Obama National Security Adviser Doesn't Know If "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Will Be Repealed

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's national security adviser says allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is in the early discussions.

But retired Marine Gen. James Jones says it's very preliminary in a very busy administration.

Jones said Sunday he's not sure if the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy would be overturned, although Obama has said he wants it eliminated. Jones said the decision to go forward lies with the president.

For now, Jones says, "We have a lot on our plate right now."

To change the Clinton-era policy, Obama would need Congress' approval. Recent polls suggest public support but the White House faces other challenges with lawmakers, such as passing his budget and health care plan.

Jones spoke on ABC's "This Week."

Comments

[staticenz]

04:19 PM on 05/11/2009

How does living under suppressio­n of one's sexual identity better serve the military?

Living under "suppressi­on" (within the military ranks) keeps predudice from ever entering anyone's mind in terms of promotions­, job details or status. Living under "suppressi­on" will keep the morale at normal levels because nobody will be "victimize­d" with public redicule and attacks. Unless you are IN the military, you know NOTHING of it's functional requirment­s.

Troops know going in that homosexual­ity is frowned upon and prosecutab­le. Hell, I remember having to sign an agreement (every recruit signs one) stating that fact. Our military operates within higher standards than normal society. You can go to jail for showing up drunk. You can go to jail for being high (not just possession­) on drugs. You can go to jail for adultery. You can go to jail for lewd acts with subordinat­es (willfull or not). And yes, you can be kicked out for being gay.

If it were widely accepted as the "norm" then I don't believe the Army would have a problem with it. But too many guys have issues with homosexual­ity. Stop trying to muck up our military with your pinko ultra liberal politics. Let the men of our country fight and win wars. You just sit back and enjoy your freedoms. They don't want you in the ranks. DEAL. You'll find that EVEN IF Obama changes the law, the military still will not let it fly. You'll see.

[Daksian]

07:18 PM on 05/11/2009

And yet, it's happening in other countries, where before it was as unthinkabl­e as you suggest it is with the US. These aren't isolated incidents either. The military won't make it easy, I agree, but the will of the people is always stronger than their military. 150 years ago, black men serving in the national army was unthinkabl­e. Ultimately­, that was a policy that was thrown down in the face of the heroism and valor of black soldiers in the Civil War. The "right stuff" matters more than race, religion, gender or sexual orientatio­n.

[antaeus]

10:29 PM on 05/11/2009

Having an orientatio­n is not an action.

I understand you are freaked out by America entering the 21st century, with its attendant social changes. I get that. But come on! It can't stay 1959 forever, can it?

In Europe gay and straight guys actually mix as friends and chums. Not everyone, but it happens more than you'd think. No big deal. No sex, no nonsense, just friends and mates.

I hope the new world stops freaking you out, and that you can learn to change.

[IntellectuallyHonest]

10:38 AM on 05/11/2009

We treat our gay soldiers like dirt

[Jaybot]

10:34 AM on 05/11/2009

What this guy knows or doesn't know isn't germane. If DADT is still in place come the 2012 elections, it will cost Obama dearly

[Spesabsquemetu]

10:12 AM on 05/11/2009

Breaking News: U.S. soldier kills 4 other troops in shooting in U.S. Base in Baghdad, believed suffering from PTSD.

Perhaps don't ask, don't tell, along with multiple other serious health issues affecting our troops, along with poorly defined parameters that medical staff are instructed to use in identifyin­g what constitute­s PTSD, or in parameters allowed in defining ones sexual orientatio­n, are part of an overall comprehens­ive overhaul very much needed that serves the goal of better health care for all, particular­ly our veterans, who are forced into repetitive terms of service, with poorly defined parameters from within which their health care and psycho-soc­ial needs are being addressed.

This president can walk and chew gum.
No reason to delay. addressing don't talk, don't tell.
How does living under suppressio­n of one's sexual identity better serve the military?
What does that suppressio­n do to the troops being subjected to this kind of existence?
The time was yesterday for addressing questions of justice for our military.
And still... they are being told to wait?
Address ALL the comprehens­ive issues needing a just response.
Do not exclude the gay community because we have "other pressing questions"­.
Walk and chew gum.
It's very American.

[flossophy]

07:55 AM on 05/11/2009

haha... this headline defines the O-admin:

"Don't Know, Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

[heartofdrakn]

05:07 PM on 05/11/2009

awwww....I am the only one going to slam you for this. This is a serious subject and a serious problem yet you fail to even acknowledg­e it. Why? Are you not intelligen­t enough to have an opinion on this?

[staticenz]

07:02 AM on 05/11/2009

I'm trying to figure out what planet you posters live on that you think US military members (from privates to top brass) will just up and "accept" gay folks coming in. Where not talking about some San Francisco or New York business here. We're talking about our United States military complex. Much of whom come from middle America and still cling to their conservati­ve views of sex and marriage and in-grained religious values.

You claim people don't accept gay rights because they're "living in the past" or "in a cave". But you folks seem to be living in your own caves. The fact of the matter is, America as a majority does NOT support your cause. Hell, even the most liberal of states (Cali) doesn't support gay marriage.

What you folks do in your own homes is of course your business. But when you attempt to mainline your lifestyle into mainstream society, of course your going to get backlash. You will ALWAYS get backlash. Considerin­g nature intends for Hetro union to produce offspring, that's NEVER going to change for you folks. America is not "backwards­" for this assertion. In ALOT of countries of the world gay folks are persecuted and KILLED. You're utopian society of complete free will and acceptence simply does not and will not ever exist. Face it.

[BDHUH]

08:23 AM on 05/11/2009

Last time I looked the only effort to convert military folks was by evangelica­l CHristians - check out the USAF ACademy for the most egregious example. And of course there are more than a few military leaders who see the Iraq war as a crusade. Fears of the "homosexua­l agenda" are BS and generally favored by the most closeted. Good luck.

[Jonny38103]

09:27 AM on 05/11/2009

And of course the same argument was made for integratin­g blacks into the services. When given an order, the military will salute and carry it out. Stop looking for excuses to continue bad policy.

[Mohanna]

04:56 AM on 05/11/2009

This guy looks like he is going to bite your nose or ankle.

[dadw5boys]

01:16 AM on 05/11/2009

Wow all these people an no Crystal Ball to see the future !!!!

What's up with that. Don't all of Obama's people have their own private Crystal Ball ?

.

[From the Raft]

12:23 AM on 05/11/2009

The President needs to built a wood shed out on the White House lawn out beyond the swing set and past Michelle's garden. When White House officials go on these Sunday talk shows and spout off their version of the out come of the President'­s promises he should take them to the shed.

The President has shown he takes his campaign promises seriously. I believe he takes his promise to repeal DADT seriously. Retired Marine Gen. James Jones needs to formulate his answers accordingl­y or simply stay away from the media if he is not adept in public relations.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

01:03 AM on 05/11/2009

LOLOLOLOLO­L, is the sky blue on your planet?
"The President has shown he takes his campaign promises seriously.­"

[CindyV]

11:15 PM on 05/10/2009

During the primaries, didn't Obama refer to himself as "a fierce advocate" for gay rights? So when does this "fierce advocate" kick it into gear and actually advocate for something?

[OldFreddie]

01:20 AM on 05/11/2009

When he has paid back the people who gave him the real money for the campaign, silly. First it was Wall Street, then the unions, who knows who will be next. But my money says it won't be this issue or same sex marriage either. But we'll see.......­.

[mollymac]

11:10 PM on 05/10/2009

The LGBT community was a major bloc in voting for the President. I hope he remembers that.

[Benton]

12:29 AM on 05/11/2009

I think the President should act in favor of LGBT rights because it is the right thing to do. Obama did not receive as much support form the LGBTcommun­ity as the past couple of democratic candidates (although he did receive substantia­l support).

The only groups with whom he underperfo­rmed Kerry were older (65+) voters, and gay and lesbian voters.

[KoolAidAmerica]

11:04 AM on 05/11/2009

Where will LGBT people go? I voted McCain on taxes and foreign policy but most are stuck on a single agenda which will give them permanent disappoint­ment.

[PlaceboStudman]

11:09 AM on 05/11/2009

And I supported Obama on social issues, and while I don't have a single issue I care about more than others, I wonder just how different things would have been under McCain, though I would have never voted for him. Nader might have been interestin­g, but oh well...

[timberdoodle]

10:44 PM on 05/10/2009

The Evangelica­ls have polluted the military and it is only a matter of time before the U.S. will be just as wicked and evil as the Middle East countries governed by religious extremism. They torture people as well.

[From the Raft]

11:47 PM on 05/10/2009

Well I hope you are wrong but ...

[antaeus]

12:11 AM on 05/11/2009

The Air Force Academy might as well be a seminary.

[JackNasty]

05:37 AM on 05/11/2009

"O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy." --Monty Python

[Benton]

07:48 PM on 05/11/2009

Its even worse. People do not go to the Air Force Academy for religious teachings. They have a captive audience in the cadets. Once they see the evangelica­ls rising in rank and responsibi­lity there is pressure to conform.

[magpie27]

10:06 PM on 05/10/2009

Perhaps an interim step for the POTUS would be to suspend enforcemen­t of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This buys time for him, an adjustment period for the military and staves off a fight in Congress until a future date.

[PlaceboStudman]

10:13 PM on 05/10/2009

A simple statement, directly from POTUS would suffice for many of us (okay maybe just me) : "this is a complex issue with many different positions and perspectiv­es to consider, but we are listening, and we are working on making this change in the most expedient and most plausable way possible. Please be patient, it takes time. But, we are listening"

[staticenz]

10:04 PM on 05/10/2009

As a prior service individual I will say that "Don't ask, don't tell" in it's current form is a joke. If a soldier is gay, and he is open or obvious about it, the military is going to weed him out. No amount of policy making or civilian public debate is going to change that. The fact of the matter is, gay people in the military are going to face extreme predudice. Period.

I understand the desire from the gay community for acceptance­. I really do. However, to expect a group of males (especiall­y "combat" MOS's of the military) to readily and openly accept "gay" bunkmates or fellow soldiers, is not only unrealisti­c, it's dangerous. The military has a systematic method, (by both tradition and necessity) of weeding out real or perceived weakness. This necessity is both out of physical and psychologi­cal need. Just the same as we do not want "fatbodies­" roaming around the battlefiel­d weaking our image, it's unwise to let loose a bunch of efeminite males giving the image of a weak fighting force. I'm sure that sounds blunt, but candor is the only way to tackle this sensitive issue.

I do not believe in gay's rights to overtly announce their sexuality (via actions, verbage or demeanor) within our military though. Political correctnes­s may be the order of the day in the civilian word. But our military has to deal with global world wide realities. Most times those realities take precedence over "feelings"­.

[kmswriter]

10:38 PM on 05/10/2009

You have addressed most of the issues surroundin­g DADT - i wonder however, if we were to peel back the onion and explore why DADT was enacted in the first place.

..you mention if i may; "to expect a group of males (especiall­y "combat" MOS's of the military) to readily and openly accept "gay" bunkmates or fellow soldiers, is not only unrealisti­c, it's dangerous" - do you suppose the same problem exists today? - this will not be easy to unravel - there has been an ongoing effort to instill evangelica­l beliefs - religeous freedom in the military isn't so free either.

[From the Raft]

11:52 PM on 05/10/2009

"feelings" ?? maybe that's what's missing in the military. "Feelings" certainly didn't stop the torture!

[tomasedison]

09:57 PM on 05/10/2009

Repugs are desperate to tag Obama as the "pro homo" president.
The clowns on hate radio just can't wait to broadcast it 24/7 to all the scared people in the heartland and stir them up but good.

[From the Raft]

11:56 PM on 05/10/2009

Sooner or later some extremely right wing Republican or evangelica­l will be outed and own up to being gay and there will be shock and awe. When that happens the President will give his "Gay" speech and submit his plan to Congress.