Dan Choi Blames Obama For Slow Go On DADT Repeal

[Bluebear]

I'm thrilled that Shirley Sherrod got her job back. When does Dan Choi get his job back, Mr. President?

=====

Army Lt. Dan Choi, the gay rights activist honorably discharged from the military for announcing more than a year ago on television that he's gay, says he blames President Obama for the political foot dragging on repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”

Choi became an outspoken critic of the law that threatens gay troops with discharge if they do not remain celibate and closeted after he appeared on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show to promote Knights Out, the West Point graduate group that lobbies for repeal of the policy. On the show, he announced that he's gay.

Speaking to CBS radio Friday, Choi said the policy remained in place because the president is not willing to “show solid leadership” and blamed him for not taking action.

Choi also said that his discharge letter was mistakenly mailed several weeks ago to his parents' home in California. He said he did not get notified because he's not on speaking terms with them. “They don't accept the fact that I'm gay,” Choi said, explaining that his father, a minister with the Southern Baptist Convention, is in denial about the fact that his son is gay.

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=6100&MediaType=1&Category=26

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Touchdown]

3. Read the LIST!!!

The list trumps all! Must see the list, and then you will be convinced! The list will make you love him and despair! :crazy:

[QC]

2. Dan Choi never really loved him!

:cry:

[stray cat]

4. Dan knew what he was doing and did it on his own time schedule

maybe he expected someone to come to his rescue. However, he is an adult and knew what he was doing and why. I guess Obama decided to not be blackmailed into changing the law based on Dan's opinion of the right time compared to Obama's own opinion on how to do it.

[EFerrari]

6. Wtf? Demanding your constitutional rights is not blackmail

unless you take a very bleak view of citizenship.

[KG]

7. do you know? the right things should only be done when its politically convenient

:eyes:

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

28. stray cat's concern for equal rights is touching, isn't it?

I feel warm all over.

[Touchdown]

8. I feel so cared for when straight people lecture me on what I need.

So paternalistic. So Parental. So well meaning. So 1950s.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[QC]

10. Just one of a very long string of them. n/t

[Bluebear]

16. +

[racaulk]

22. A "hit and run" post as well.

Seems to be that user's specialty.

:eyes:

[terrya]

24. Repealing DADT is the right thing to do.

It's civil rights. Period.

I guess Dan Choi didn't get the memo about just sitting back and waiting for the "full equality...whenever, someday, eventually" condescending crap we've have to listen to.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. So the military volunteer who defended us wanted 'rescue'?

Rescue from a man who did not feel the need to serve his country? Wow.
And when an American citizen demands their Constitutional rights, that is not Blackmail no matter how the bigoted eye wishes to frame it. This is the United States, and gay people are citizens, like it or not.

[Forkboy]

27. You're consistent, I'll give you that.

Consistently what I'll leave for others to figure out.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. Not to mention, "sensible" and full of "Chuckles".

[QC]

36. And pragmatic. n/t

[Smashcut]

31. "I guess Obama decided not to be blackmailed into changing the law"

Well if that were really his response to this American hero speaking out, I'd say "fuck him."

But since I know this insensitive, callous homophobic garbage is coming from you...

[Tailormyst]

32. What a disgusting post

Thank goodness for the ignore function.

[Bluebear]

38. You said it.

[Touchdown]

5. Still waiting for that apology/denouncement of the bigoted survey.

SHirley Sherrod got an apology. Gay people suck it!

Stillllll Waiting!

[QC]

21. I hope you're not holding your breath! n/t

[Touchdown]

33. Now, they're crying for our votes."Sorry about that DADT and Fucking Retards thing. Trust us!"

It's be better next year!:eyes:

[Orsino]

11. Repealing DADT is slow-walking equality.

I get it, Lieutenant; you are right to be frustrated, and are only now able to speak freely as a private citizen. I shouldn't have to tell you that "solid leadership" wouldn't for a moment tolerate the fictions that rule us. DADT only exists because our society is so rabidly heteronormative, and the forces of the status quo are gonna fight us every step of the way along our long road to human rights.

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Anyone who announces that they think God is against equality

is one of the forces of the status quo, one of the slowing and hindering elements. This is what Dan is saying. The President is being a force of the status quo, way too much for a man who painted himself as a 'Fierce Advocate'. All we want is for him to live up to his own pretty words about himself, is that so hard? They were his choice of words. He needs to prove he was being honest when he spoke them.

[ZombieHorde]

12. Recommended. nt

[katandmoon]

13. Shirley Sherrod didn't get her job back. She was offered a new job - not accepted last I heard.

[Ignis]

14. Of course. She was far too effective in that last job.

Something had to be done!

:sarcasm:

[YOY]

15. My money says it was a "be quiet and go away job"

DC has those kind of positions for government employees who 1. fuck up. 2. get the blame for someone else's fuck up 3. piss someone off.

Ineffectual but decently paying positions to keep lazy people or perceived "troublemakers" out of the way.

Every department has one. To be offered one is the kiss of death career wise. You will go no further but will be allowed to retire with all benefits.

Every department has one.

[Bluebear]

17. I hope she sues. Meanwhile, Choi has no offers from the government pending.

Disgraceful all around.

[katandmoon]

20. ITA

[CBR]

18. Didn't you hear? It is all about class! Nothing else. nt

[dsc]

19. this is a sad story all the way around

I hope Lt Choi gets to serve our country again soon, but I fear that without his father coming around for him it will be less of a victory for him.

[terrya]

23. And Dan Choi is right.

Excuse me, but Barack Obama specifically campaigned on repealing DADT in 2008. No one put a gun to his head and forced him to say these words.

Barack Obama is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States of America. He is the ultimate Constitutionally designated authority of the United States military. During this whole...farce, in my opinion....process of repealing DADT, it's been curious to see President Obama, again as Commander-in-Chief, acting like some innocent bystander throughout. I don't care what anyone here says, I don't care what anyone online says, President Obama COULD have issues a stop loss executive order immediately. To immediately stop the discharges. This business that he absolutely couldn't is just plain bullshit.

If Harry Truman displayed the same leadership skills in integrating the armed forces, that process would have taken a lot longer. It's been said, over and over, that 24 other countries have allowed gay men and lesbians to serve openly in their militaries without this whole sad story of surveys and studies and shower curtains and potential segregation of gay troops. This process has dragged on far too long, and frankly this White House is a big reason why.

[QC]

30. +1

[cwydro]

34. yup.

President Obama has been a huge disappointment to me on many issues.

Other than his response to the oil disaster, this is one of the biggest.

[YOY]

37. He's done that with a few things.

And here at DU you get told to STFU for pointing it out.

[FreeState]

39. Thats where the blame belongs too

If I worked for a company that fired people based on bias and the CEO was the only one who could temporarily stop my being fired, thats who I would blame. Who else could you blame?

[Eyerish]

40. Rec'd