Obama to speak at gay-rights dinner
President Obama has agreed to be the keynote speaker at an annual dinner Saturday night sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay-rights group. The news is causing conjecture that Obama might use the speech to announce a new initiative to end the destructive “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
Personally, I very much doubt it. He’s already banging heads with some in the military over our policy toward Afghanistan. Until that’s resolved and behind him, he’s not going to give critics in the military another potential weapon against him.
Over the weekend, national security adviser James Jones told CNN that Obama would tackle the issue of gays in the military when the time is right. “It’s not years, but I think … it’ll be teed up appropriately,” Jones said.
It may not be years, but I doubt it’ll be this year, and I’ll be shocked if it’s this week.
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143 comments Add your comment
Midori
October 6th, 2009
11:50 am
the same arguments made against gays in the military mirror those who fought against integration in the armed services.
Prejudice and bigotry are so ugly.
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
11:50 am
It may not be years, but I doubt it’ll be this year, and I’ll be shocked if it’s this week.
Me too. If he were going to take DADT out back and shoot it, he woulda done it on the Stonewall anniversary, methinks.
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
11:54 am
Personally, I very much doubt it. He’s already banging heads with some in the military over our policy toward Afghanistan.
…then again, maybe one of the reasons so much head-banging has been going on of late is because the brass knows DADT is about to be taken out back and shot, and some are none too happy about it. ya never know.
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(
October 6th, 2009
11:59 am
DADT?!?!?!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz
Don’t want all the little democrats sheople thinking about what a stone cold disaster Obozo, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, is, eh?
I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(
October 6th, 2009
12:02 pm
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
11:52 am
Why does Andy hate women?
fyt
Were you one of Letterman’s scags?
RollerGirl
October 6th, 2009
12:03 pm
Yeah, I remember high school, this millenium too, not way back in the 20th century, and among boys the worst thing they could call each other was “f*g”. The vast majority of the armed services are young men 18-22 and if you think they would just be loving and kind and accepting to an openly homosexual male in their midst, you are naive.
Then the liberals will say, “well they will be disciplined then!” Like the army is some sort of social experiment. Thats why DADT was instituted, ANYTHING , even if RIGHT outside the military, that does ANYTHING to promote friction within the ranks or take away from the primary mission of unit cohesion, is WRONG.
I hate the naive…stupid I can put up with , they are stupid they can’t help it..naivity is self imposed.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
12:04 pm
I’ll take the current “disaster” over that drunken abomination that squatted in the WH
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
October 6th, 2009
12:05 pm
Clearly, homosexual stands diametrically opposed to Scripture and that which is good. Yet, in a free society, such as ours, this sort of aberrant behaviour must be tolerated. Nonetheless, homosexuality should not be considered as normative behaviour and should be continued to be recognized as the perversion that it is. As such, Obama must ban homosexuals in the military, because military men must place their lives in the hands of their comrades and one just cannot trust a homosexual what with blackmail and all.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
12:05 pm
oops –
I’ll take the current “disaster” over that drunken abomination that squatted in the WH the past 8 years ANY day….
mmmm, mmm, mmm…….
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
12:05 pm
Were you one of Letterman’s scags?
You mean like Sarah Palin?
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
12:12 pm
I think he means Michelle Bachmann, dB. She’s been indoctrinated.
Macho, Macho Man......
October 6th, 2009
12:16 pm
So what member of the “Village People” will Barack dress up as?
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
12:17 pm
While women make up 14 percent of Army personnel, 46 percent of those discharged under the policy last year were women. And while 20 percent of Air Force personnel are women, 49 percent of its discharges under the policy last year were women.
By comparison for 2006, about 35 percent of the Army’s discharges and 36 percent of the Air Force’s were women, according to the statistics.
Well! You mean there’s even more startling statistics that are counter to the Republican’s claims. I’m aghast.
FrankLeeDarling
October 6th, 2009
12:18 pm
Don’t ask don’t tell has more to do with what does happen in the military than doesn’t
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
12:19 pm
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
12:05 pm
Were you one of Letterman’s scags?
You mean like Sarah Palin?
Come to think of it, that would go a long way toward explaining that little publicized ’spat’ those two had.
DebbieDoRight
October 6th, 2009
12:20 pm
…stupid I can put up with , they are stupid they can’t help it…
RG, I guess you should know better than most………………..
Tancred
October 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
Couldn’t one say that killing thousands of innocent people is an “abomination” or that war itself is not “normative.” One should not trot out sociological terminology like “normative” unless they know WTF they are talking about. Behaviours associated with homosexuality WAS normative in classical Greece; it’s “normative” now for about 15% of the population. Besides, homosexuality itself is not a “behaviour” but a biologically determined sexual orientation. Plenty of heterosexuals engage in many of the same behaviours as homosexuals.
Yadro
October 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
“During this campaign I have visited 57 states.” – Barack Obama. “In 2009 and 2010 all existing buisnesses will receive a $3,000 tax credit for each additional full time employee hired.” – Barack Obama. You Lie!!!!
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
12:33 pm
As a retired Infantryman, I don’t know how you can call this plan Destructive. It works, homosexuals can serve, just not practice thier sexuality. If they are allowed to serve openly, they would still not be able to practice thier sexuality. The Uniform Code of Military Justice outlaws sodomy.
Turd Ferguson
October 6th, 2009
12:34 pm
Midori
October 6th, 2009
11:50 am
LOL…lil Midori compares civil right with gay rights. Midiori you are JUST SO CUTE…now you may return to your slumber.
Paul
October 6th, 2009
12:35 pm
Whoooo, some of the posters are doing their best to destroy the image of the Left as the being courteous to all, event those with whom they disagree.
Interesting choice of venue for the President. Bridge building? Bridge repair? An opportunity to expound on the realities of the office compared to the ‘must do’ agendas of special interests? Will he be conciliatory? Defensive? Apologetic?
Why this group?
Turd Ferguson
October 6th, 2009
12:35 pm
In attendance at this Gay Dinner Festival of sorts will also be David Letterman and the new Love of his life, Michael Stipe.
Paul
October 6th, 2009
12:37 pm
Having a good time with my keyboard actuator skills this morning….
Caught just a little of the ACORN CEO’s address. Geesh. I can just imagine if Wagoner (GM past head) had begun his testimony before Congress regarding GM’s troubles with “I had a really hard life. But I learned a lot. And my company did what it was supposed to and now it’s in a tough way because there are a lot of nasty people out there saying really bad things about GM.”
double geesh.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
12:40 pm
Turd,
I really don’t have the time or inclination to indulge your immature musings today.
Have at it, and have fun while you’re at it.
I hear you knocking, and you can’t come in.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
Paul,
Bosch has me all pining away for chili!!!
gonna make some tonight.
got a good recipe? you always have the best recipes
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
Yadro
October 6th, 2009
12:30 pm
“During this campaign I have visited 57 states.” – Barack Obama. “In 2009 and 2010 all existing buisnesses will receive a $3,000 tax credit for each additional full time employee hired.” – Barack Obama. You Lie!!!!
Nah, he visited seven of them twice or somethin’ like that.
Turd Ferguson
October 6th, 2009
12:44 pm
LOL Midori. Why dont you have lovers David Letterman and Michael Stipe over for a steaming Texas chili bowl.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
12:44 pm
Wasn’t there some rumors during the campaign about Barry being “on the down low?”…
Just Sayin’
Barry, the down low bro…
who doesn’t like ho…
might explain why he married an ugly woman….
Scooter
October 6th, 2009
12:47 pm
The DADT Policy should be left up to the military commanders, not the politicians.And would someone please tell me just what “openly gay” means?
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
12:53 pm
Scooter, it means they can hold hands when they walk together. Or kiss in public, and things like that. That doesn’t seem conducive to order, discipline or moral.
Joey
October 6th, 2009
12:53 pm
Not a fan of polls, but it might be worth while to poll a few thousand enlisted men and women regarding this issue. They, not us, are the people who will have to live with gays or get out. How unreasonable and difficult is it to ask them what they think?
I doubt that anyone on this blog or on the AJC Editorial Board will be directly impacted by DADT or the demise of DADT. Before you do this President Obama, please spend about 25% the time that you spend deliberating over Afghanistan discussing the impact of this on all of your troops. Get someone you trust to talk to some real live soldiers.
Say What??
October 6th, 2009
12:54 pm
Taxpayer
October 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
Counting something twice? Must have been his ACORN training.
Gandalf, the Wise
October 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
Barry is the worst leader our country has ever had. He’s a nimrod!
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
12:55 pm
Nah, he visited seven of them twice or somethin’ like that.
This again? Snopes is your friend.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/57states.asp
He was trying to express the thought that in all the time he had spent on the campaign trail so far in 2007-8 he had visited all (48) of the states in the continental US save for one (i.e., “one left to go,” excluding Alaska and Hawaii), but in his weariness he slipped up and started off with “fifty” instead of “forty.” (Note the long pause in the video clip between the words “fifty” and “seven.”)
stands for decibels
October 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
So Scooter, you’re saying that an organization that has openly discriminated against gays and lesbians should be permitted to decide for itself if it should be allowed to go on discriminating? You don’t see any fox-henhouse issues there?
Jay
October 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
Re: your “openly gay” question, Scooter.
Well, would you say that you are “openly heterosexual”? Or do you like to leave that ambiguous?
That’s what it means.
Scooter
October 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
Midori
October 6th, 2009
12:42 pm
I have a great and easy recipe for Brunswick Stew! Let me know if you would like to have it.
Kamchak
October 6th, 2009
12:56 pm
The president will deal with these same-sex issues such as DADT an DOMA incrementally. These are wedgie issues that stick in the crack of too many people.
The Clintons tried to do too much too quickly and paid dearly for it.
Obama is taking a measured approach.
Is it the correct one? It is if he can change these policies.
Doggone/GA
October 6th, 2009
12:57 pm
“nimrod”
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Paul
October 6th, 2009
12:58 pm
Hi Midori!
Made chili just a while ago. Started out with a baseline then adjusted. I’ll havta see if I wrote down the changes (probably not!). Got’em from the International Chili Cookoff website and looked over the past year’s winners. Also had just stopped off at Pendery’s Spices in Ft Worth, whose specialty is chili powder – the real stuff, no fillers. The ship, too.
Lessee, the one I did was:
Zanjero Red Chili World Champion 1999 http://www.chilicookoff.com
Ingredients:
3 lbs Course Ground or Cubed Beef Roast
1 cup Onion
5 Pods Garlic
2 Ortega Chili Peppers
1 can Chicken Broth
1 can Beef Broth
1 can Tomato Sauce
10 Tbsp Chili Powder
1½ Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Hot New Mexico Chili Powder
Instructions:
Sautee meat & onions in 1 tsp Wesson oil
Add to the chicken broth
Simmer 1 hour
Add:
1 can tomato sauce
Chili peppers
chili powders and cumin
Simmer 1 hour and Salt to tast
I used beef roast, cubed large (about an inch and a half) and seared it well. I used a 15 oz can of tomato sauce. Instead of the 1T hot chili powder I used a bit of cayenne. for the 10 Tbs (you read that right, it’s a half a cup plus 2 tablespoons) I used a mostly Penderey’s Original, and about a quarter cup of their Top Hat (it’s an earthier chili).
I also added some good hot sauce – not Tabasco, too much vinegar for this. Frank’s is good, so are some of the Mexican brands like Tapatio. Plus I kept it on a slow simmer all day. I used a cheap roast to this made it nice and tender. Then I thickened it just a bit with a mix of corn meal and water. I like the flavor the corn adds.
Spice Islands does a good chili powder that has a richer flavor than many. A lot of the people in the competition swear by Tone’s, which is widely available and a lot less money (places like Sam’s carry it occasionally) but I don’t think it has a lot of chili flavor.
Enjoy!
Oh, tortillas and beer go really, really well with this!
Paul
October 6th, 2009
1:01 pm
Scooter
I’d like it. Please. There was a restaurant – in Atlanta – some years back that made the best Brunswick Stew I’ve ever had. Never have been able to duplicate that darn recipe.
And no, I don’t remember the name of the restaurant. My brother would have the stew shipped in during the holidays.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
1:01 pm
appreciate it, Scooter.
I never had Brunswick Stew until I moved here to Georgia
Gale
October 6th, 2009
1:01 pm
Wrong Ganadalf, openly gay does not allow them to do anything straight people are forbidden to do in uniform. It only means they may carry on their private life the same as straights.
However, I expect Obama to do nothing more at this engagement than toss the hot potato to Congress, where the blame can be spread. He would never take on something this contraversial in his first term for such a small voting block.
Kamchak
October 6th, 2009
1:02 pm
Paul
I prefer Bohemia or Pacifico with my chili.
I saw Bobby Flay do a throw-down with a chili competitor. Ended up a tie.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
1:03 pm
thanks Paul
sounds positively YUMMY!!
Paul
October 6th, 2009
1:05 pm
Oh, and thanks for the recipe indulgence, Jay. Last one of the day, I promise.
Scooter
Think in terms of, if you were in the military and you could be discharged – court martialed – if it was found you were hetersexual. To what lengths would you have to go to hide your heterosexuality?
That is what ‘open’ is not.
It has nothing to do with flamboyance. Or in your face. Or demonstrativeness.
Think ‘quiet honesty.’
And if you can build a pallet, repair an engine, defuse bombs, run a sonar panel… who cares?
Turd Ferguson
October 6th, 2009
1:06 pm
Midori, FYI. Excellent brunswick stew/BBQ can be located on Lawrenceville Hwy at I believe its “Done Right BBQ”. Lawrenceville Hwy and almost to I-285.
Just saying.
jconservative
October 6th, 2009
1:08 pm
I agree with Jay on this one – I do not believe he will open the DADT debate this week. There is to much on the military plate already.
Midori
October 6th, 2009
1:09 pm
thanks for the hat tip, TF
Paul
October 6th, 2009
1:09 pm
Kamchak
I was just in southern Cal and had Bohemia. Had to look all over here and just yesterday found a source. I’d tried several brands and I agree – with chili Bohemia’s a fine choice. Heck, by itself it’s a fine choice!