Richard Socarides, the former LGBT advisor to President Bill Clinton, leans in to President Obama’s failing on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell pretty good in a concise Wall Street Journal op-ed that, we’d argue, could have been even harsher. And by could, we mean should.
Socarides is no fool. He knows what happened to his former boss in the early 1990s, when the DADT “compromise” was made, to let gays serve in the military, but without being able to do so openly. And he understands Obama’s strategy is to avoid past mistakes.
Except, he writes: “What is especially troubling, however, is Mr. Obama’s oversensitivity to a dwindling minority of bigots on this issue. Hundreds of military careers have been destroyed on his watch for no valid reason. The country has been deprived of the talents of these service members and has wasted millions of dollars on their training.”
Further: “Many wonder when their president will show the same kind of concern for the constitutional rights of gay American service members as he has for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay. Many wonder what the administration’s willingness to treat gay Americans as second-class citizens says to Uganda and other countries that are considering laws that would subject gays to imprisonment and even death. Gay Americans have been among the president’s most ardent supporters. Their enthusiasm, and that of their families and friends, could be crucial in this year’s elections. The president’s action—or inaction—on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will be noticed.”
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Uh. That’s it? “Many wonder”? “Will be noticed”? Hey, Socarides, if you’re going to use your respected byline to appear in the Journal to “criticize” Obama, maybe your astute observations could be backed up by clear-cut demands?
We know: You’re writing in the Journal, and “knowing your audience” is tres important. But talking about how our “enthusiasm … could be crucial” in this year’s midterm elections is about as worthwhile as pointing out that Democrats are donkeys. It’s like: Yeah, and?
Fitz
I think he said plenty, in a way that was far more engaging to people that what I feel. I am glad that there are people like him who can be measured, instead of just people like me who want to talk with flame throwers.
Cam
I think the way he phrased it was right for the Journal readership. Back when Clainton was going to sign this thing many of us idealistic kids called Congressman Frank and said it was better to put nothing in writing, that codifying discrimination would make it much tougher later on, we were told we didn’t know what we were talking about…
Brian NJ
I hope more people speak out in terms of the brazen unpatriotic position of Commander Fucktard — that it is OK to have no plan to stop throwing vets on the street on his watch.
They are willing to DIE for this country and they are just thrown away like they are garbage. The Democrats are garbage for keeping that law on the books.
Disgusting lazy bitch. Lose the midterms, lose re-election, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose.