By This ruling has really pissed off a lot of the gay community who continue to hope to do through courtrooms what that can’t do in voting booths:
The Supreme Court refused on Monday to hear a legal challenge to the Pentagon‘s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, a decision that allows the Obama administration to continue its slow, back-burner response to liberal activists who want gays to serve openly in the military.
During last year’s campaign, President Barack Obama indicated that he supported eventually repealing the law, but he has made no specific move to do so since taking office in January. The White House has said it won’t stop the military from dismissing gays and lesbians who admit their sexuality. (….)
But little evidence of action from the Obama administration and Congress has frustrated advocates who accused their usually allied Democratic leaders of selling out.
“Every moment that the administration and Congress delay repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ our nation is robbed of brave men and women who would risk their lives to keep our country safe,” Joe Solmonese, president of Human Rights Campaign, said after the court’s denial.
“The time to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is now,” Solmonese said.
Without comment, the nation’s highest court denied a review of an appeal from former Army Capt. James Pietrangelo II, who was in the Vermont National Guard when he was discharged in 2004.
“I think this decision is an absolute travesty of justice and I think every judge on this court should be ashamed of themselves,” said Pietrangelo, who served six years in the Army, seven years in the Vermont National Guard and fought in Iraq in 1991. “It’s nothing short of rubber stamping legalized discrimination.” [Associated Press]
You can read what I think about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell here.
The military discriminates all the time. No women in the infantry, specific height and health standards to be pilots, and the biggest discrimination of all height and weight standards. So does the gay lobby think the military should not discriminate at all?
Basically the Supreme Court just told these people Congress is the one that can change the policy don’t look at us. So if they want the policy changed they need to lobby the heavily Democratic US Congress. The US Congress obviously feels they have more important things to do then take up this issue especially since gays are not forbidden from serving in the military and are no where near the most discriminated. Far more people are chaptered for being overweight than being gay and you don’t hear this outcry.
2:10 pm on June 9th, 2009 1
I remember this was part of Colin Powell's metamorphosis visible the last election cycle. He didn't actually come out saying the rule needed to be changed. He was much more politician-like – simple saying he thought it should be reviewed by current military leaders – which of course implied it should be changed.
Which is fine by me.
But, I remembered how he was one of the main figures early in the Clinton presidency who through a monkey wrench into Clinton's effort to include gays in the military. As such, he was key in helping Clinton's presidency stumble so badly straight out of the gate. And at the time, Powell was in the Joint Chiefs of Staff – and thus under Clinton's chain of command as commander and chief – not some private citizen as he is now who can speak out as he sees fit.
9:45 am on June 10th, 2009 2
Height and weight restrictions for pilots are legitimate needs. Allowing gays into the military would be no different than when blacks were integrated into the military. Seriously, I'm not sure what the straights are scared of- do they think the gays are going to be running around humping them while Village People plays in the background? Women have been integrated into the military without it dissolving into one big orgy.
2:13 pm on June 10th, 2009 3
I have always been in favor of 'don't ask , don't tell'.
I knew or heard of many gay people when I was in the military (approached by several) and no one could care less, as long as they kept there preference to themselves. I can't think of any sexual preference that is promoted by the military. BDSM, S&M, CNN, or BBC, whatever. Most military members don't care. The few who do are usually idiots anyway, and can be found anywhere in the modern world. So who cares?
Only the groups who want to make political statements and give sexual preferentual treatment to those who are gay. Politicians will sell there own children for a vote, so will give an ear and their vote to be reelected. For what purpose? Equality? Nah, only to gain some votes for those who want to make a mockery of sexual orientation.
I'll stick with, 'don't ask me what I do with my sex life, and I won't ask you'.