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Why Did Obama Fire Dan Choi?Posted on Aug 3, 2010By Amy Goodman “As we mark the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq,” President Barack Obama said this week, “a grateful America must pay tribute to all who served there.” He should have added “unless you’re gay,” because, despite his rhetoric, weeks earlier the commander in chief fired one of those Iraq vets: Lt. Dan Choi. Choi was an Iraq War veteran, a graduate of West Point and a trained Arabic linguist. I ran into Choi the day after he received his official discharge. We were at the Netroots Nation conference in Las Vegas, a gathering of thousands of bloggers, activists and journalists. Though Choi had known the discharge was coming, he was still shaken to the core. He took out his phone and showed me the letter he was e-mailed. Choi announced he was gay on national television in March of 2009. He knew the stakes. I asked why he did it. “I came back from Iraq,” he told me, “and I decided that it’s not worth it—I could have died at any moment in the area that I was, in the ‘Triangle of Death.’ Why should I be afraid of the truth of who I am?” He went on: “I’ve wanted to go back to Iraq and to Afghanistan, but then I thought, ‘If I die in Afghanistan or Iraq, then would my boyfriend be notified? Or would he have to hear about it through “Democracy Now!” or CNN—who would be the one telling him?’ And the fact of the matter is ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ forces our families into the closet and into nonexistence, and that is no way to support our troops or the families that allow them to continue to serve.” Advertisement Obama has instructed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to conduct a survey among members of the military and their families about the potential impact of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Sounds reasonable? Not according to Choi. “I think it’s absolutely insulting that we are having a survey right now, in this day and age. That the commander in chief [was] the first racial minority to achieve that rank and that position was a signifying moment for all of us, whether we’re racial minorities, whether we’re sexual minorities, whether we’re American citizens or not even yet American citizens, it was an absolute moment of vindication for a lot of people.” Choi, also a proud Korean-American, continued, “Nobody ever polls the soldiers on whether we should go to war or not. Nobody ever says, ‘What do you think about your commander in chief being African-American?’ ” It’s difficult to think of Dan Choi as lucky, since the West Point graduate wanted to make the military his career, but being honorably discharged, he gets to keep his benefits. He says that’s not true of many of his peers. “A lot of people have given up quite a hefty sum of benefits, including your medical benefits, your right to go to a VA hospital without paying, if your disability rating is like mine—I’m something like 50 percent disabled from my time in service—I stood to lose all of that as well as scholarship moneys, GI bill and a home loan through the VA programs.” At the Netroots Nation conference, Democratic leaders tried to convince their progressive base that the Democratic Party truly did represent change. When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took the stage, the moderator handed him Lt. Choi’s West Point ring and said Choi wanted him to keep it. Choi then joined Reid on the stage. Holding the ring, Reid asked Choi, speaking of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” “When we get it passed, you’ll take it back, right?” Choi responded, “I sure will, but I’m going to hold you accountable.” Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 800 stations in North America. She is the author of “Breaking the Sound Barrier,” recently released in paperback and now a New York Times best-seller. © 2010 Amy Goodman Distributed by King Features Syndicate CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
By drbhelthi, August 11, 2010 at 10:21 am Link to this comment
Dr. Steven Kaali and team of the Albert Einstein
Report thisCollege of Medicine, NYC, published info in 1991
regarding a cure for AIDS, HIV, all Viruses. Copy is
very difficult to locate, as all copies have been
removed from U.S. libraries. The journal publisher
reports no copies are available. A small electric
device does the job. An electronics scientist, Dr.
Robert Beck invented a device and tested it with
various patients. ALL OF THEM were cured. The device
“electrocutes” all foreign entities in the blood,
without harming normal cells. Once the viral bodies
are dead, they no longer replenish the illness,
which disappears. See “Dr. Robert Beck zapper.”
Promptly, before it is removed. doc b.
By David Ehrenstein, August 11, 2010 at 9:59 am Link to this comment
I shall!
Report thisBy garth, August 11, 2010 at 9:18 am Link to this comment
A tribute to David Ehrenstein
“What they hate about people like me is that we don’t fit into the “Nuclear family” matrix and are thus “Wild Cards.” Some of us (me for isntance) are radicals. Others want to live placcid, ordinary lives—indistinguishable from straights save for what happens in the bedroom.”
———————————————-
You give a glimmer of hope that Democracy as an ideal might survive. As Ralph Nader said, “More voices, more choices.”
Keep up the fight.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 11, 2010 at 8:28 am Link to this comment
“As long as the gays are being projected as ‘flaming fags’ the religious right, Catholic pedophiles and Wall Street necromancers will continue to control Congress.”
Even if we were as butch as Raymond Burr, they would control congress. The corporate takeover took place some time back. President Eisenhower (surely not anyone’s idea of a Liberal) made theat clear in his speech waringing against “The Military-Indusrial Complex.” That was WAY back in the early 50’s. What they hate about people like me is that we don’t fit into the “Nuclear family” matrix and are thus “Wild Cards.” Some of us (me for isntance) are radicals. Others want to live placcid, ordinary lives—indistinguishable from straights save for what happens in the bedroom.
And they can do this because of the work of radicals like me.
Orgs like the Human Rights campaign aren’t radical at all. And the proof of that is right in the name. it’s a gay org without gay in its title. That’s why Obama has played the HRC for the suckers they are. They get invited to the White Hosue for drinks and are promised that DADT will come to end.
But as we have see Barry has not the slightest interest in following through on that promise—hi shitcanning of Dan Choi making that fact screamingly obvious.
Report thisBy garth, August 11, 2010 at 8:17 am Link to this comment
Now, my dear Ehrenstein, you are saying something.
Thanks for the reading list.
When Tisei came out, and now that you’ve told about Anderson Cooper, I remembered a line between Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre in Casablanca.
Peter Lorre says to Humphey Bogart, “You don’t like me do you?”
Humphrey Bogart, exhaling a drag from a cigarette while looking around the room, replies,” I never gave it any thought.”
In reality, in times when people are beset with the prospect of corporate-financial takeover of the government, most people don’t care about the sex of the partner you wake up to. They want this nonsense to stop and be reversed.
Freedom and equality for all has become a foregone conclusion in so many other democracies.
The gays’s problem is not not with me nor people like me.
I care, but all-in-all that’s the least of my problems.
Alternative lifestyle? Like they they have two lines. Straight and alternative.
It’s like the myth about black versus white. As long as blacks were depicted as feckless and less than human, the whites could ride rough-shod over them. As long as the gays are being projected as ‘flaming fags’ the religious right, Catholic pedophiles and Wall Street necromancers will continue to control Congress.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 11, 2010 at 7:52 am Link to this comment
“Your bombast and your paranoid nature are stunning.”
(BLUSH!)
“You are right about one thing: I do not know much about the LGBT community. Their stance thus far seems to be: You don’t know about us and you wouldn’t understand.
That’s the same propaganda of isolationism that every minority puts forth to encrust their belief that they are beleagured.”
I’m 63 years old. I joined the gay rights movement right after Stonewall. Since you admit to knowing nothing there are a number of books I could reccomend beginniong with “The Invention of Heterosexuality” by Jonathan Ned Katz. You should alos read “The Trouble with Harry Hay” by Stuart Timmons, “Gay New York” by George Chauncey, “Queer in America” by Michelangelo Signorelli, “Becoming a Man” by Paul Monette, “Contested Closets” by Larry Gross, “Tricks” y Renaud Camus, “Striaght News” by Edward Alwood, “Cures” by martin Duberman, “The Women” by Hilton Als, and “Open Secret” by me.
“A Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of MA, David Tisei, has just come out. I’ll bet his news surprised a lot of people.”
Doesn’t surprise me at all. The Closet is OVER. It is no longer possible for a gay politician to remain in it.
Or Anderson Cooper either, for that matter.
“Get more gays to run for public office. Start a real coalition. Campaign as the brave versus the fearful”
That’s happening all over the pace. Do try and keep up.
“Enlighten us.”
See my reading list above.
Report thisBy garth, August 11, 2010 at 5:53 am Link to this comment
Mr. Ehrenstein,
Your bombast and your paranoid nature are stunning.
I thought of using ‘gayness’ but that didn’t sound right so I settled for ‘gaiety’. You are right about one thing: I do not know much about the LGBT community. Their stance thus far seems to be: You don’t know about us and you wouldn’t understand.
That’s the same propaganda of isolationism that every minority puts forth to encrust their belief that they are beleagured.
I don’t know many gays, but the ones I know are all far above average intelligence and sensitivity.
Pundits predict that some form of LGBT legislation (Gay marriage, for example) will pass when the next generation takes power. They seem to be less driven by fear and have more experience with those LBGTs who have already come out. Seems like a shallow promise, though. Who wants to wait for something the Constitution gives at birth?
A Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of MA, David Tisei, has just come out. I’ll bet his news surprised a lot of people.
I heard Tisei a few times address certain issues that were brought up by a loud-mouth, bomb tosser who also happens to have forum as a newspaper columnist. Tisei doused the fire that this columnist was trying to fan with calm, straight-forward analysis.
The kind that is easy to the ear. Maybe his approach would be helpful. Instead of falling back to the position that you’re gay and I’m not and therefore it’s my fault, you could try a little enlightenment.
Get more gays to run for public office. Start a real coalition. Campaign as the brave versus the fearful
Enlighten us.
Report thisNB I am sorry for the friends you lost to AIDS and I sincerely hope for a cure soon.
By drbhelthi, August 11, 2010 at 12:02 am Link to this comment
Once again,
THANK YOU, Ms. Amy Goodman.
Please continue to investigate, reveal the accurate
Report thissituations instead of the publicized propaganda, and
compile your poignant descriptions of factual
situations.
By David Ehrenstein, August 10, 2010 at 12:56 pm Link to this comment
“By the way, have gays ever come out against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Have they ever said that the US and Israel are going too far?”
“The gays” do not constitute a single unit walking in lock-step.
If you follow MY writings and blog posts then you know that I have been opposed to our actions—all on behalf of the oil cartels—in Iraq and Afganistan, and I have been equally antipathetic to Israel since 1967.
“Does the issue of unemployed workers here in the US ever enter the conversation? As in: you know what gaeity might be our paramount issue, but we can have opinions about other issues. Can’t we?”
You’re sneering use of the work “gaeity” is indicative not only of your lack of knowledge of LGBT life today, but your active hostility towards same.
“No need to answer. I’m sick of your comments.”
Right back atcha!
Report thisBy garth, August 10, 2010 at 12:37 pm Link to this comment
David Ehrenstein,
That’s wonderful. Now why can’t you see that in the rest of humanity. Warts and all.
By the way, have gays ever come out against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Have they ever said that the US and Israel are going too far?
Does the issue of unemployed workers here in the US ever enter the conversation? As in: you know what gaeity might be our paramount issue, but we can have opinions about other issues. Can’t we?
No need to answer. I’m sick of your comments. I misplaced you. Instead of sounding like a precocious 12 year old. In the order of maturity, you seem like a dull-normal 23-year old.
You believed everything you were told and it wass down the chute ever since.
But I am glad you think you are, whatever it was you said about yourself.
Keep, thinking that and die a painless death, I guess. If that is what you value.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 10, 2010 at 11:41 am Link to this comment
I HAVE met myself. And he’s Absolutely Fabulous.
Report thisBy garth, August 10, 2010 at 10:34 am Link to this comment
From David Ehrenstein,
“I hope your passing is excruciatingly painful.”
Well, that’s not very nice. Especially, as a 63 year old man who stopped maturing at say 12, you show an exuberance to ignorance and evil.
I don’t ‘hope’.
But if I were to wish you a parting shot, I’d say, ‘May you meet yourself someday.’
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 10, 2010 at 10:13 am Link to this comment
“My motto is to live and let live and mind your own business.”
My motto is “Rip off their heads and shit down their necks!”
“I was merely pointing out a problem as I see it.”
You were merely getting up on your high horse and sneering.
“As a gay Epicopalian priest said to my gay friend who died, “Read Paul. “
Some “friend” you are—foisting a homophobic priest on a dying man.
I am 63 years old. During the 80’s and 90’s 3/4 of my nearest and dearest friends died horrible deaths from AIDS.
According to you they got what they deserved. Fine.
Report thisI hope your passing is excruciatingly painful.
By David Ehrenstein, August 10, 2010 at 10:07 am Link to this comment
“I have had nothing to do
with either of the two situations. Although it is
distressing to me that the situation exists.”
Fuck You Too!
Report thisBy garth, August 10, 2010 at 10:06 am Link to this comment
Mr. Ehrenstein,
Yout flagrant dive into ignorance makes my point.
I had a very close friend die of AIDS. He went to SF where he felt most comfortable and died in a hospice originally set up for AIDS patients.
Two items I make: In your face boldness and risky behaviour do not win the argument.
I said this young man had a persistent cough. I assumed, being in SF and considering the conditions that I got this ticket to the play, that I as a heterosexual old man drew an unlucky straw.
Risky behaviour: maybe I saved someone from an encounter with a reckless homosexual and possibly AIDS. You never know. Do you?
All I am suggesting is a more politically astute approach to resolving this made for tv dilemma.
You gays have a lot of spendable cash and a lot of smarts. I’d a thunk that you coulda come up with a strategy that is more elegant than screaming in the faces Catholic harpines and Evangelical bible thumpers.
Maybe, you want things just as they are?
My motto is to live and let live and mind your own business.
I was merely pointing out a problem as I see it.
Your all caps shouting exemplfies your inability to act as a grown up and to see the US as it really is.
As a gay Epicopalian priest said to my gay friend who died, “Read Paul.
Report thisBy drbhelthi, August 10, 2010 at 8:37 am Link to this comment
Those who do not care for accuracy and truth are
free to use all the self-insulting terms and
abbreviations they care to employ. It only depicts
their hate and stupidity. Or vice-versa.
Accuracy and truth are not affected.
Life on earth thrives with heterosexuality. It is
distressing to me that some do not attain it.
The NAZI-types paid big bucks to have AIDS and HIV
Report thisdeveloped, in order to infect thousands in NYC and
Los Angeles with AIDS, who identified themselves as
“gay.” If you are one of them, and also one of their
paid pimps, I am sorry. I have had nothing to do
with either of the two situations. Although it is
distressing to me that the situation exists.
By David Ehrenstein, August 10, 2010 at 4:32 am Link to this comment
“Fail to attain”?
ROTFALMAO!!!!!
Report thisBy drbhelthi, August 10, 2010 at 2:35 am Link to this comment
Infusing blogs about heterosexuality, pro and con,
shoves the salient question down and out of view.
But, it does not answer the question, “why do some
men and women fail to attain heterosexuality?” Life
on earth is based on heterosexuality.
The same group who are poisoning Americans with
sodium fluoride, have poisoned essentially men, who
have not attained heterosexuality, with AIDS. AIDS,
which they paid handsomely, to have invented. And,
specifically for that purpose.
This same group of NAZI-types hire stupidos to place
blogs against the truth, when it shows up on blogs.
Meanwhile, why do intelligent Americans continue to
permit the NAZI-types who have overtaken the US, to
continue to poison them and their offspring with
sodium fluoride, trucked in from a Florida
fertilizer plant.
A continuation of what the NAZI-types did to folk
locked in their stalags, in order to incapacitate
them, sixty-eight years ago?
However, the invention of AIDS and also HIV, are
Report this“newer” creations paid for by the NAZI-types. Just
extensions of sodium fluoride misuse.
By thomasaf, August 9, 2010 at 9:29 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
There is something to be said about not putting our faith in leaders. Obama was a beautiful, uniting symbol. It’s still got to be community organizing, grass roots, from the ground up, and stay that way. The concept of poor Americans being represented by the rich is; well, we can see the fallacy in that. We knew it, before he took office, when he said, we’re leaving Iraq, but, we’re not going home, just next door. It was ludicrous, when John Kerry kept shouting “Kill,Kill,Kill”, in his three presidential debates. Why is there no Department of Peace? A Peace Lobby would need heavy financing. There’s a conflict of interest, until the day comes when healthy, educated, employed Americans becomes the priority.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 9, 2010 at 3:57 pm Link to this comment
“Theere seems to be nothing ‘gay’ about being gay.”
In your world there isn’t.
“I didn’t force that young gay guy (probably with AIDS) to buy an ticket for someone sight unseen with the hopes that a ticket lady would hook him up with a fellow of similar persuasion.”
So because he’s gay he therefore must have AIDS? Brilliant.
WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AIDS? HOW MANY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES HAVE YOU LOST TO IT? NONE, I’LL BET. WHY? CAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW JACK SHIT!
“If you want to pursue blame, many before you have sought relief going down that path.”
GET OFF THE FUCKING CROSS—PEOPLE WITH REAL PROBLEMS NEED THE WOOD!!!!
Report thisBy garth, August 9, 2010 at 3:30 pm Link to this comment
David Ehrenstein, August 9 at 7:36 pm
“Why do gays act so up front about it? “
Because of people like you.
What entitles you to think your ostentatious heterosexulity is not only universal but demanding of special treatment?
————————————————
That’s your problem: CYA Cover your ass )or maybe not in your case) and blame everyone else.
Theere seems to be nothing ‘gay’ about being gay.
I didn’t force that young gay guy (probably with AIDS) to buy an ticket for someone sight unseen with the hopes that a ticket lady would hook him up with a fellow of similar persuasion.
If you want to pursue blame, many before you have sought relief going down that path.
Good luck to you.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 9, 2010 at 2:36 pm Link to this comment
“Why do gays act so up front about it? “
Because of people like you.
What entitles you to think your ostentatious heterosexulity is not only universal but demanding of special treatment?
Report thisBy garth, August 9, 2010 at 12:54 pm Link to this comment
By thomasaf, August 6 at 9:48 pm
I went to Sf on a business trip in 2006. One of the perks during the meetings was a ticket to a play written by David Mamet.
The number of tickets accounted for our party at the booth was one short, but the ticket lady reached under the counter and handed me a ticket. She said one of the gays of SF bought it and left it to her to give it to the approptriate party.
The young, ‘buff’ man in a black tee shirt who sat next to me to my left had a persistent cough and looked unmightily displeased about the ticket lady selection for his charity.
The point is: About 10% of the people are gay. Why do gays act so up front about it? It gives rise to non-sequiturs like ‘Don’t ask don’t tell.’
Does it point to an inability to deal with homosexuality, or does it uncover the homosexual’s need to thrash out because they are not part of the mani stream?
Personally, I don’t give a shit and I don’t know many who do. But I know from Provincetown to San Francisco, the gays in the United States ought to be left alone.
Report thisBy thomasaf, August 7, 2010 at 6:05 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
David Ehrenstein,
Report thisFriends, brothers, etc. I’m talking about the millions who already know what’s right, who’s getting shit on and who that are too busy trying to survive themselves to be able to help others and which Americans that are sold on the bull and those that are prowd to hate. We have to coalesce; strike, hard and fast, but, there’s no time to waste. We have to enlist, meet, make plans, assign jobs and start working as a team. Fox is dividing us from each other. They want civil war, not education, housing, healthcare, employment, sanity. Hannity, Beck, O’Reilly, Coulter, etc. believe it will come to gun battles and one side, (their’s) will win. We can’t wait for Squeaky Fromme. Ha, ha.
By drbhelthi, August 6, 2010 at 10:31 pm Link to this comment
Friends?
Honesty?
Americans need to inform Mr. H.B.Obama that the U.S.
is not responsible for his parentage, nor the
distressing conditions under which he was raised,
nor the recruitment into CIA subterfuge, nor the
fraudulent front that led him into Illinois
politics, nor the double-dozen, super-rich,
NAZI/israelis who guided his current impostership
into the U.S.Presidency.
If the current attempt to transfer control of Iran
over to the same satanists who misdirect the current
genocide in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan,(secretively
Iran) does not ignite a nuclear war, and history
continues to be written, “Barack” will be described
as just one more disguised “Hitler-type,” who was
manipulated into the “debauchery of mankind.” Which
current coalition of NAZI/israeli types are found
throughout history, listed under the title of
dictatorships.
While his loving old Grandma, wherever she is, cries
over Barack´s misfortune. And the still alive
humans on the face of the earth cry over their
misfortune, under the current dictatorship.
And the double-dozen, leaders of satanism
continue to conjure up modes of
genociding 1/2 the world´s population.
Meanwhile, Who initiated the contract to truck
Report thisthe toxic waste, sodium fluoride,
out of the Florida fertilizer factory,
to major distribution points around the USA,
in order to poison the drinking water of Americans?
By thomasaf, August 6, 2010 at 4:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Love and Marriage, go together like a horse and carriage; nothing in that song about which horses or the carriage model. It’s clear to everyone writing here, ignorance, hate and injustice prevail. Obviously, we aren’t fighting this battle well. Sure, we have Fox News dividing the nation, quite successfully, but, I know, I’m 66 years old and have been in many battles that we’ve won. My lover and I were on the picket line at Tower Records in San Francisco and got a gay employee his job back. We can do it. We need a plan, organize, boycott, whatever, but, we can bring them to their knees, because we’re right, we’re strong and we are many. And when we win this battle, it’s our duty/obligation to stay together and win more battles. We were strong in the 60’s and 70’s, but, the war ended and we disbanded. Let’s “Organize, Educate and Emancipate”.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 6, 2010 at 8:54 am Link to this comment
Where are those “friends”?
Straight liberals have precisous little interest in supporting gays and lesbians. They do NOTHING!
Look at what happened at the height of the AIDS crisis. We had to do it all by ourselves—and we always have. If straight liberals want to join us, fine. But I’m not going to waste a nanosecond of my time “convincing” them. If they can’t figure it out by now to bloody hell with them!
Report thisBy thomasaf, August 5, 2010 at 6:24 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Before courageously coming out, wouldn’t it send a strong message if you had a few brave, straight friends, on the front lines, with you, who are ready to stand up and refuse to fight without you? We do better fighting battles, united and you have many friends that feel you are worth fighting for and with.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 5, 2010 at 4:19 am Link to this comment
Well he’s a politician and being a hypocrite and a reneger comes with the job description.
Report thisBy tedmurphy41, August 5, 2010 at 1:06 am Link to this comment
In his lead up to the Presidential elections, one point
Report thishe apparently failed to make clear to the general
American public was that he was a hypocrite and a
reneger.
By phiclub, August 4, 2010 at 7:22 pm Link to this comment
It would be great to see some solidarity on DADT. I challenge all top-ranking military to declare themselves gay to put pressure on the administration to overturn the policy or loose their best soldiers.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 4:42 pm Link to this comment
The Court has ruled. We have one. The decision is a time of beauty.
There’s a link to a PDF of the document at the New York Times.
Report thisBy kerryrose, August 4, 2010 at 2:38 pm Link to this comment
It looks like the Supreme Court will decide soon. They will be deciding if Prop 8 is illegal. If it is then same sex marriage will be likely in the next few years. The Supreme Court is comprised of right wing activists though.
Report thisBy inL.A, August 4, 2010 at 2:01 pm Link to this comment
kerryrose,
Problem is, we’re not going to get marriage or Civil Unions with either party. Republicans and Democrats are nothing but revolving bad guys. We don’t have a lot of choices.
Report thisBy kerryrose, August 4, 2010 at 1:38 pm Link to this comment
Well, it’s easy for politicians to say they ‘are for civil unions.’ Very convenient considering the government does not recognize civil unions, or any other state if the couple moves.
Thanks.
Report thisBy inL.A, August 4, 2010 at 12:51 pm Link to this comment
kerryrose,
“I’m not sure how marriage and civil union differ. Is there a legal difference?”
Yes. Here’s a good link that can answer some of your questions.
http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/wedding/a/unionvmarriage.htm
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 12:40 pm Link to this comment
a fortiori
http://fablog.ehrensteinland.com/2010/07/24/fait-diver-strident-power/
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 12:37 pm Link to this comment
There’s an enormous legal difference. THOUSANDS of rights come with marrige. Civil Unions re on the order of “Power of Attorney.”
It’s utterly meaningless to say “I’m civil unioned.”
Here’s why we need marriag and nothing less—
http://fablog.ehrensteinland.com/2010/07/07/some-still-call-it-loving/
Report thisBy kerryrose, August 4, 2010 at 12:06 pm Link to this comment
Thanks inL.A. for sending links.
Nadar supports civil union. I’m not sure how marriage and civil union differ. Is there a legal difference?
Report thisBy DemandEquality, August 4, 2010 at 11:48 am Link to this comment
The Heterosupremacist in Chief fired Dan Choi for the same reason he fired more than 400 LGBTQ Americans serving in the armed forces, and for the same reason his Department of InJustice has been defending Don’t Ask Just Kick the Gays Out & Replace them with Felons & Fascists. He just wanted the LGBTQ campaign donations and votes, and duped enough people (not me btw) into voting for him, and now is defending an unconstitutional law because he says he has to.
But remember the Logo TV debate when he said he was against marriage equality and thought tyrannical theocRAT bigot ballots state by state should decide whether to deny the 1138 federal and state rights of marriage?
He may say he is for “gay rights” but he believes the same bronze age sun revolves around the flat earth genocidal jews-killed-jesus bible as the rest of the theocRATS, and he does not think we have the right to equal rights because he thinks we are who we love, and only people who think they have chosen to be heterosexuals are Americans.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 11:28 am Link to this comment
“Q: In your 1996 campaign, you said you wouldn’t get involved in “gonadal politics.” Is this year going to be any different?
A: The word “gonadal” means that which begets. I could have used the word sexual politics. I fought against the restrictions on women being prohibited from civil juries way back before some of the more prominent issues of homosexual rights and abortion came onto the political scene. The Green Party will be speaking out on these issues as well.”
Report thisThus proving my point. The LGBT communities are not composed of heterosexual women He’s is less than useless.
By inL.A, August 4, 2010 at 10:48 am Link to this comment
David Ehrenstein: “Nader is opposed Gay Rights, kerryrose.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVot7CB-IQ0
http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Ralph_Nader_Civil_Rights.htm#Gay_Rights
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 9:41 am Link to this comment
Nader is opposed Gay Rights, kerryrose. He made that crystal clear a number of years back. “Google” is your friend.
Report thisBy David Ehrenstein, August 4, 2010 at 9:39 am Link to this comment
Obama “fired” Dan Choi because he has no intention of overturning DADT.
He has no intention of overturning DOMA either.
He has LIED to us and the KAPOS of the HRC have swallowed every lie. They think getting invited to the White House for drinks means they’ve won.
What it means is that Barry wants their money.
And for said money we get NOTHING!
Report thisBy garth, August 4, 2010 at 9:39 am Link to this comment
Paul_GA,
You have a very important point. If our military is only the first move in a capitalist driven worl business cycle, then gays in the military is a dstraction.
Andrew Bacevich pointed it out on DemcracryNow! in his talk about his most recent book.
Since 2000, most of the countries in the world gave up on the idea of war to make ends meet. Only two countries stand opposite: the US and Israel.
Instead of Peace Dividend from the end of the cold war, we got a mad policy that said, “We are the biggest guys on the block, let’s take advantage of it. And they married war.
The growing population of the Palestinians, Drone attacks, Task Force 373 and the like, diminished constitutional rights, Hezbollah to kick Israel’s ass, and the beat goes on.
It’s all a scam. You and I, as Americans are paying for it through taxes, the fear factor and just the goddamned disgust of living in a country that chooses to make war.
Why not hire a few Scandanavian consultants to instruct these rich, media driven representatives that there is another path, another way?
Report thisBy Paul_GA, August 4, 2010 at 7:45 am Link to this comment
Why go into the US military at all, if DADT is overturned, knowing it’s an imperial military fighting foreign wars of conquest and exploitation? Think about it.
Report thisBy Drift, August 4, 2010 at 7:36 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Fabulous article. Thanks!
Report thisBy andrushka, August 4, 2010 at 5:55 am Link to this comment
How disappointing. I am not American, therefore I cannot vote. But like many other foreigners I was overjoyed that Obama was elected President. However, in order to please everybody and his adversaries and opponents, he has achieved practically nothing. Granted his speeches and choice of vocabulary are superb and a pleasure to hear, but I honestly believe that America deserves better than trying to please the Republicans who are anyhow set on politics of NO to Obama. Sad. Do the Americans really want Sarah Palin?
Report thisBy garth, August 4, 2010 at 5:46 am Link to this comment
The solution to this problem seems simple to me. Obama is the Commander-in-Chief (CINC) of the military. Since the military is not a democratic institution and has a rigid top down management, Obama could issue an Executive order rescinding ‘Don’t Ask, don’t tell’ and allow gays in the military without fear of reprisal.
Lt. Choi is an Arabic translator, and the military needs them. The State Department needs them.
Obama has to recognize that this is a lot like the Civil Rights bill of 1965. It took a genius, LBJ, to usher that bill through Congress and it is still drawing flak from politicians like Rand Paul, Newt Gingrich and the like.
Sometimes you just gotta suck it up (no pun intended) and assume the responsibilites of the office. Make the difficult decisions.
Sure, the Catholic Church and the Christain Right along with their minions in Congress, on the Supreme Court and on the Talking Head media will object. But, Obama, sometimes you gotta be a man.
The Catholics say it’s against God’s law, yet turn a blind eye towards pedophilia.
The Supreme Court’s Fascist element says the Constitution does not mention the right to privacy. (Re-read the 4th Amendment about illegal searches and seizures.) Yet, to turn the argument on its head, ‘Don’t Ask, don’t tell’ says you have to be private about your sexuality. (They have some very funny jokes.)
Obama should stand up like a man, take off the short pants and put on the long pants and fight for what is right. It’ll give him an idea of what it’s like to be an American in this country today.
Maybe the order of the day with regard to gays in the military and abortion should be:
(1) Live and let live.
(2) Mind your own goddamn business
The Dutch Army is one the best trained armies in the world and they have openly gay officers. Why does it work for them?
The more poignant question might be: What the hell is wrong with us?
Report thisBy Jill Paperno, August 4, 2010 at 5:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Dan Choi has a fortuitous career in front of him. His interview this morning was
Report thisthe best I’ve heard on this subject. When “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is history thanks in
part to him, I hope that he will turn his talents to the other issues that we face in
these perilous times, coming from our destruction of our environment. I hope
that the former Leutentant will join the environmentalists to be our spokesperson.
I can think of no-one better than he, to stand up to the powerful forces that now
own our air and water.
By RayLan, August 4, 2010 at 4:39 am Link to this comment
If Obama is a liberal you could’ve fooled me. He has betrayed the blue collar class (who are traditionally Democrat and liberal) and gays who voted for him given all his vaccuous rhetoric about change. He’s more focused on achieving impossible bipartisan cooperation with the party of ‘no’ rather than fulfilling the high expectations he set.
Report thisBy Someone, August 4, 2010 at 12:15 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I´m a Euro and therefore an outsider, but this is an outrage. So a gay man joins the armed forces to serve his country, graduates from West Point, has his back in the most dangerous place in the world for a long time and then gets booted for his sexual preference. Which should be noone´s concern but his own. Good going, Barry!
Also, why does the president even bother to worry about someone in the rank of Lieutenant? Isn´t there a chain of command that deals with this kind of thing?
I don´t get any of this.
Report thisBy Hammond Eggs, August 3, 2010 at 10:53 pm Link to this comment
Is anyone really surprised that Obama is a homophobe?
Report thisBy Brian, August 3, 2010 at 5:15 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Obama threw his own minister under the bus, you think he gives a thought about gays and lesbians? The man is devoid of any decency. He must and will be removed from office in 2012 to correct our mistake. Question is, will the dems see the writing on the wall and get a viable candidate. Obama has not gained any votes since the election but he has lost mine and millions more like me who regret ever supporting him. Sorry Hillary.
Report thisBy Steve, August 3, 2010 at 4:32 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
For those who weren’t there, I got a couple photos of what happened at Netroots
Nation:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4829452165_b6c1325232.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4830065346_4d62c80556.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4829459143_7aa1852716.jpg
Not sure if this will take images, but if it doesn’t the gallery with those photos is
here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sterno74/sets/72157624458947885/with/482945
Report this9143/
By kerryrose, August 3, 2010 at 4:25 pm Link to this comment
Obama fired Choi because Obama gives evidence he is not morally or ethically motivated, but politically motivated. He also has an alarming tendency to through good people to the wolves, over and over again, in a cold and calculating manner.
I will not vote for Obama again. I certainly am not going to vote Republican. Maybe Nader will run again.
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