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Colin Powell, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former secretary of state, has come out in favor of eventually repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gay and lesbian service members.
“In the almost seventeen years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” Powell said in a statement released by his office Wednesday. “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I will be closely following future hearings, the views of the Service Chiefs and the implementation work being done by the Department of Defense,” Powell said…
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solomonese said…“His powerful voice for ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is a tipping point in favor of the brave men and women who are serving our nation in silence. The support of respected present and former military leaders brings us closer to repeal, signaling that we’re moving forward and will get there soon.”
“The truth is that there are no more excuses, the death knell for ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ has been rung and now is the moment to send this law into the history books where it belongs.”
I forget there used to be conservatives with a conscience. There are so few left.
#27 As Federal law, DADT must be repealed by Congress.
In conclusion, you’re a dumb ass tool that knows nothing about the subject. Your lunch hour is over and the toilet paper is out at the mall bathroom.
#30 Too bad their pseudo intellectual arguments don’t make any sense in the real world.
Translation: They’re using words that are too big and I don’t understand! Waaaaah!
Aw, poor baby. 🙂
Enjoy your anti-gay bigotry while it’s still slightly acceptable.
know body listens to this uncle tom/house negro
# 32 Go back to your frat house sonny.
#34 Cute. So why do you hate gays, Loupe? Did a priest get you when you were a kid? (For the record, the overwhelming majority of child molesters are straight guys who have a kid fetish). Are you a closet case yourself, unwilling to accept your own sexual preferences? Or are you just a run-of-the-mill right-wing @sshole who thinks everyone should follow your morals? Or all of the above, maybe.
#34
They hate gays, because they are afraid that their latent homosexuality might come out, and they are not like them. They hate blacks, because they are not lily white, like they are.
It’s a thin veil of bigotry, on both counts.
this was the funniest comment section i’ve ever read. This DADT nonesense is so obviously a distraction. And it has all of you divided and clawing each other’s eyes out. The economy is in the toilet, the deficit is getting ludicrous, there is no end in sight for the wars being waged by a supposedly pro peace president, and government is growing by leaps and bounds while we continue to lose more and more of our individual rights, and you let this lame issue consume you mind and body? It truly blows my mind. Try seeing past this ploy to make this the issue for midterm elections and focus on the fact that those in power don’t give a rat’s butt about DADT. Wake up to the fact that all government is corrupt and focus on how we can rid ourselves from the shackles of coercive government.
#37 turns out the US government is HUGE !!
They are able to handle all sorts of silly things like equality for it’s citizens!
You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel gay?’ Well, do ya punk?
#29 Father..
-None taken.. I take as a compliment. (though from my viewpoint, Adam sounds more like me)
I have enough science data compiled from the last year (+several more) -to back up much of what Adam talks about. -You can even find it sprinkled throughout my posts the last year. (Both Adam and John have little “real” science knowledge. -and Adam does not take things far enough)
That said..if you understand anything.. -what I posted above speaks of “Duality”
Duality is the “meme” for this time, this age.. That their is “dual meaning” in much of what is projected in the media is obvious to anyone aware of it. It is always hidden in plain sight, as is all knowledge, -and “duality”
-you as a “Father” -should know this.
We all have (at least) two faces,two sides, to our persona yes?
If you doubt what i say…the proof, it is in the OP’s post. Look at the picture of the OP’s post. It shows two faces, two sides of Powell. The Most important clue is the fact that the both pictures have him wearing very similar ties.. -except for the fact that one tie is BLUE, and the other is RED. That they shaded his skin tone more “white” in one image than another, is another “tell”
The symbolism that Powell himself stands for, -a highly respected *black* general, -is another “tell”
That even he at one point, had to distance himself from the Bush Administration, tells us even more about the man. there is more, but i will leave that to you..
The symbolism (imagery) behind all of this is profound. -and as you know, (i hope) symbolism is *everything* -not only in politics, but throughout all of history as well.
That the image comes from Getty Images tells us this was definitely intentional.
I leave it to you ponder what i have shown you.
If you still think I am making something out of nothing..then you still do not understand how “the world” -of politics works. -Or the psychology of “the world” of marketing as a whole. (and “brands)
-s
@ #38 – Yes. Equality for all its citizens to die in wars fought for special interests. Wars never declared by Congress and standing armies that last for more than 2 years. They can’t even follow their own rules, they are so blatantly corrupt!
Just because they are huge, doesn’t mean they can handle anything! They can’t even keep gays out of the military! (I’m being sarcastic here, if you can’t tell. Personally, if you want to go kill yourself for special interests, that’s your choice, just don’t force me to foot the bill!) The government is highly inefficient and incompetent. Why? Those in government aren’t held accountable for their actions. All they have to do is distract you with the “right” to say you’re gay while getting your head blown off and you’ll happily forget the fact Gitmo is still in operation, so called terrorists are still being tortured, just under the cover of darkness in other countries for our benefit, and over 40,000 new laws were passed in 2009 alone to further restrict our freedom as so called citizens of the US of friggin A.
@ #40 – Nice breakdown. of course, all of this is obvious to anyone who has read 1984.
Think of it this way: What better way to get rid of gays and lesbians than sending them to Iraq and Afganistan to fight the war?
Some of these comments made me think.
Obviously, some of the posters here haven’t thought this out.
Is repealing DADT actually going to help openness or shut up gays completely?
Let’s run a scenario:
Assume a gay soldier named Johnson, and a straight soldier named Butch.
Johnson makes it known he’s gay and makes eyes (real or imagined) at Butch. Butch beats the crap out of Johnson.
Johnson squeals on Butch, causing Butch to be dishonorably discharged.
Johnson now can never be anywhere alone. He has betrayed his comrades and will be beaten and possibly killed for his actions.
End result: Johnson will keep his trap shut.
The end result of repealing DADT?
Returning to how things were BEFORE DADT!
Maybe this is why the Generals are all for the repeal?
#43 Ah_Yeah
If Butch assaults Johnson (love the names) for ANY reason other than self defence or mutual consent, he deserves to be punished. Didn’t Butch betray his comrades by assaulting one of his own?
The military is full of bigots. Surely dealing with bigotry in a more general sense is of more importance and focussing on gays.
26 Phydeau. Yes, what was I thinking? How could genetic programming that goes back 2 million years ever interfere with decisions a PC soldier might make on the battlefield or elsewhere? Even women know men are now over that old-fashioned stuff.
RBG
>> # 10 srgothard said, on February 4th, 2010 at 7:48 am
>> Just so long as soldiers aren’t forced to shower with men who are attracted to them.
Straight guys don’t worry about it.
Just because someone is gay does not permit him/her to rape. This applies to both sexual preferences, I am not gay, nor do I find men who find me attractive bothersome. Those who do should seek counseling for self confidence. Perhaps they can reveal their own hidden passion.
The repel of this is the right thing to do.
Yes, They need to fight not make love, that is the whole point. Let’s not look at sexual preference, but fighting ability.
Obama is purposely invoking every option possible to destroy freedom, so crushing the esprit de corps of the military is not unexpected.
Obama is not incompetent, just evil.
>># 47 kaspercat said, on February 4th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
>> I am not gay, nor do I find men who find me attractive bothersome.
That’s almost always the case — confident straight men don’t give a crap if there is a gay guy in the shower.
>> Obama is not incompetent, just evil.
Cats are dogs. Up is down. 6 is 9. Obama is evil.
The right wing media can convince you of all kinds of bizarre nonsense.
#49-Greg Allen
Every action, every decision from the Obamanation has been destructive to the health of the nation. No one is that incompetent.
You don’t really think this is an accident, do you?
>> Dr Dodd said, on February 4th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
>> #49-Greg Allen
>> Every action, every decision from the Obamanation has been destructive to the health of the nation.
Wow what a load of nonsense.
I’ll say it again — the right wing media will lead you completely out-of-touch with reality.
I can’t argue with you anymore than I could argue with someone who is convinced that 6 is 9. There is no starting point; no connection to reality, logic or facts.
But the right wing media will do that to you.
#51-Greg Allen
You haven’t exactly been convincing as to what Obama has done right.
I’m listening.
I don’t understand how repealing don’t ask, don’t tell will allow for gays in the military. It’s a 90’s policy and gays weren’t allowed long before Bill Clinton.
Father said
“If there were an overwhelming number of qualified straight white men that were demanding entry into the armed forces, there would be no compelling reason to let anyone else join the club.”
Is there an overwhelming number of qualified GLBT people demanding entry into the armed forces?
If the leaders of each Military branch want it repealed it will be. If they don’t it wont.
Powell would make an excellent Republican nominee. Too bad the “conservative” movement will push for Palin.
Translation, please love me now. Don’t hold that Iraq thing against me anymore. Did Mr. Powell make any statement about how he was instrumental in getting the ban passed in the first place?
As long as the opponent is dying at a rate of 1000 per American casualty, who cares if GLBT are part of the success?
Powell was just being a good soldier for the Bush/Cheney war machine he was member of the team and fowling orders from his commander he fulfilled his oblations (not like Palin) stuck it even after he knew he was working for liars then left as soon as he could get out honorably(the way a soldier should) I would rather he said”No this intelligence is week I’ll resign before I go out and say such things” but I have a problem with following orders I don’t agree with. If the Army were filled with soldiers like me we would all be in deep excrement.
I’m an independent and I disagree with him on some things but he is a conservative I could vote for. Think about that GOP
Your base will love the Becks and Palins but if you want us independents (remember us we put Obama in office) look to conservative like Powell.
He is right on this ending don’t ask don’t tell.
you homophobes need to get a life
From Fox News (the most trusted name in news, right?):
A recent congressional study on the impact of “don’t ask, don’t tell” said that hundreds of highly skilled troops, including many translators, have left the armed forces because of the rule, at a cost of nearly $200 million, mostly for recruiting and training replacements for 9,500 troops discharged between 1994 and 2003.
Gary Gates, a statistician at the University of California at Los Angeles, estimates there are about 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving in the military, accounting for about 2.8 percent of all personnel. He estimates that at least 25 gay soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
#57-Greg Allen
Obama “eyes” a tax cut doesn’t have the same zing to it as Obama signs tax cut. Kinda rates up there with other unrealized promises.
New era of world relations? Signing away US strength will definitely lead to a new era, but not quite the era you expect or will like.
Fairness? “Ms. Ledbetter will not see any money as a result of the legislation Mr. Obama signed into law.”
Glad Obama was there to help.
Hey Dr Dodd, you will enjoy this article about Obama’s mastery of foreign affairs.
Not to mention how he treated England right after becoming Prez.