Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA): Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

[100crawma]

either this guy is  lying or obama is lying probably both

[Phaerim]

Joe Sestak sounds like a very inspiring man. I am, as a foreigner, glad there are people like him in the government of the USA.

[sirfith]

Good Order and Discipline.

Interesting coming for a guy who was fired as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) because of poor command climate.

[flowergirl1313]

good for Rep. Sestak!!!

[Mauhadeeb28]

Let me preface this comment by saying I'm a conservative constitutionalist.

I don't mind the 'idea' of Don't ask don't tell because you should keep your sex life between you and your partner. But to limit someone from defending our nation based on their sexual preference is absolutely obscene.

COME ON!!! Gay or straight, Bi or TG, we are all citizens of the US and we all deserve individuality. Defending our constitution should never be limited by sexual preference.

[NikolitaNiko]

Amen! :)

[Chewy240284]

i bet u did

[fishhead06]

MM, 19 and a half year old sailors, huh? Where do I sign up? Don't worry, I won't tell.

That's how ridiculous DADT is. Sheesh. It's the same hypocrisy as with illegal aliens - "oh, we can't stand having them come into the US, but we sure like the cheap produce!" Wake up, already!

[SabuPtolemy]

"Of course, this is the same Obama White House that earlier this year sent out a memo basically parroting Rick Warren's views on homosexuality"

As much as you/we may hate it but politics is all about timing. Obama makes himself vulnerable to the political right if he appears too eager to support gays in the military or gay marriage. Obama is too enlightened to agree with an idiot like Rick Warren on this issue but he has to play this right for the sake of the bigger picture.

[KataVideo]

on the other hand, Obama could scuttle "don't ask don't tell" and instantly distract all of those right-wing freaks, possibly for enough time to ram through health care reform with the public option

[WKaliberr]

h''l,

[SubmarinerAndroid]

Sestak is a true leader. He deserves to get Specter's Senate seat. I hope Pennsylvanians do the right thing.

[ipxzor]

Repeal it? I didn't know it was set in legislation...

[Daritto7117]

Yes, it was. It's a dumb law.

[ryanruns]

Let's see how long Obama will drag his feet on this one. Honestly, his blatant unwillingness to act thus far is irritating. I'm gay and want to enlist in the Army next summer after I graduate college. I've decided that i'll only do so if DADT is repealed by then. I refuse to serve in an organization that is blatantly discriminatory towards and intolerant of homosexuality.

[Aaberg123]

Duck and cover buddy. Do something better with your life, than being a trained murderer.

[Pleblian]

I served with many Gay people in the military.

It's been my observation, that most people, serving, are very protective of their comrades at arms no matter who they slept with.

[njcarlos1]

If you were in fact in the military, you'd understand it's not about the morality of an individual's sexuality, it's about keeping order and discipline. There is a reason men and women are separated during training: because it keeps focus, order, and discipline. Unless they can make the proper considerations for having openly gay men in there, it will in fact affect the discipline. They won't FOCUS. Its not about the morality of it, it's about being an effective unit.

[crtnyevans]

well its happening now. I know an openly gay men who is in the military and his friends know and he serves just as well with them

[njcarlos1]

Unfortunately your anecdotal evidence hardly translates to empirical evidence, so I'll take it for nothing more than an exception since it proves nothing.

[Pleblian]

You act as if people need to be baby sat.

As a professional soldier, the order of the day is... Do your job, period

What you do on your own time is not my or anybody else's business.

[njcarlos1]

? You're job is under the public dollar so you are in fact always on the public's time. What you do better be 100% efficient, and that includes focusing on missions and training, not how hott your fellow troops are (the reason there is gender segregation).

I suspect you are just a typical YouTube liar and had no role in the services, considering your lack of understanding basic protocol.

[hapajin]

I was in the military, and I know from first hand experience that such a statement is utter BS. You imply that either gay service members have less discipline than their strait counterparts, or that the mere knowledge that someone is gay will destroy a straight servicemember's displine just like that.

[njcarlos1]

No, that's not the implication at all. Their straight counterparts don't have their discipline tested because they're separated from their female counterparts ...thus eliminating sexual temptation/frustration/focus-g­rabbing scenarios. Since gay men by definition like other men, they aren't separated from that and are in fact put to the test, unlike their straight counterparts. Again, I don't believe for a second you were in the military if you can't grasp that concept.

[hapajin]

I was in Ft Leonard wood B169 Eng BT until sept 15 as a 21R. Before that, Ft. Sill C1-19th FA . The problem with that concept is that its rather detatched from reality and does not account for the fact is that gay servicemembers ALREADY serve without this mythical suffering of discipline and order. The only difference this change in policy will have is that they will no longer be required to hide what they are. Its a simple matter of not lying about ur life at home to your battle buddies.

[jusitke07]

And so gays in the miltary, right now as we speak, aren't as effective, is that what you're saying?

[HerbertHKohl]

Why do you want to join the army in the first place?

[L8nitedave]

If we can't give our fighting men and women equality, we're in a messed up place.

[whoo689]

Unless forces within the White House that AREN'T Obama and that Obama disagrees with sent out that memo of their own accord, I don't have much hope for gay rights even under this administration. I mean, does the fucking media REALLY just take a memo "from the white house" at face value and assume the president agrees with it automatically?? That'd be pretty damn pathetic.

[whoo689]

It's about damn time. I assumed that Dems would be prepared and have at least submitted a bill and actually get a bill through Congress that would repeal it when they did those DADT hearings last year, but alas I was wrong. The DADT hearings were a waste of time, and nothing has come from them yet. Let's hope the tide turns soon.

Of course, this is the same Obama White House that earlier this year sent out a memo basically parroting Rick Warren's views on homosexuality, so who knows

[JBeatty17]

Equality 4 All. Where's the change, Mr. President? We're waiting.

[bkarwin]

Bravo Rep. Sestak! At last! It's about time someone in a prominent leadership position made the connection with past integration in the armed forces.

The voices of ignorance will claim we risk "morale problems" but they said that before. It didn't happen.

Our culture always grows stronger when we promote our ideals of equality, freedom, and truth, and reject fear, intolerance, and denial.

[jakehr3]

very close at the end there to stepping on some racially motivated toes. It reminds me of Chris Rock, "If they want to fight, let 'em fight. Cause i ain't fightin'. So call me a faggot. I'll be a faggot with two legs walking like this."

[CynicalSavior]

Here here!

It's a fucking crime that we disrespect brave men and women that are willing to give their lives for this country just because of who they are attracted to.

It's time to stop giving a shit about what two adults consent to in their own bedrooms and stop treating people like second class citizens.

[1019drummer]

sestak is rite on................