Not surprisingly, the draft Democratic platform includes repeal of the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy for gays in the military. What was striking was where in the platform the Democrats put this declaration.
The 2004 Democratic platform called for “equal treatment of servicemen”…in a section on civil rights.
The 2008 platform point-blank calls for the repeal of “don’t-ask-don’t-tell”…in the section on national security:
“Allow All Americans to Serve
We will also put national security above divisive politics. More than 10,000 service men
and women have been discharged on the basis of sexual orientation since the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was implemented, at a cost of over $360 million. Many of those
forced out had special skills in high demand, such as translators, engineers and pilots. At a time when the military is having a tough time recruiting and retaining troops, it is
wrong to deny our country the service of brave, qualified people. We support the repeal
of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the implementation of policies to allow qualified men and
women to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.”
Since it was conventional wisdom in the 1990s that Bill Clinton’s early political problems stemmed in part from efforts to allow gays in the military, it’s interesting that Obama is going so directly at this. He is either a) a stronger believer in gay rights; b) more politically tone deaf; c) more politically astute, having found a shrewder way of framing the issue; or d) tapping into profound changes in public opinion since 1993.
Some historians believe that African American service in World War II helped shift American atittudes (both black and white) on race. Will 9/11 and the Iraq war be seen as key factors in the progress of gay rights?
posted August 15, 2008 at 10:21 am
Obama is (a) (c) and (d). A lot has changed since 1993. We are actually having a serious discussion of gay marriage as an issue of equality and human dignity; that would have been unfathomable in 1993. We also see the impact of DADT, where well-trained, well-qualified experts are booted out of the military because of concerns about showers. The recent House hearing on DADT showed sophisticated reasons for eliminating the ban and nutty rationalizations that even embarrassed supporters for keeping the ban.
posted August 15, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Another good reason to vote NOT Republican. What difference does a persons sexual orientation make? It is ridiculous that so many highly skilled soldiers have been booted because they were gay.