"Daily Show" Takes On Army, White House Over Gay Translator's Firing (VIDEO)

A storm is brewing over President Obama's refusal to intercede on the behalf of Dan Choi, an Arabic translator and lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was just dismissed for being gay. Choi went on the "Rachel Maddow Show" last week and said he intends "to fight it tooth and nail," and that this kind of behavior "weakens the military." 54 Arabic translators (and hundreds more servicemen) have been dismissed from the Army due to their sexuality.

Jon Stewart excoriated President Bush for his policies and President Obama for flip-flopping on the issue, saying:

"So it was okay to waterboard a guy 80 times but God forbid the guy who could understand what that prick was saying has a boyfriend? Waterboarding may make a prisoner talk, but it ain't gonna make him talk English."

He then introduced the following segment on the issue, in which John Oliver supported the Army's choice with the "he's gay" defense. He eventually screamed at Stewart saying, "I will not let you Cramer me."


WATCH:

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Dan Choi Is Gay
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Comments

[Chickasaw962]

Don't ask, don't tell, dont leave, is a outdated policy on open gay's in the military. It is wrong to force Gay servicemembers to conduct their personal lives in a criminal fashion. service members want to conduct their private personal lives in the same open, honorable and professional manner they conduct their military professional lives. criminalizeing, commitments, and civil unions, between consenting adults does not benefit anyone in anyway.

[TruthmongerII]

The deliberately ignorant love to crow about Jesus and Christian morality but truth be told, Jesus was a rabble-rousing guy trying to make a better world, like progressives today. And he was awfully fond of John, much more so than Mary Magnalin. Possibly Jesus was bisexual, which would explain his forays around Judea urging men not to marry, and urging the break-up of the family. Sure it was good anti-imperialism policy, but interesting that he chose that particular approach, to confront Empire.

And everybody knows gays cannot fight very well; after all, look at Sparta and then there's Alexander the Great. Oh, on second thought, let's not do that. Let's stick to the Fox News script.

Persecution of the LGBT community is stupid and Obama's nothing to be proud of either, in letting such an irrational and hypocritical law such as "Don't Ask Don't Tell" to stand. That law even sounds idiotic, like something bratty school kids might yell at each other.

What's worse, an out-and-out bigot or a flip-flopping political opportunist?

[zakwouldhave]

If the United States implemented the draft one day I wonder how many draftees would claim to be gay under the current policy.
And I'm proud to be an American...where at least I know I'm free. Unless I am gay.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. Unless they are gay.

[hypnotoad72]

Just a thought, what does the Arab culture have to say about gay people in general? Maybe someone is trying to protect Dan?

Naah. Let him go back. Maybe that'll make some people happy - pity they don't take up the languages and go out there to spread their cause and awareness. (Consider me apathetic. Sexuality has no place in the workplace; they're all there for the same reason, but understanding others' cultures isn't always a bad thing either. Even if "globalism' is the future.)

[IWantTofu]

So if I understand Jon Stewart's point correctly...The reich wing believes that if there is a ticking time bomb, and torture is the only way to find it, and we agree under those conditions that we can torture, then that justifies torture under other situations that are in a totally different context.

On the other hand, we can't make the argument that if there is a ticking time bomb, and the terrorist is willing to tell us but the only person who can translate is a gay translator, we can not make the same analogous argument to allow the gays to serve this country in the military in other situations?

Jon, this time you hit the nail with your head! Right on!

[IWantTofu]

Wow! Why are so many Arabic translators gay?

[LeLoup]

All Obama has to do is to sign an executive order saying to the military to stop the discharge proceedings against Choi.

But it takes kahunas to do that. Something that has been in short supply since Jan 20th 2009 in DC.

[klandish]

Even before with the Rick Warren fiasco.

[IWantTofu]

You forget about all the chicken hawks in the previous administration.

[Acidic]

Does anyone remember how Clinton tried to take this on out of the gates? Look what happened, what political capital he had garnered from the election was wasted. All I'm saying is to have a little patience. Probably easier said than done, but don't lose sight of the prize for the sake of half-a**ed expediency.

[BBC9nch]

That's just it, the gays don't care if it would be political sui-cide for BO. All they care about is furthering the cause of indocrinating our culture with their values.

[Cogs]

Obama needs to stand up to the bullies. How many of them vote? The American people are tired of this issue being used to divide us. We're also done talking about reproductive rights,death penalty, gun control,drug laws.....

Stop the wars. Help the people.

[archtoplee]

When polls conflict:

A University of New Hampshire Survey Center released a poll showing 55 percent of New Hampshire residents in favor of civil marriage for same-sex couples and 39 percent opposed. The poll, commissioned by the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry coalition, which supports the bill, was a survey of 491 voters. It posed the following question: "Would you support or oppose a law that would allow the state of New Hampshire to issue civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples?"

Cornerstone Policy Research released a poll of its own, which the group says is a telephone survey of all 432,398 households in New Hampshire. The survey, done by CC Advertising of Richmond, Virginia, asked: “Do you agree that marriage between one man and one woman should be the only legal definition of marriage in New Hampshire?” Of those responding, 64 percent said “Yes,” CPR announced.

[Acidic]

In regards to your second paragraph, I seriously doubt EVERY household in New Hampshire was polled, that is how STATS/polling equations were conceived, so they didn't HAVE to call everybody. Saves time, money etc. So if what you posted was actually on the site, than they are lying and it is not a reputable representation of New Hampshire residents views or just a really dumb poll.

[mathme]

All we have to do is find one NH residence that was not polled and the whole thing falls apart.

[BBC9nch]

But you are okay with the first paragraph because it gives the results of a poll that supports YOUR position?

[mathme]

The way that the first study was designed, there is only a 2.6% chance that the results they saw (or more extreme results) would have happened randomly. The second design is untenable and impossible to control.

At this blog: http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/05/show-us-the-data.html NHers claim to have never received such a call. There are also good links to people questioning the methodology that Cornerstone claims to have used.

According to the information that cornerstone themselves supplied, this was the question asked: "This survey concerns a new law the state Legislature just passed that will affect marriage in New Hampshire. Do you agree that marriage between only one man and one woman should be legal in New Hampshire?'' This is a ridiculous question, because if you understand it, it is not excluding same-sex marriage, it is asking if "traditional" marriage should be legal. The word "only" is thrown in there but it doesn't exclude other types of marriage. If people misunderstand the question it's not clear what they would mean by their answer. I would have answered "Yes" to that question, too, because nobody thinks that M/F marriage should be illegal. Cornerstone is shady.

[mykebee]

My fuggin' gawd...what have we allowed ourselves to evolve into......?

[gonbald]

Don't forget, we don't BELIEVE in evolution.

[mykebee]

.....you're too queer to defend me...I'd rather die here in Iraq.

[Sepulchre]

There are plenty of homosexual people serving in the military, now, you just don't know who they are.

[gonbald]

How many people are looking for sex in a foxhole?

[mykebee]

...he's so cute I can't possibly return fire. We need to remove this obvious gay response from our military NOW!

[Sepulchre]

You are so far in denial you need a head lamp and pick-axe to dig your way out. Just because in the military don't advertize they are gay ('don't ask, don't tell') doesn't mean there are not already many serving. There being public or not with their orientation doesn't detract from their ability to do their jobs at all.

[VioletDatura]

it was satire.

[mykebee]

....many, many Afghani's subjected to water boarding have confessed to being gay. What more do you need to know?

[Sepulchre]

If your tortured long enough you will confess to about anything to make them stop.

[VioletDatura]

again... satire.

[mykebee]

...one gay in a fox hole is worth two in the bush....

[Sepulchre]

Sounds like you are fixated. What me to tell you why?

[Megan97401]

He/she is being sarcastic.

[VioletDatura]

Sepulchre... back away from the keyboard... clear your head...and re-read mykebee's comments. Exhale. Inhale. Laugh. It was a satirical joke.