John Boehner Urges Delay Of Debate Over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) warned that now is the wrong time to consider repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy just days after President Obama signaled in his State of the Union address that his administration would push forward with changing it.

"At a time when Americans are asking 'where are the jobs,' why do we want to get in this debate?" Boehner told NBC's David Gregory on an appearance on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

The Ohio Republican added: "In the middle of two wars and in the middle of this giant security threat, why would we want to get into this debate?"

Boehner predicted that any action on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would lead to a "divisive debate" and "do nothing more than distract the real debate that should occur here about helping to get our economy going again and getting American people back to work."

In his State of the Union address last week, Obama pledged to begin the process of ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are," he said. "It's the right thing to do."

Comments

[RSKaz]

08:31 AM on 02/02/2010

With such vehement objection, is Sen. Bogie trying to delay being asked himself, or telling his family?

[dmsdzinr]

07:49 AM on 02/02/2010

Well John YOU need to wait & see if Ohio ever re-elects you into Congress. I'd be thinking of that alternative job if I were you.

[Tom Harrison]

07:03 AM on 02/02/2010

Perhaps every gay household in America should forgo paying taxes this year until we are treated the same as say, the Republicans.

There is absolutely no reason to prohibit gays from openly serving. Everyone is expected to be in proper uniform (gay or straight) and nothing prevents the military from forming an all gay unit, just like an all Japanese/American unit was formed in WWII.

[GayGrandpa]

06:42 AM on 02/02/2010

Wait for what? Wait for more bigots to come out of the woodwork? I think not!

[DrDemon]

03:00 AM on 02/02/2010

"At a time when Americans are asking 'where are the jobs,' why do we want to get in this debate?"

ANSWER:

BECAUSE IT"S LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG OVERDUE!

[ProudMilVet]

12:39 AM on 02/02/2010

8 weeks in the Navy & discharged for a bad back.......... Hmmmm ?

[sprtakis69]

01:07 AM on 02/02/2010

That's one way to go in to politics and say I'm a Vet!

Maybe he tells Vets he's too modest to talk about his time in the Navy, let's talk about your mil career!

LOL

[Bude]

12:26 AM on 02/02/2010

He wants Obama to wait on Health care reform, financial reform, tax increases, tax cuts, and consumer protections as well.

[sprtakis69]

12:07 AM on 02/02/2010

I secretly wish all the NATO countries and the UN would give America an old tomato, I mean ultimatum. I wish they'd say - Look all of our countries have equality in our ranks, until you catch up to the rest of the world we're going to have to let you go it alone.

We're very good at going to other country's and telling them what they need to do.

European countries were given ultimatum's in regards to equality in order to join the EU.

D@mn....oops...ok I'm entrusting this secret with you guys!

[Icantbelieveher]

09:56 PM on 02/01/2010

Let's wait on this, too bo ner! Republicans waited on everything but tax cuts for the wealthy! They even waited to do anything about the high foreclosures that began in 2006 until the banks started losing money! They waited on health care reform, until democrats got the majority and the white house!

They wait for everything! But we're supposed to believe they have the answers?

No, B o ne head! We've waited long enough for everything -- that's why we voted republicans out!

[slnaeole]

09:07 PM on 02/01/2010

Another one: "In the middle of two wars and in the middle of this giant security threat, why would we want to get into this debate?"

Because soldiers who have been kicked out of the military for doing absolutely nothing legally wrong - even by the military's standards - were also the very soldiers providing our government and their fellow soldiers with the information necessary to proceed with operations vital to the safety of our troops. Translators, cryptographers, engineers - vital and key positions have been vacated because those who filled those roles were gay. Do you honestly think that the soldiers getting ready to head off into a live firefight care if the explosives engineer who set up the bomb that will take out the bridge with the enemies on it is gay? No. The threat to our military comes when you divide it into those who have to keep secrets from their fellow troops and those who do not.

[dfranz]

08:39 PM on 02/01/2010

I can't believe that the Rethugs want to put the brakes on another thing important to progressives.

It's shocking. Shocking in it's numbing redundancy. The real frustration comes with the blue dogs who follow their lead to nothing.

[plasma001]

09:12 PM on 02/01/2010

By "progressive" do you mean liberal? Homosexuals make up about 2.8% of the adult US population, WHY is this so important?

The CDC reported that a 2002 National Survey of Family Growth set the number closer to 2.8% of adults claiming homosexuality.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/huston/060314

2.8%.... Is that number REALLY worth the amount of people that will exit the military over this? No... Oh and congress WON'T touch this, that is why President Obama won't do an exec order...

[Icantbelieveher]

10:07 PM on 02/01/2010

You really think that it's only gay people who want this discrimination ended? It's not like they live in a country by themselves! The fact is that progressives support gay people and want to see them be able to serve openly!

[sprtakis69]

11:34 PM on 02/01/2010

The problem with that statistic is the percentage of American's who are still closeted because of bigotry and hate.

Homosexuals are fighting alongside and supporting our fellow service members. Equality is very important to the United States. Well at least we think it is for the rest of the world and we're not ashamed to tell other countries what they should do.

So you think bigots are going to leave the military in droves? Tell me something - where would the go? They'd leave the military to join the recession? They'd leave to go work alongside known homosexuals who can work in an "out" fashion?

Today's military is highly educated and highly trained. Today's military has much better living conditions than we did 25 years ago. Most open bay barracks and open bay showers are gone. Most barracks have been replaced by 2 private room apartments with shared common space. I don't believe there are any remaining open bay (but I could be wrong). In the late 90's/early 00's the military came out with new living standards for all service members.

Today's military is a reflection of American society. A majority of American's believe (actually they know) it's time to move past DADT.

Bigots be d@mned!

[mamamay]

07:56 PM on 02/01/2010

Duh! I am an old lady...Proud that these folks protect me and my love ones over the many years and via the many wars. They are trained and trusted to do their job. PLUS, These folk's jobs are on the line. Where is the heart? Therefore,This debate is long over due. These trained military folks are protecting our country while the NO saying folks are snatching their job. What about their families? Walk a mile in their shoes. What if for any reason, the debate was about the job's about to be snatched from these unrelenting folks saying NO consistently to compleing the jobs that assist the needs of the the American people? To refuse the needs of these Military folks who serve to protect us and our country is SO very cold and disrespectful. Where is the LOVE?

[sprtakis69]

08:08 PM on 02/01/2010

Well thank you mamamay!

[HBD]

07:45 PM on 02/01/2010

The GOPer answer to everything: "Now is not the time for (fill in the blank)".

Apparently now is not the time for anything at all. I think they believe that they can just shut the government down for the next seven years until they MIGHT have a chance to take back the White House.

Sorry, GOP, but now is not the time to put off what needs to be done!

[sprtakis69]

07:24 PM on 02/01/2010

I'd like to compare my 20 years in the Navy to Boehner's 8 weeks in the Navy.

I'd like to know how he can make conclusions about the military since he served a total of 8 weeks.

During my 20 years I never waved my flag, I never told anyone who didn't already assume. I have many str8 military friends who are ok with their sexuality and homosexuality. We worked side by side with no issues.

What was his 8 week experience like???

[Yeah-Me]

07:31 PM on 02/01/2010

Stressful... he was woried the guys were checking out his thong tanlines in the shower...

[sprtakis69]

07:36 PM on 02/01/2010

Ohhhh! I didn't realize that was him!

[HBD]

07:50 PM on 02/01/2010

I think he gets a stiffie just thinking about that.

[Icantbelieveher]

10:01 PM on 02/01/2010

That's the question! What an insult to the military people who aren't big ots and who could care less about whether someone is gay! It's hilarious how these people are just as afraid of "the gays" as they are of B in L aden!

[Ination]

07:12 PM on 02/01/2010

Another thing with this situation is that those who are opposed to this seem to think once you let gays be gay in the military, it's going to be a scene from Bruno. In my opinion, even with the ban on this, I HIGHLY doubt that gay people will start singing and skipping while holding hands just because of the lift on this (sorry for the stereotype but I'm trying to put myself in the opposition's mindset). It's not going to be like that! They will provide their services with just as much honor as straight people, if not more because of how proud we all should be for this country getting rid of this outdated ban.

I also think people like Mr. Boehner are out of touch. He's around the same age as my father and I really think it's a generational thing. My Dad is terrified of gay people for reasons he doesn't even know. But if you look at the polls, acceptance for homosexuals is astronomically higher for people 18 - 35 than that of older people.

[sprtakis69]

07:18 PM on 02/01/2010

IRT para 1 - You are correct. Most gay people in the military would wake up the day after the repeal and go to work to do their jobs. No one wants to come screaming out of the closet. Gay service members want the freedom to go to work without the fear of being found out then forced out!

IRT para 2 - You are correct again! It is generational. All of my friends from service accepted me when I was in. The people who don't understand homosexuality merely respected me for my rank, years of service and professionalism.

[plasma001]

09:25 PM on 02/01/2010

"Gay service members want the freedom to go to work without the fear of being found out then forced out!"

Under DADT, there is no fear... Example...

You are seen in a gay establishment with a friend. A fellow service member reports you to to the Chief. The Chief tells the LT. The Chief and LT confront you and ask you if you are gay, what do you do?

Easy...

You say... "You can't ask me that, and I'm not going to answer."

They are in violation of policy just by asking.... You are ONLY in violation if you "tell". You don't have to lie, you can just respectfully tell them to "get bent"...