Openly Gay Man Backed For Obama Navy Secretary

Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy - a move that would put the first openly gay person at the top of one of the services.

The secretary's job is a civilian position, so it would not run afoul of the ban on gays serving in the military, but it would renew focus on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Culturemaven]

"Openly Gay Man Backed..." That headline sounds naughty. Or maybe it's just me.

[antaeus]

How wonderful! I hope he can serve all four years of the Obama administration.

[Shozen]

Great news!

But I fear it will play into that old Village People song "In the Navy."

[antaeus]

Tokenism is always a cliche.

[HHarvey]

This is great news! Better yet, wouldn't it be a thrill if he could stand next to Rick Warren while he is doing the invocation? That would really throw both sides into a tizzy.

[DOCWRIGHT1]

Why is it great news that the President is thinking about appointing someone who had no real qualifications to become secretary of the Navy. There are plenty of openly gay people out there who have served in the Navy, Army, Marines, Airforce .... who know what it takes to keep those forces strong and fighting well .... who actually know the hardships that Sailor Soilders , Airmen and Marines suffer. Why not appoint one of them instead of a gay guy who runs a museum.

Mr White is a fine person who has done alot to help wounded warriors and their families through the fisher house but he knows nothing abouit running the Navy. This is a shame, strictly for political purposes. Not well though out at all. The gay comunity should not be for this appointment, but for one that actually works.

[HHarvey]

Well perhaps a little more investigative internet work would probably show us what Obama happens to see in him. One minute you claim he is a gay guy who runs a museum and the next you say he is a fine person who has done a lot to help wounded warriors and their families? I just happen to think it's great that a gay person involved in the military doesn't have to be closeted for this position. By the way, you took my previous post out of context. I was just being a smart a$$, as I am occasionally. I'll go check out Mr. White's "credentials" right now.

[mrokay]

It's never enough ,you can't make everyone happy no matter what you do.I haven't seen any gay appointment in the last eight years,at least he is reaching out to everyone.His agenda couldn't possibly cover all of everyones needs and wishes.Grow up and Man up.

[HUkid07]

This news was made prior to the Rick Warren announcement so for those that say that Pres. Elect Obama is just pandering to the LGBT I would suggest that you think again.

[Molson]

You act like this is a done deal. From reading the article... I can't say that it is.

[wijg]

Actually, this has nothing to do with Rick Warren. Rick Warren is a divisive, anti-gay bi.got, and should not give the invocation at the inauguration. This historic inauguration should be a time for unity and a celebration for change. I don't believe PE Obama dislikes the gay community, but he has certainly been insensitive to a lot of people who worked hard to get him elected.

[XME]

"This historic inauguration should be a time for unity and a celebration for change."

Right...by being divisive and excluding people who you don't agree with. Uh, isn't that what Bush did for 8 years?? How would that be change?

[LeeCalif]

He picked the right person for the job who happens to be gay. SO WHAT??

This is NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE GAY COMMUNITY.

[kolorkin]

Exactly!

Just like the many soldiers who served in the wars who happen to be of Muslim or other faith, who happen to be gay, who happen to be Middle Eastern, Asian, Black, Latin, Native etc...

So what?

When are we going to start measuring the strength of one's character, integrity and competence based on merit?

Thank God for Obama.

[itsme123]

The duties of the Secretary Of Navy are:
The Secretary of the Navy is responsible for, and has the authority under Title 10 of the United States Code, to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Navy, including: recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing, and demobilizing. The Secretary also oversees the construction, outfitting, and repair of naval ships, equipment and facilities. SECNAV is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and programs that are consistent with the national security policies and objectives established by the President and the Secretary of Defense.[2][3]

How can this guy not be qualified for this job? It sounds like a glorified Human Resource position for the Navy. The guy will be raising money, doing a lot of paperwork, meeting with civilians, talking to the navy men/women to make sure he is doing things to help them, keeping on top of maintenance of equipment, etc. He will truly be a secretary in my eyes. The electing of Obama has really shown that the United States is comprised of a new "race"; BITCHES!!!! because it's a lot of bitching going on.

[DrDemon]

I guess after the Rick Warren story debut, the Obama team scrambled to get this one out there...I guess to help simmer down the Warren story itself!

How F***ING CONVENIENT!

[HHarvey]

I would tend to think that, but I did hear a while back that he was going to tap an openly gay person as a cabinet member. In fact, a couple of weeks ago an openly gay woman was given a cabinet position (before Rick Warren debacle) I can't remember what her position was? Anyone remember?

[DOCWRIGHT1]

I served for 23 years in the Navy. I am a conservative and I have no problem with Mr White being Gay... but I do have a problem with him not being qualified for the job. He has absolutly no defense experince. He can raise money and I truely appriciate his work with fisher house .... have used them myselfe.... but he knows nothing about fighting a war ....
The other guy, the navy jet jocky, even though he is a democrat, he is a better choice because he knows about Navy warfair. Has nothing to do with sexual orintation.
If the President wants to make a point by appointing someone who is gay as Secretary of the Navy, I am sure he can find someone who is qualified. Why put someone in there who has no idea how to fight a navy war? Who has never been to sea for 6 months? Who has no clue what it feels like to leave your home and everyone you love for half a year at a time to live in conditions that prisiners would protest?
Just plane stupid.

[DrDemon]

Hey Doc... it's:

"Just PLAIN stupid."

[DOCWRIGHT1]

Thanks for the correction. I have dyslexia (you can correct that also If you like) and it affectd my spelling. If I am putting together a preposal or something important I spell check it and also have several people look it over who know that I can't spell to save my life.

I have accepted that I can't spell and have not kept it from keeping from having a great medical career.

As to the "other guy not being qualified either", I disagree. He has walked more than a mile in Sailors boondockers. That is very importantl I don't expect people with purely a political agenda to see the importance of that to the service members .... but it is.

[Losercuda]

A couple of small points.....the Secretary of the Navy's primary responsibility is not to "fight wars," but to make sure that the Navy is administered properly so the JCS, SECDEF, and POTUS can use it to "fight wars."

The "other guy" is not a "jet jockey"...he is a P-3 pilot with zero management experience. He is not quailfied, either.

[DOCWRIGHT1]

And you can not properly administer a war fighting organization without knowing how to do that. CEO's do not have to prepare people and machines to break things and kill people all while being broken and killed at the same time. Absolutly no similarities to running a museum or raising funds for the fisher house (which I am very happy that Mr White does).

The P-3 pilot understands the mission of the Navy better than the President elect does ... and much better than Mr White does ... because he has actually performed that mission. It is intelectually dishonest to say he doesnt.

And yes, I mis-spell alot of words, I have dyslexia and I will not let that keep me from discussing things on any board.

[Jain]

I agree with DOCWRIGHT: you"ve got to walk the walk.

Appointments made on the basis od "administrative ability" are wrong: if you haven't done the job, you just don't know the job.For an example, look at the Superintend for LAUSD and how badly he has messed up.

Teachers, soldiers, law enforcement - you can't put "civilians" in these jobs!

[HHarvey]

My friend is a retired Navy guy, never once was he involved in a war or had defense experience, but he was a tremendously gifted paper pusher. So much so that he retired with honors and a high ranking desk job position. I don't think having to actively be involved in war fare is a prerequisite for that kind of position.

[Flagrantlover]

Isn't this more of a substantial gesture than letting Warren do the invocation. The inauguration will be over and forgotten. If this fellow gets the post he'll be there foe a while and have real power. Why isn't Barack being applauded for this with the same ferocity as he's criticized for Warren?

Give it up where it's due.

Love you Barack!!!

[DrDemon]

I bet he ultimitely does not get this position...you watch.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE "HYPE!"

[HowietheScreamer]

Given the last 8 years of mismanagement of all branches of the service, as long as the guy is competent, who cares. The only people who will bitch are the Repubes, and they'd bitch about anyone Obama nominated.

[Sinclair]

It seems like a pathetic attempt to pander to the LGBT community (whom have been badly taken for granted, betrayed, mislead, disrespected our homophobic and bigoted president-elect) by throwing them a bone in the form of appointing a token gay to an insignificant, but still cabinet-level post.

[HowietheScreamer]

The Secretary of the Navy, along with Secretaries of the Army, and Air Force report to the Secretary of Defense. They are NOT direct reports to the President.

If this is true, there will be some resistance, but the overall question is more one of competence than whether he smokes pole or not. Fears over those issues are best left for the small minded. Given the utter incompetence of the last 8 years I'll be glad if this dude is just competent. The Navy, Army, and Air Force all have had massive missmanagement from the current and recent former Secretaries.

[Flagrantlover]

Palin smoked pole and she almost ended up running the whole military.

Think about it!

[pokemon]

This is great... but did it REALLY have to be the Navy? Just gives the Soldiers and Marines more flak to throw!

[kennyfasugbe]

I am rolling on the ground, and grabbing my stomach for the bellyful of laughter that your comment injects. Good one, dude!

[DOCWRIGHT1]

This isn't really the point but being a Navy man, I too can see the humor in this post. Just one more thing to add to the Y.M.C.A. thing. As a submariner I had to put up with the old joke about 100 men submerge and 50 couples come up thing .. Now this is all I need.

[HowietheScreamer]

Um... the Marines report to him too. Sheesh. GET a CLUE before making stupid comments.

[militarymomforobama]

the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy.

[L3ftofC3nter]

So where are all the " I backed Obama until the Rick Warren Debacle" posters??

People and their selective memories. They also seem to foget that the man has already appointed openly gay people to his cabinet.

[springsm]

It is a little different when you are talking about the SEC of the NAVY!!!!. Hurrah for Obama, I hope this guy gets it.

[vjoseph]

Did you read that article that claimed he didn't?

[shrimpdip]

The openly gay Secretary of What? Or, as you imply, the openly gay SecretarIES?

Mary Beth Maxwell was shortlisted for Sec'y of Labor, but that's now gone to Hilda Solis. Is Nancy Sutley as chair of the Council on Environmental Quality a Cabinet-level position?

Apart from the Secretaries and the Attorney General, there is only a handful of other "Cabinet-level" positions, one of which is the EPA Administrator (which is going to Lisa Jackson who, to my knowledge, is not gay). Is the CEQ chair a full cabinet member? That position is not on any lists of Cabinet-level positions I've ever seen. The only remaining vacancies at this point seem to be U.S. Trade Representative and Director of National Drug Control Policy.

Who are these openly gay people (singular &/or plural) already appointed to Obama's Cabinet?

[Molson]

Oh really, who has he appointed that is openly gay? He hasn't appointed William White yet, and no one else who is gay is in his cabinet.

[bboyy]

IN HATE WHEN STRAIGHT PEOPLE SPEAK FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!