That White House Web Page
Updated: White House reinserts word 'repeal'
Like many others in the LGBT and progressive blogosphere, we too were confused about the change in the White House website language from "repealing" "to "changing" "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Words matter, and these two words on this particular subject have dramatically different implications for gay and lesbian service members.
Aubrey Sarvis communicated with the White House last night, like others did, to understand what was going on. He also received the standard e-mailed response about the site being revamped, etc. We should have a more complete understanding of what is going on early next week. Stay tuned.
At the core of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" discussion is that every day (yes, every day) gay people are getting fired on the job for being gay. Period. This is not hyperbole or spin; it is the unsettling reality. All of our work is on behalf of them - those under investigation today, those discharged, and the 65,000 gays who must serve in silence under the indignities of this discriminatory law.
Thanks to those (Joe.My.God, Pam's House Blend, Americablog, Greg Sargent, Politico's Ben Smith, ProPublica, and others out there) who are looking, like we are, for some answers.
05-01-09 By Kevin Nix, SLDN Communications Director |
3 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Christopher di Spirito on May 04, 2009 at 02.30 pm
“He [Obama] supports repealing ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security….”
I don’t have a clue what this means.
Obama campaigned on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ which is why I supported him.
How many more former and current generals does the president need to hear from to meet the threshold of “sensible?”
How many more reports showing the destructive results of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ does the president need to read to prove repealing the policy is “sensible?”
So far, and I realize we’re just over 100 days into the new administration, but there seems to be no sense of urgency from Obama, Gates or Hillary to move the process along and frankly, I’m starting to think we’re not going to see the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in Obama’s first term.
I hope I’m wrong but I don’t get a sense of urgency from him or his cabinet to deliver on his campaign promise.
Anthony in D.C. on May 02, 2009 at 11.55 am
I prefer the change of words. The word ‘repeal’, without the promise of adopting a policy of non-discriminatin attached to it, implies returning to a state before the policy.
James E. Pietrangelo, II in Cleveland, OH on May 02, 2009 at 09.31 am
You folks at SLDN do a lot of good work, but I do not for the life of me understand why you refuse to see the writing on the wall (webpage). The change in wording is yet more evidence (as if there were not enough already) that Obama has stuck the knife in his promise on DADT. Instead of wasting time trying to divine the meaning of the website and calling the White House only to get a form response, why doesn’t Aubrey Sarvis and Joe Solomenese and the other Gay “leaders” get together and call Obama the bigot that he is.
It is time to start marching, people. Time indeed.