James Amos, Obama's Pick To Lead Marine Corps, Opposes Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

(AP) - President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Marine Corps says he doesn't think Congress should lift the ban on gay troops who want to serve openly.

Gen. James Amos' comment came hours before a Senate test vote on a defense policy bill that would repeal the 17-year-old law, known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Amos told a Senate panel on Tuesday he was concerned that unit morale could suffer. He also said the shake up could become a distraction for forces busy fighting in Afghanistan.

When pressed by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, who supports repealing the law, Amos said the Marine Corps would dutifully implement any changes to its personnel policy if Congress changed the law.

Comments

[AbeMartin]

12:53 PM on 10/13/2010

If Obama, as Commander-In-Chief issues an order that DADT is not military policy and Amos disobeys his commander's order, he should be fired.

[AbeMartin]

12:51 PM on 10/13/2010

General Amos' statement renders him unfit for the elevation to USMC Commandant.

[JASONH0099]

10:10 AM on 09/25/2010

I guess Obama will fire him two for not going along with the program....

[charles116]

07:14 PM on 09/22/2010

What shake up. What morale.
Gay folks are already serving and EVERYONE
knows who they are.

Come up with some new material at this point.

[charles116]

07:12 PM on 09/22/2010

I guess poor Amos never found his Andy.

[Clevelandinwi]

08:20 AM on 09/22/2010

Talk about an officer out of touch with his troops .........................

[DRBOTTS]

07:28 AM on 09/22/2010

Sad that so few should suffer at the hands of many. If your over 20 and still think their is something "wrong" with gay people, you have a problem.

[POR4319]

10:28 PM on 09/21/2010

Even Barry's pick for Commandant can't say he supports repeal. Tells you all you need to know about the views on the military on this policy. Repeal is a bad idea!!!

[charles116]

07:15 PM on 09/22/2010

Repeal is a bad idea - for entranhed military diaper wearers.

[adoantarel]

02:03 PM on 09/23/2010

You do realize that all studies show that the older generations are way more anti-gay than the younger generations. And the younger generations are the on-the-ground soldiers who would actually be dealing with the change.

[1murillo]

09:22 PM on 09/21/2010

If non-straight people are not afraid of straight people, non-gay people should not be afraid of gay people.

[Jdaddy1951]

08:55 PM on 09/21/2010

President Obama should reconsider the appointment of this bigot.

[fixitfakeitcreateit]

09:33 PM on 09/21/2010

Way to go with the name calling. For many people its a matter of their personal preference. This was a two part question. What do you personally recommend? general Amos: I would not change the rule. But if I will obey Congress if they choose to change the law.

[Jdaddy1951]

09:43 PM on 09/21/2010

Yawn. There's no place for bigotry in public service and that includes the military at any level. Thank you for your input. Now drink your warm milk and go to bed. Dismissed.

[adoantarel]

02:23 PM on 09/23/2010

I really think we need to reexamine what is name-calling and what is a proper labeling. If I show so strong a personal preference for people of my own race that I eschew circumstances where I'm around other races and in addition support legal policies that limit the rights of other races, would you label me a bigot?

You should, because such strong personal preferences for one's own type are the very definition of the word. Feel free to look it up in a dictionary.

[lqw]

08:21 PM on 09/21/2010

President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Marine Corps says he doesn't think Congress should lift the ban on gay troops who want to serve openly.
Gen. James Amos' comment came hours before a Senate test vote on a defense policy bill that would repeal the 17-year-old law, known as "don't ask, don't tell."
Amos told a Senate panel on Tuesday he was concerned that unit morale could suffer. He also said the shake up could become a distraction for forces busy fighting in Afghanistan.

HP above the coments

[bajed]

08:26 PM on 09/21/2010

Sorry, what is your point in re-posting the article?

[Tommygun264]

06:34 PM on 09/21/2010

That's funny.  All the Marines at the gay bars in Waikiki (and there's plenty of them) are all for the repeal of DADT.

[bajed]

06:38 PM on 09/21/2010

Playing devils advocate: Why is that gays have their own bars? Why not go to the bars that everyone else goes to? Are they really that different?

[MJHammonds]

07:22 PM on 09/21/2010

Gays do go to bars that everyone else goes to.  They also like to go to bars where they don't have to worry about discrimination, and where the dating pool is more optimal. 

Not really different from the reasons straight people go to bars to pick up someone, capiche?

[Tommygun264]

07:48 PM on 09/21/2010

Yeah, because asking a drunk straight guy to dance goes over soooo well. And lesbians, they REALLY love being hit on by men all the time.
Why do people who like country music have their own bars? Why aren't all bars exactly the same?

You're not playing devil's advocate, you're playing brainless.

[bajed]

06:26 PM on 09/21/2010

This is precisely what a general is supposed to do and this is precisely where he is supposed to do it. If the senate asks him a question, he is supposed to answer honestly. Like the rest of the Pentagon, he is waiting the release of the latest study on the impact of repealing DADT. I am sure he is aware of the other studies out there that have analyzed other western armed forces that have allowed gays to openly serve. The fact that he provided his opinion when asked should be respected. Had he sought out the press and expressed his dissatisfaction once the policy had been repealed, this would be quite a different story. Military leadership are supposed provide their best advice to civilian leaders so that they can make informed decisions. If the civilian leadership were to repeal DADT in spite of his comments, well then it would be his duty to implement the new policy. Simple as that.

[bajed]

10:40 PM on 09/21/2010

Correction: The DOD study is focused on the best ways to implement the repeal of DADT.

[joelb5000]

05:30 PM on 09/21/2010

This is the perfect opportunity for the President as Commander in Chief to exercise his lawful discretion and choose a man who has not publicly derided the President's plans to move forward with DADT repeal, and this is the man he chooses? This has got to be the most ridiculous appointment the President could support. Obama, shame on you.

[One more Thing]

05:41 PM on 09/21/2010

He certainly didn't vet the General any better than McCain vetted Palin!

[bajed]

06:41 PM on 09/21/2010

What exactly did the General say that was outside his job description?

[fixitfakeitcreateit]

09:37 PM on 09/21/2010

Im sure supporting repaling DADT was not the litmus test for running the marine corps. Wait til all those gay white guys in the military come out. The majority are gonna have a fit. LOL

[1murillo]

05:29 PM on 09/21/2010

He said "the shake up could become a distraction for forces busy fighting in Afghanistan."
The forces are already fighting in Afghanistan, there wouldn't be a "shake up."

[One more Thing]

05:42 PM on 09/21/2010

Sounds to me like the General is incompetent!

[bajed]

06:42 PM on 09/21/2010

How so? He stated he would dutifully carry out the repeal of DADT if congress were to change the law leading to the change in the Pentagon's personnel policy. That is exactly what he is supposed to do.

[1murillo]

09:19 PM on 09/21/2010

The latest GOP move to delay the repeal of DADT is a desperate act. Filibustering the Defense Authorization Bill won't fly for very long even in our current political climate.
Fortunately, Marine General Amos is not needed to sign on to the repeal of DADT in order for the repeal to go forward. The general said he would enforce any law mandated, he is not speaking against his commander or the Constitution.
He's expressing his opinion when saying he's against repealing DADT. His reasons given show that there are still some people that are fear-filled and ignorant.
It's true that any delay is hurtful to our military people and to our services, yet the forces to have DADT overturned are too strong for it to remain as law.