Paul Krugman Calls Barack Obama The Most Consequential President Since Reagan

[DirkGently]

59. DADT was the final legal barrier for gays in the military.

Last edited Mon Feb 3, 2014, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

It's not that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was itself a major policy, but that being gay and in the military remained a major issue until DADT was repealed. Its very absurdity may have signaled the end of such discrimination, but there it was. So Obama oversaw the end of gay people being legally discharged for, essentially, being who they are.

I think that's going to resonate in history. I don't know that Obama's personal level of progressiveness necessarily had much to do with it -- he was still comfortable opposing gay marriage when he took office -- but the moment presented itself, and rather than be dragged kicking and screaming, Obama went with it.

Either way, though, the end of telling gay people they are not fit to serve ended in America under his watch. I think THAT will resonate in history.