Barack Obama has been criticized for not making gay issues a priority, particularly after he made promises about repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It seems that he hasn't changed his mind about the issue, but it may take some patience for any action to take place.
Recently, Obama received a letter from Sandy Tsao, who was ejected from the military under DADT, and wrote back to her, "Thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful letter. It is because of outstanding Americans like you that I committed to changing our current policy. Although it will take some time to complete (partly because it needs Congressional action) I intend to fulfill my commitment!"
Are you running out of patience for him to fulfill his promises? Or do you think it'll all come into fruition over time?
– Dewitt
really?!! REALLY?!! your whole country is in turmoil and you want to get pissy because hes not paying attention to yall?!! sorry but after 95 gays dropped the ball .. be happy you have someone who has your needs on at least one burner. Gays should have been fighting this all along not marginalizing, becoming hetero and playing dead.
I think he has a little issue he’s dealing with called the economy that is kinda taking up most of his time. What exactly do people want Obama to do? We have gays like Perez in the news spouting off over nonsense, turning people off. How about the gay community becoming proactive on it’s own behalf right now.
Its only been 4 months and 8 days…We still have time! He has A LOT ON HIS PLATE! He seem like a man of his word..He has done more things than most of the last 5 Pres had to do in his first 100 day alone.
leave obama alone.
he really got too much to worry about.
damn economy, fucking bush’s iraq, afghanistan!
poor guy. he seems nice to gays anyway, better than hillary anyway and certainly better than mccain and BUSHHH
so give him time.
The “right wing” folks would love for this issue to be front & center right now. Just like they did with Clinton, it would give radio bigots talk shows and Fox news something to put on the front burner each day and beat it like a dead horse!! We gays should be glad we no longer have G.W Bush in office, at least Obama is listening and hand writting notes to gays to let them know he cares and its just a matter of time…So give this guy a break!
He/we will get there. Give the guy time. Let’s get out of the recession and out of Iraq first. Rather than criticize the President for not making this his earliest priority, let’s celebrate all the states which have shown they have guts and legalized same-sex marriage. President Obama will keep his promises, I’m sure. Let’s all be patient.
I agree with the other “poster boys,” in that President Obama has barely gotten his feet wet. We are talking about turning decades of bigotry and homophobia around and upside down. Those of us old enough to remember marching in the 70’s and 80’s, fearing for out jobs and homes, can understand that it takes time. Moving congress can be like moving a mountain.
WE all need to help him by getting off our collective butts, campaign for congressional candidates who support OUR views and by voting the “good ol’ boys” out of office (I still can’t believe Bush got a second term; what about career politicians who have trampled our rights yet get voted back in every time, through apathy or inaction).
As good as he is President Obama is but one man. He needs our help as much as we need his.
I sincerely believe that for many years we elected politicians, and hoped they would be leaders. And, I believe that this time we have elected a true leader, who understands politics. President Obama will fulfill this commitment; I have no doubt.
As everyone else has already said, Mr. Obama has more important issues to deal with right now. However, I applaud Sandy Tsao for reminding him of his promises, if it was premature. Now she, and the rest of us, should all write to our senate and house reps. and make sure they know that this issue is still important to us, and shouldn’t be kept on the back burner indefinitely.
I agree that the nation and government have MUCH more important things to worry about.
However, I am getting rather impatient. Bill Clinton( whom I still regard as the greatest American president in recent history – too early to tell on Obama) promised to end military discrimination against gays in the military – and that got twisted into DADT in the first place.
Obama is Commander in Chief of the military, I am surprised his Executive Orders are not enough. But I will take him at his word when he says it requires congressional action – however this just means he should have someone drafting and introducing a bill sooner rather than later.
Too busy? That’s just BS. He had time to reopen the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Meanwhile good men and women are being kicked out of the military almost daily (See the story about Lt. Dan.)
Openly gay men and women in our military will ruin it. As a career gay Marine I cannot begin to tell you the problems our military has had with the gays. It is staggering and embarrassing. We need grow up and mature as gay men and women we need to base our gay community and culture on integrity and values. We talk about being treated unfair and discriminated against yet has anyone noticed how we treat our own? We need to learn how to treat our own kind with the same expectations we have of others.
eddie…..are you kidding me? you liken the timeline of reopening the crown of the Statue of Liberty to decades of gay rights issues? It’s not that cut and dry, buddy. Sheesh.
I think Prez Obama should sign a repeal of DADT and DOMA in the middle of the night just like our “friend” Bill Clinton. Shock the shoes right off of some of our illustrious congressmen and women.