Obama Press Secretary Pledges Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Press secretary Robert Gibbs has given the clearest indication yet that President-elect Barack Obama intends to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

In a video on the campaign's transition website, Gibbs answers a question posed by a constituent about whether the Obama administration will scrap the ban on gays serving openly in military with a single word: "Yes."

More specifically, about 4:20 into the 5-minute video, Gibbs repeats the question, "Thaddeus from Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy?'"

Then Gibbs responds, "Thaddeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much, but it's 'yes.'" (Kerry Eleveld, Advocate.com).

Reader Comments

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Name: Mark
Date posted: 2009-01-14 6:12 PM
Hometown: Tampa

Comment:

One thing to remember is that Obama foremost is a politician. As we have seen he has already revised many of his promises as he runs into the reality of what he is facing. That DADT is being pushed to the side for the time being shouldn't be surprising. The one thing we don't want to do is trust that it will be bought back into the center automatically. The other thing not to forget is that it's the Senate and House that have to pass a law that will repeal DADT. Those are the people that need their feet held to the fire along with Obama. Our servicemen and women who serve this country derserve so much more than they have received from this country. Even when DADT is repealed and they can serve openly most gay and lesbian service people are the type that want to just serve quietly, do their jobs and go home to the people they love. Just like those people who serve that aren't gay and lesbian.

Name: Ted Hayes
Date posted: 2009-01-13 4:00 PM
Hometown: Stone Ridge, NY

Comment:

My partner, 95, and I, nearing 80, both served our country in times of war -- he during WWII (in the 40s) and I during Korea (in the 50s). Both of these were times when it was neither safe to be out nor would one likely dare to be. It was a time when one could be killed for being gay. Obviously, we both survived. But what a waste of energy keeping our sexual orientation secret. Now is a time that such narrow mindedness be sent packing. Many persons who wish to serve their country have been denied simply because they may be different. Another waste! I will be happy to see DADT repealed so that the pressure on those now serving, though secretly, can be more relaxed. I happen to believe that the "fear" of most who oppose gays in the military would be that they are more afraid of NOT being attractive to to a gay than they fear being a sex object of a platoon buddy. Relax. I know of no gay who is attracted to every male with whom he comes in contact.

Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 2009-01-13 3:15 PM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:

I COMPLETELY agree with Bob, in Hackensack. Mr. Obama will come through on his pledge to repeal DADT AND work with us on other matters, as well. I believe eliminating DADT is the LEAST politically dangerous move he can make on LGBT issues, since the vast majority of service members are young men and women who have grown up knowing openly gay people. The old fuddy-duddies who run the military have no real conception of how the 'grunts' on the ground feel today. MOST service members will embrace their LGBT colleagues without issue. As Barry Goldwater said, 'it doesn't matter if he IS straight, as long as he can SHOOT straight'. Believe me, in a firefight the LAST thing you'll worry about is whether or not the soldier serving with you is gay! There are no bigots in foxholes.

Name: Mommie Dammit
Date posted: 2009-01-13 8:46 AM
Hometown: KC

Comment:

Vic you're delusional. Go ahead and believe in that crack-pipe-construct of yours if you wish. Just don't come in here and pull this kind of childish tantrum, and then flounce off expecting to get away with it. Your blind belief in the President-elect reveals only your gullibility. Those insults you hurled at M.M. for his beliefs are exactly the kind of rabid fanaticism and belligerent abuse that caused so much hurt during the campaign. I will be first to admit I do not support Obama, did not vote for him in the primaries, and only gave him my vote during the election out of overwhelming hatred of that neo-Nazi we've been saddled with for 8 years. Frankly, if there had been a "none of the above" spot on the presidential ballot I would've marked THAT! You'd do well, Vic, to remember the old joke "How do tell if a politician is lying? His mouth is open."

Name: Mommie Dammit
Date posted: 2009-01-13 8:42 AM
Hometown: KC

Comment:

Vic you're delusional. Go ahead and believe in that crack-pipe-construct of yours if you wish. Just don't come in here and pull this kind of childish tantrum, insulting and demeaning others, and then flounce off expecting to get away with it. Your blind belief in the President-elect reveals only your gullibility. Those insults you hurled at M.M. for his beliefs are exactly the kind of rabid fanaticism and belligerent abuse that got all of you "Obam-ites" in so much trouble during the campaign. I will be first to admit I do not support Obama, did not vote for him in the primaries, and only gave him my vote during the election out of anger, disgust, and overwhelming hatred of that neo-Nazi we've been saddled with for 8 years. Frankly, if there had been a "none of the above" spot on the presidential ballot I would have marked THAT! You would do well, Vic, to remember the old joke "How do tell if a politician is lying? His mouth is open."

Name: Vic
Date posted: 2009-01-12 10:52 PM
Hometown: Torrance, CA

Comment:

Looks like there are a lot of stupid people with a capital S out there. What more do you want him to do??? ......The man's not yet sworn into office, his press secretary is emphatically says that he WILL repeal don't ask don't tell, he's invited Bishop Gene Robinson to the MOST IMPORTANT part of the inauguration and you nut-jobs can't even leave him alone!!......What more do you want him to do???......You fools are going to "spoil" everything for the rest of us as well!!!!.... For the record, I voted for Obama (was livid with him for a while -during the Rick Warren fiasco) and am very happy now that my suspicions came true!!....This man is brilliant!! The Warren thing is all "symbolism" so that the wing-nuts don't accuse him of being a left-wing liberal. That way he can smoothly advance his gay-friendly policies. Unfortunately, some of you fools simply cannot see that!!

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