're'.
Matthew, I wasn't comparing Manning to being gay, let him be gay, who cares, but I will tell you this though, under the old system he lied on his security clearance. He's not a hero, that's my point.
What did scooter lie about? He still went to jail correct? Did he get a pardon?
The hope that the Arab world had not long ago put in the United States and President Obama has all but evaporated.
Two and a half years after Obama came to office, raising expectations for change among many in the Arab world, favorable ratings of the United States have plummeted in the Middle East, according to a new poll conducted by Zogby International for the Arab American Institute Foundation.
In most countries surveyed, favorable attitudes toward the United States dropped to levels lower than they were during the last year of the Bush administration. The killing of Osama bin Laden also worsened attitudes toward the United States.
That was published on July 14th.
Here's more Matthew:
Recently, many authors have debated whether or not the United States of America was founded as a Christian nation. I wish to provide a few historical quotes from our Founding Era that lend credence to the supposition that we indeed were founded as a Christian nation.
Granted, God is not mentioned in the Constitution, but He is mentioned in every major document leading up to the final wording of the Constitution. For example, Connecticut is still known as the "Constitution State" because its colonial constitution was used as a model for the United States Constitution. Its first words were: "For as much as it has pleased the almighty God by the wise disposition of His Divine Providence…"
There's more, www.afn.org
Not sure if it will post.
Maybe you need to read a little more or better yet visit those countries. There's a huge difference between reading about something and being there and experience it.
So Matthew, you have your opinion and I have mine. I don't get my news from Fox or MSNBC, I read the Drudge report and follow the news that interests me. Can you say the same? By the way, I believe you're part of that lil Libbie group too, so I know your views a tainted.
LOL Just wait until he starts hitting the Corona's!
It gets sloppy real quick! ;o)
Poor baby! What's the matter don't you have enough 'friends' to form your own rightie group? LMAO!
That was good Feisty, the Corona part, true too. Not part of any group political.
Thanks Paul - haven't seen you around in awhile - trust your foot healed okay?
Even if you're still incapable of kickin some butt! ;oP
Paul, do you really want to head down that avenue? If I were you I wouldn't even set my toe over there. This country was founded largely by deists. At least 4 out of the first 6 presidents have debated religious beliefs, one of which almost certainly was not a Christian. For their time, many of the founding fathers were called Infidel by the religious right.
Also, I would recommend you look up something called the Treaty of Tripoli, if you require some proof...
If you know what is good for you, you will desist immediately. I guarantee, if even set foot into the area of religion and politics, you will be hit by a tsunami. Good day.
Interesting, Paul, you don't source the article you cut and pasted from and the link you did provide is to a source that has been down since March. And your knowledge of history is extremely biased. As Mr. Anon pointed out, you really do not want to go there as I can provide more reliable material and facts that refute your position than you ever thought possible.
Mr. Anon, thank you for the reference to the Treaty of Tripoli. I had forgotten the name of that document and it is one of many of the most powerful examples that refutes Paul's position.
Yes, you did make a connection between Bradley Manning being gay and committing treason and, again, Scooter Libby did not go to jail for outing Valerie Plame, as you claimed. No amount of spinning will change the fact that you are wrong.
Holy smoke, I just saw that Paul relies on The Drudge report for his misinformation. That explains a whole lot about his posts.
Paul, I have travelled to over 16 different countries in my life and have recently just returned from travelling abroad, so don't even go there about my not knowing what other countries think about the US and President Obama.
I pray this does not damage our military as much as the liberals would seem to like it to. They've screwed up so much else that was once great about America and now they're going after the military. "Military preparedness" will take on a whole new meaning as our armies will be slow to respond to an attack because it took them too long to get ready or they couldn't figure out "which uniform to wear." Those last couple sentences were jokes, of course, but you get the picture.
Damage123..
The same arguments were used when:
1. the military was integrated by Truman
2. women were allowed to attend the military academies
3. women were allowed to serve in combat areas
4. now this..gays serving openly.
Gays have been serving in the US military since....well forever...with distinction and honor.
The only difference you will see is......ummmmm....nothing.
Your whole statement was a joke, to be honest. I don't think the liberals are out to damage the military. Did it damage the military when racial segregation in the military ended? Did it damage the military when women were allowed to serve? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Well, alright then...
Damage....Liberals want this to damage the military? How exactly? How much damage did liberals do to this great country when they fought to end slavery? Liberals aren't the problem with the United States you are.
Damage, I understand what you are saying, but I will remind you that, in the not too distant past, there was concern that racial integration would be damaging to the military.
It was not.
Americans should be free to serve America. It's pretty much as simple as that.
There is always a place for anyone to do some meaningful work in the military. Most of the folks in the service don't do the actual fighting, they are in support roles.
If gays are not into fighting, they can surely work in support. Mess hall duties, latrine maintenance, armorers, couriers, mechanics, graves registration, supply, Military police,.......and so on.
Damage123...grow up. At least the liberals are sensible and respectful about the use of our military. What's more disrespectful than lying our country and our military into wars that should have never been waged - lives lost, lives ruined all so our fragile president could show his daddy what a big man he was. That's not only disrespectful, but has done more damage to our military than any acts of liberalism.
I guess we will always have bigots.
My goodness, a moonbat calling the President a bigot. Shocking.
And the non sequiturs continue...
Bob,
You are acting like a dummy.
And today is any different HOW? LOL
The poor moonbat hating radical got NOTHING left! ;o)
A dummy is a step up from how I think he acts. Most of the time I just drift on by.
FYI – http://OutMilitary.com is providing a supportive place for gay servicemen and women to friend, share and network in a post DADT era.
So just to be clear now, we have to ask and they have to tell? This is such a non issue.
So,
Are you gay??
We'll.........Maybe yes, maybe no.
Well here's the good thing, people gay or non gay you can't use it has a tool for getting out of the military anymore.
No, Paul, it just can't be used as a tool to discriminate against otherwise qualified servicemen and women anymore.
Effectively Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been replaced with Don't Wanna Know, Don't Care, Doesn't Matter.
Gays have been serving, with distinction, in the US military since the country was founded. Now they will not be summarily dismissed solely for their sexual orientation.
Really dirp, that's for telling me, I guess my 20 years I didn't see it! WOW.......I know a guy that used it to get out of deploying dirp, he was in my unit and a good kid and yes we knew he was gay, but when it was time to deploy he wanted out and that's how he got out and now he's in Atlanta somewhere.
Anything else you want to know dirp?
It is about time DADT was finally done away with.
As has already been said, the repeal of DOMA is next
right along with passage of Respect for Marriage Act.
These events make me very happy, and I now have more hope than ever before.
I do very much hope for Marriage Equality nation wide.
No more hate, please.
I served in very close quartered ships during my career. I've experienced having "gays" sleep next to me and the consequences. I know there have been gays in the military since a military began, doesn't mean it right or wrong. I know I wouldn't want one watching my back, (no pun intended). I served aboard CVA-33 early in my career, proper name was U.S.S. Kearsarge, but due to the large numbers of gays, she was nick named the U.S.S. Queer-barge, after they took over 1000 off in 1 day. Don't tell me they integrate well, unless you've been at sea for long period of times and experienced those roving hands in the middle of the night.
So, Grandpajohn,
Was the roving hands thingie....was it consensual?? Did some wood appear??
Just because your bigoted mind can't possibly conceive of it, doesn't make it true. I served on a destroyer where there were several known gay men. They integrated just fine. They did their job and didn't bother anyone.
By the way, would you like to back up that claim about the 1000 gay men being escorted off of the ship? That would represent at least, if not more than half of the ships crew and that should have made the news somewhere. Somehow, I just do not believe you. Not just about this claim, but also about your serving on it.
1000 gays guys on one ship? Would that equal 500 couples? I guess it's not gay if you're on your way, right Matthew?
Not all gays are like the ones you described. Perverts exist everywhere even on boats.
Ya know, I think the rule should just be don't ask don't tell for everyone. Why the rush to be able to brag about one's particular form of sexuality? That is what is so weird about the whole debate.
So what if you are Bi-sexual?? Does that count as gay?? Or is that like half gay?? If you are half black and half white, are you a minority?? What if you are 5% black and 95% white??
You could go crazy trying to figure all this out.
Well Disabled Navy Retired, I don't buy into gay marriage, but I am in favor of allowing homosexuals into the military if they are qualified. In a firefight, you dont care about whether the guy next to you is gay or not, just can he shoot straight and often.
Besides, in most organizations, the troops know who is gay or not. If the guys/gals come out of the closet, choice of association is always there.
Here is what this debate is about...is someone born gay? If a homosexual in the military claims discrimination then they are stating their belief that they were born gay. If they are gay by choice then it is not discrimination, it is criticism.
I served in the US Army (infantry). There are no women in the infantry. Women adhere to a different physical standard in the military. They have lower requirements to pass a PT test, less push-ups, sit-ups, run time. That is discrimination. If someone wishes to be treated as an equal they should have the same standards. Another example....during my deployment my unit was extended 4 months and sent to Baghdad. Upon arriving at camp taji we were stationed with a non-infantry unit who had been there for a time. Every female in this unit recieved a 'rape whistle' when we showed up. Not 1 case of rape had ever been reported in my unit (not having females may or may not have played a role) but the command of this unit assumed it was a risk based off of that very same thing. These are examples of things that happen despite the people involved not making any decisions that affect the outcome. (A female who enlists cannot join the infantry if she wants to, my unit gave no cause to fear rape yet precautions were still taken)
I try to be as unbiased as possible on the rare occasions i post something. (everyone who posts here is biased in one way or another, gay/straight, civilian/military) But in this case I have to say being gay is a choice, not genetic. Just because someone is attracted to the same sex does not mean they have to act on those impulses. (therein lies the choice) Any species on this planet has the inborn instinct to procreate. Reproductive organs were not meant for pleasure. When you decide to use them for anything other than procreation you are making a choice. When you make that choice you are now exempt from discrimination. (I am not religious and I do not vote so make no presumptions)
I do not hate gays, (hate is a strong word, and i have gay friends/family) and I know many have served and died for our country. But I do dislike people that are 'proud' to be gay. (or proud to be a certain race, irrelevant as it is here) Involving pride just digs the hole a little deeper and fosters even more hate. Nobody 'needs' to know you are gay, so why make it a point of telling them.
If this passes they should at least place restrictions. No gays in combat MOS's. Im sure some of the men that fought beside me were gay, but not knowing made it easier. This may sound like bigotry to some, but something that adverse can surprisingly impact a squad in combat. And people that have never been in combat do not understand the emotions involved. You never see a husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend in the same infantry squad (all straight men) There is a reason for that.
Ignorance is bliss.
DADT works, no reason to fix it.