Obama: Joint Chief Screening Will Not Include Opposition to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Everybody remember that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is not just some arbitrary Pentagon Policy. It is Law, passed by a Democratic House, passed by a Democratic Senate, and signed by a Democratic President in 1993.
So, when Nancy Pelosi starts bashing Republicans with it, tell her to pull her head out.

“That doesn’t make us more safe,” Obama said, “What I want are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are making decisions based on what strengthens our military and what is going to make us safer, not ideology.”
This is what all Americans should want.

I realize that the Clintons have a lot of controversies but they were always there for the gay community and not waited until it was safe to take a stand on these issues
Then explain to me why they did not propose EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL? THERE SHOULD BE NO DONT ASK DONT TELL.
PLEASE ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE
ALL RIGHTS AFFORDED TO THEM INCLUDING GAY MARRIAGE.
DONT TELL HOW WILL THE SERVICE MEMBERS
PUT THEIR INSURANCE TO THEIR PARTNER WITH OUT TELLING? GET REAL
EQUAL RIGHTS.
EQUAL RIGHTS,.

Barack and Hillarys Camp
we want and deserve equal rights as Americans no more sitting on fences and giving ( little platitudes ) pass an Equal Rights Amendment For ALL.
Stop worrying about your Political Life and worry about all your constituents.
Americans should be according to our Constitution Equal rights For all.

Good answers Obama. Not everybody that is going to be at any candidate’s events are going to be perfectly aligned with that candidate’s views.
Check out Bill and Hillary. They don’t have the same views on everything and people don’t expect that.
I also agree that the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” should not be a litmus test.

DONT ASK DONT TELL MEANS…BE ASHAMED OF WHO YOUR ARE.
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL AMERICANS
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL AMERICANS
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED FOR YOUR BELEIFS DO NOT HIDE WITH GIVE US A LITTLE.
GIVE US THE SAME RIGHTS STRAIGHTS HAVE.

As a lifelong democrat I am shocked at what our party has become… we have 2 very polarizing and divisive candidates…O bama on race and age and hillary on gender…. Just when I thought that we will finally take the whitehouse back … I now have my doubts

Jordon- “The Clintons Have always supported the gay community.” Are you kidding? Bill Clinton is the one who signed the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell bill in the first place.

You know it should be against the law to use that many negatives to describe a single position.
NOT AGAINST OPTING OUT OF DO NOT ASK DO NOT TELL
So is that 4 negatives or 5 negatives because if its 4 then Obama is neutral on pro gay or is it anti gay legislation in the military.
If its five negatives then is he against this legislation and is the legislation pro gay or anti gay?
You see the whole thing is very confusing.
Intentionally no doubt.
It’s called subterfuge right! Same old Obama or is it bamboozled.

I am so tired of the mindless mindset of those jumping on the “Barack Bandwagon”. This man OPPOSES gay marriage, his racist and homophobic church OPPOSES gay rights [meaning EQUAL rights, not separate rights], he continues to quote his former pastor and align himself with hatred and bigotry. I do not know of one single gay man or women that plans to vote for Barack Obama – we simply do not trust him or respect his prejudice values. Tell us Senator Obama, if “Separate but Equal” laws were not good enough for blacks in the 1950s and 1960s, then why do you propose these same laws for gays?

Oh, & BTW, “Jordan” on this blog is 100% correct. Then President Bill Clinton, in his first act as President only minutes after being sworn in, attempted to lift the ban on gays in the military. Remember the bigoted, ignorant right-wing flak he got for that brave attempt?! He was FORCED into a lame compromise called, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – a compromise inherently flawed and discriminatory right from the start. But he TRIED!

Hey phillypaul,
I would rather have Bill C on my side that that big earred empty suit you call a candidate. He is so weak. I was comfortable with Bill C’s Don’t ask dont tell policy at least “we” were able to stay in the military. I think it time to change it now that supposedly we as a nation have grown- many states can’t even get gay marrigae passed never mind rights in the military. Our country has so many hang ups.
I am fortunate enough to travel the globe 4-5x a year and it amazes me how backwards our country can be on ceratain issues. I will not vote for Obama just becasue I want to show the world that I am not a racist. I will vote on the candidate who I feel is best for this country based on issues. Obama is so dividing this country. Thanks for all your comments and I done with this blog.

So in other words he is pushing the GLBT community aside because of other MORE important range of constituencies and the rest of the states coming up typically do not have large GLBT populations like California, Florida, Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts. Hmmmm, as I recall those are all states Hillary won.
It is my understanding that the President has a choice as to who will be the Joint Chief of Staff. If that President chooses a person that leads our armed forces to over look this discrimination issue then that President is not on the GLBT side. I would like to add that ALL other great nations currently allow gays and lesbians to openly serve in their armed forces.

I tell you this, Obama is a nice guy, but an empty suit. I sincerely believe he needs more time in the Federal Government to obtain the thinking knowledge. MY GOD, look at our last president!

Obama has Guts! Hillary runs from non-existent Bullets and answers phones at 3 am that are not even ringing for her!

The US military is behind other nations in this respect. The UK, Isreal and Australia, among many others who have served with the US in Iraq and Afghanistan allow openly gay troops to serve. (note Isreal is not involved in Iraq&Afghan.)
The US militray allows dating and married couples to serve openly and women now in combat roles. why not gays?
Quit wasting the taxpayers money by kicking out openly gay soldiers. The military has much bigger concerns or should have.

mike-south hampton…Did you miss the part where the article said……. In his interview with the The Advocate, Obama continued, “I think there’s increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this (don’t ask, don’t tell law) is a counterproductive strategy…we’re spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need.” “That doesn’t make us more safe,” Obama said, “What I want are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are making decisions based on what strengthens our military and what is going to make us safer, not ideology.” It sounds like Obama opposes it because he’d rather have gays & lesbians serve openly in the military and value everyone’s contributions to our national saftey regardless of their sexual orientation. I think you misinderstand the reason that he opposes “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

This is nothing but another political move by Barry “the racist radical.”

ONE MORE THING LOWB44-
IF YOU THINK THAT I JOIN THE MILITARY AND I SAY HELLO EVERYONE I AM GAY THE MILITARY WILL RALLY AROUND ME AND REJOICE. I DON’T THINK SO. IF YOU REMEMBER THE GUY WHO GOT HIS HEAD BASHED IN BY ONE OUR OWN MILITARY PERSONEL. I DON’T THINK BARACK LIVES IN A REALISTIC WORLD. THERE IS STILL ALOT OF BIGOTS AND RACIST IN THIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE IN THIS DAY AND AGE CAN’T EVEN GET MARRIAGE FOR GAYS PASSED IN MOST STATES. BARACK GIVES FALSE PROMISES. ENOUGH SAID.

OBAMA AND JEREMIAH WRIGHT-ONE AND SAME.
OBAMA STILL QUOTES THE BIGOTED REVEREND.
WOW!!!!

Donna if is hard to believe that you was once in the Obama camp after the anti Obama post and nothing negative about Hillary and the people she employs about trade with Colombia and the slime Bill hangs around with..you don’t have to vote for Obama but voting for McWar is just stupid unless you want the country to go broke and you don’t care about future dead soldiers in Iraq.

I don’t believe that people on this blog you call themselves democrats will vote for MCain instead of Obama if Obam becomes the Nominee. I am a Hilary supporter but if she loses I will vote for Obama. They both take the same possitions on the issues that are important to me and 67% of the people in this nation. So for a DEMOCRAT to say that he we vote republican if OBAMA wins the nomination is not a true democrat. We as democrats need to stand behind our nominee whether or not if its the candidate we support. We keep this S*&t up we willhave four more years of the BullS#@t we have endored for the last 8 years. I hope Hillary pulls this out but if she don’t. There is no way I’m voting for John Mcain. If you any of you do, then is clearly a racial issue.

DEMOCRATS MUST SUPPORT THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE

To be fair to Bill Clinton — wow, what a concept — Don’t ask don’t tell was an improvement over the previous “policy” which was zero tolerance.
However, I don’t think DADT was meant to be a be-all, end-all, but rather a first step in acknowledging the mistake of treating gay soldiers differently. As Senator Obama pointed out, many highly qualified folks are still being discharged today.
So, in spite of my opposition to Hillabean’s candidacy, I cannot fault Clinton for DADT. But it’s time to bring it to an end, replaced not be returning to pre-1993 policy, but by an attitude of fairness and equality.
Obama 2008 — Yes, WE CAN!!!

Hillary Clinton is not perfect and so are we. At this point in time we the American people need to get together and nominate the person that will matter in November. Hillary Clinton can turn this country around. I am one of those people that have lost a job and soon will loose a home. My future and my childrens future depends on my democratic parties nominee. I have voted democratic all of my adult life. If Barack Obama is the nominee I will put mine and my childrens future in front of the party. I will vote John Mccain in November. Obama’s call for a change is just that a mere call. More and more we see who he truly is. He is nothing like the carefully crafted image him and his camp is portraying. I am calling out to the democrats and independents..More than ever we must all come together and call ourselves Americans and step up to the plate. It’s our turn to bat. Vote for Hillary!!!

I totally agree with you. But what Im saying is if he does infact win. Why would us democrat vote for John Mcain. Atlease Obama like Hilliary stand on the same side on our issues. Why would democrats talk with so much hate. about another democrat candidate. It does matter how we feel is the majority votes for Obama. It is talks like this, that make us lose.

My only advice for gays in the military is for you please “Don’t tell.” I’m not saying that to be mean. I am saying that to protect you. Most of our men and women in the military are fine upstanding people. They might disagree with your lifestyle, but they would never do anything to hurt you. But there are enough homophobes in there to cause you considerable trouble and I don’t know that enough will be done to protect you. I am a heterosexual white protestant Rebublican male – yet I see no reason to descriminate. You say its a sin – maybe – read some pretty harsh stuff on it in Leviticus. But, so is glutony. So is cheating. So is lying. So are a lot of these posts. God loves us all and we need to quit bashing leaders for accepting all Americans.

Obama always wants it both ways. I don’t trust him!

bpatz3, if you are willing to vote for McCain if your first choice, Hillary Clinton, does not get the nomination, then you obviously care nothing about Senator Clinton’s politics.
Why are you voting for her? Senator’s Clinton and Obama are nearly identically on every major issue. If you then say you’re going to vote for McCain if Hillary doesn’t get the nomination, her polar opposite ideologically, then you obviously are voting on something other than policy.
Why are you supporting Senator Clinton now and Senator McCain?

Michaelinphily: My son is gay and he supports Hillary? How many years have Obama being in the political scene? How convenient that now for the first time he supports gays. People need to support their words with actions. In the case of Obama, what past actions he has taken on behalf of the gays? His position, as all of his position (when he finally has a position) are finally taken when they are convenient for him and only him.

Just another position on which Obama has jumped on the bandwagon. Yesterday it was the Olympics, today “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, which both are issues that Clinton has been speaking about throughout her campaign. Instead of saying what other people are going to do and getting ideas from other people, why doesn’t he ever come up with his own ideas.

Erik: The answer to your question is very simple. Even when Hillary and Obama have similar platforms, Obama has not convinced many of us Hillary supporters that he has the “backbone” to implement anything. When you review his past actions and take out of the scene his beautiful words, you will get yourself very surprised that when it comes to stand and support a position in anything Obama has been very evasive. This nation is completely in disarray, so as a responsible US citizen, the interests of my country go beyond the party. Even when we are not republicans, we feel that for 4 years we will be bettern with McCain that with Obama.

AJ – I AM WITH YOU! AND GOOD FOR YOU RHONDAINOREGON.

Some of you people are not happy unless you have something to gripe about. You would say that Obama does not stand up for anything unless he is cornered or forced. Let me see…exactly how many soap boxes are any of you criers asking John McCain or Clinton to get on at every fuction they attend or speech that they give. I do not recall hearing Hillary tout the gay rights speech. I don’t see her attending any gay marches. I don’t hear any candidate, democratic or republican, saying to much about gay rights on C-span on a regular basis. But for some reason, if Obama is asked a question and he answers it, you pick it apart until you can’t find anything wrong and decide to call it empty. Amazing!!!

The Gay Rule is to Protect all the white christian slobs, like that senator for Iowa or kansas or where ever – who tried to get laid in a toilet – the law is to make them feel like men. WHAT CAN I SAY – THIS NATION STILL BELIEVES IT MUST PROTECT THE MALE CAUCASIAN CHRISTIAN SLOBS…

Benjamin
and other men:
If you were serving in the military, as I have, can you handle being in a public shower area with other naked women? You mention extra-terrestrials…..I doubt they handle watching God’s most beautiful humans shower naked too….
So, be real about this matter….okay…

Hey Mike:
You reveal to me that the senator is being attacked from both sides….calm down dude….

this guy rides the fence and depending on which way the political storm is headed he dodges, runs for cover, rides out the storm, quotes others, votes present, or runs circles around the issues to avoid taking a position. him and his advisors have done one thing really good and that is- fine tuned his marketing strategy to appeal to everyone-especially the desperate for ‘change’ crowd’. men who cannot phantom the idea of a strong woman in charge, and women who hate their mother’s or worse yet women who are so programmed to accept ‘the man is the boss line’. appealing to them with pretty words-these simpletons faint and worship at the altar of their messiah. i am starting to see some shocking similarities between the religious right bush fans (past election cycles) and the obama fans. the adoration of the chosen one that has come to save us is scarry folks. and this is as we are often reminded ‘the educated crowd’ wow! i never thought i would be so proud to be a member of the as we are often referred to, the uneducated blue collar downtrodden crowd-who can smell a rat in the barn. funny how being poor gives you the ability to be cautious, think twice, and don’t step on the bullshit.

I did six years in the United States Army. If I served with any gays, I’m not
aware of it. So, I guess the don’t ask, don’t tell policy worked for me. As far as I know, I don’t ride with any gays. I don’t think it would make any difference to me. I’m sure that some of my buddies would think different.

Obama’s attitude seems to be “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Care.” Anyone who thinks it won’t be politics as usual with this guy in charge is dreaming.

I think this is really unfortunate and Mr. Obama is being unreasonably criticized by some of these posts. The guy basically came out and said that he is against “Don’t ask, don’t tell” which is a policy that makes gay individuals forbidden from discussing their sexual orientation whereas every other straight person can. This practice is discriminatory. He also said that he would defer to his joint chiefs to make the final call on it. I don’t understand how people here can say that is not leadership. Being a good and effective leader is deferring issues like this to those who have expert knowledge if it means the greater good benefits. He’s not acting like George Bush or, as has been proven lately, Senator Clinton and trying to force his ideas for his own betterment. He wisely bounces ideas off others who may have better knowledge of the situation and then makes a decision. If people don’t like him personally, which most posts I have read indicated, then say so. But don’t attack the man because he stated a perfectly acceptable stance on this issue.

HE BOUNCES IDEAS OF OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE HE REALLY DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE ON RUNNING A COUNTRY . SORRY THIS GUY JUST SPEWS AND SMELLS OF RHETORIC.
BYE BYE OBAMA! TAKE THAT BEAST OF A HATEFUL PERSON YOU MARRIED WITH YOU.

If you dont want to vote for him …then DONT vote for him…and move on with you’ll life for god sake

At the beginning of this campaign, I was truely undecided as who to vote for. I wasn’t quite sold on HRC and didn’t know much about Obama. As this campaign has evolved, voting for HRC is impossible to me now. Other than doing research on where each candidite stands on the issues (and these candidates agree on about 95% of the issues), I started to look at charecter. I watched debates and I saw a composed man who thought before he spoke against and overly agressive senator who already had an air of self entitlement to the throne, so to speak. After talking to supporters from both sides, I realized that Obama supporters were more open minded about the solution to issues in general whereas Clinton supporters were staunch in the support of their candidate regardless of her waffling on very serious issues such as the war and NAFTA. To me these are some of the most important isuues our country faces. Barack Obama has stayed the course for the most part whereas Hillary has changed her positions to garner favor with the voters. I can name about 3 or 4 times where Clinton was caught up in untruths that were important to the issues that she was addressing and a few other instances where she just flat out lied about things she didn’t have to. Obama and McCain have been caught in misstatements as well but just not to the magnitude that she has. People may not like what Rev. Wright had to say but at least he faced the music. Not all politicians are completely honest but I can’t, in good conscious, vote for someone like HRC who lies as much as she does because the last time a polician lied to us, he got us into a war that we are currently stuck in and 4000 soldiers have died as a result of it. As a result, we are spending more money on Iraqi schools, hospitals and roads than we are on our own. Obama has been against this war from the start and I truely believe he is the only one that can truely get us out. Try and realize that.

DORIS – She is not strong, she is a liar…flat out. We can’t afford to have another person in the White House who lies to us. What part of that don’t you understand? She lied about Whitewater, sniper fire, about brokering peace in the middle east. She makes up stories about women without health care dying after being refused admittance to hospitals. She continued to fundraise and keep her name on the ballots in MI and FL when all the other Democratic candidates agreed to get out. Google Peter Paul and read about what comes up. Doris, you indeed cannot reverse those names in my blog. I guess you can believe what you will but she is a stone faced liar. I admit, they all lie at one point but she is the world heavyweight champion of lying about stuff that is too important to lie about. We can’t afford to have a leader that won’t be straight with us.

Lesley: Where do you live? We are all afraid on how you are raising your children. Or do you suffer from partial amnesia and only look in the Bible and interpret the Bible according to your personal beliefs? Have you look in the Bible where it states that as you judge, that is how you are going to be judged?

Obama is an IDIOT. Plain and simple. He would lower moral values even lower than they are today.

Getting rid of don’t ask don’t tell has long been on the Clinton agenda…she and Chelsea have both talked about it on the stump…
Obama continues to tailor policy to audience. His religious indoctrination with Wright has been filled with with anti-gauy rhetoric…although Obama once gave a speech that said that gay bashing and anti-Semitism should not be tolerated…he has been slow (months after Clinton)to come to this position.
His marketing campaign continues to roll…He has now taken all sides of most positions and put it in an empty suit….The commercial blitz is on…Let’s see if Americans buy it.

Wait a minute i missread…Clinton is for gay rights and Obama is not…interesting

DORIS – 1) it wasn’t true. That girl was admitted to the hospital when she died. She could have gone at anytime. The girl went to a clinic months before she was even pregnant that refused her service because she owed them thousands of dollars for medical bills that were past due for several years. Clinics and hospitals don’t operate by the same rules. Clinics can refuse people. It is illegal for a hospital to refuse anyone. So yes, HRC lied because this girl was not refused for service at the hospital.
2) If I’m running for President, I would be responsible enough to make sure stories that I spread around the campaign trail are accurate. She could have told 1 of a hundred stories that would have illustrated her point but she was dumb enough not to check up on it. When you are running for president you gotta dot your I’s and cross your T’s.

Tim and Jason – can you explain his friendly association with the terrorist William Ayers? Do you think he can give a terrorist speech and his association with him will just go away again just like with Reverend Wright? Is this a good judgment for someone running for POTUS yet again?

Definitely Common Sense – I don’t mind reading what your links say and they back up your position but they are not objective. You picked two articles that written by people who agree with you. Will you read two articles that agree with my position? Having a poll between McCain, Obama and HRC at this point is garbage and trying to draw conclusions from it is just as futile. The bottom line is that most Americans want out of the war and want a leader that will address the economy. McCain simply won’t do that. Hillary may be able to do that but I question her honesty and her Republican enemies in congress polarizing any policy she may try to implement. Obama can cross party lines and implement some real change. I just think that people will regret voting for Clinton in 2 years once every piece of legislation she tries to pass ends up in a stalemate.

Tim and Jason I am still waiting for your answer – can you explain his friendly association with the terrorist William Ayers? Do you think he can give a terrorist speech and his association with him will just go away? Is this a good judgment for someone running for POTUS? Just like his association with reverend wright.

Tim…hahahahahaha…I already know about them. Nothing is proven. I can’t believe you are supporting Obama and not know about his friendly relationship with William Ayers. Wake up before it is too late. He has the wrong judgment about his anti-america and anti-white friends. He is not running for a small town public office. He is running for the highest office in the country.

Omar – I usually vote republican but I find Hillary a much more qualified candidate so I have decided to vote for her this election. But with emphasis on but, if she doesn’t win the nomination I will vote republican. I do not like Barak Obama so why would I give him one of my most valued privileges – the right to vote. So your way of thinking isn’t so smart afterall. I still think Colin Powell would be a much better choice.

Again, Obama is up to his “lies”. I agree, he is a joke. I’m waiting to see what happens when and if the pro-Obama media hones in on Obama’s association with Ayers, the underground terrorist that bombed the Pentagon. And, what about Michelle Obama asking an Asian lady to get up and let a white person sit in her place because Obama’s campaign needs to have more “whites” as she put it. The Obama’s, both of them, are a disgrace to America…..he better be asking Uncle Wright for a job at the church, his campaign is over! Hillary 08 !

to bpatz3……excellent post! I just don’t believe Obama will be in there for the American people. He has great rhetoric, is likeable, can sway the crowds, but I see what too many inconsistencies in his campaign, too many negatives that the media has not pounced on like they have with Clinton. We all know that Obama is the medias “golden boy”, however, even though the Obamanites are happy about this, what they (Obamanites) don’t understand is that the GOP runs the media….this is a setup for a Republican win in the fall. 56% of Hillary’s supporters will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee; Florida and Michigan voters will do the same, since Obama was dead set against them re-voting. He only did this because he knew Clinton would carry both states and she would be ahead of him right now. Obama is smooth…he’s a manipulator and seems like he’s got everything going for him. I hope and pray he doesn’t win the nomination, however, if he does, he will NEVER become President…I can rest assured in that, as well as the majority of other American voters.

David from Texas – you are welcome. I also do hope and pray that it is not too late for Hillary to win. I am also hoping the superdelegates will nominate Clinton and prove that the republicans cannot manipulate our parties voting system.

It did not matter Hillary did not get endosements from Kennedy and Bill R.
The fact is she has won both of the states.

It seems to me that an Obama presidency would be an awful risk to take. Most of his positions, if you can call them that, are so vague that I am left wondering about his real views and intentions. This job is too important to take a risk on.
I would take either Clinton or McCain before Obama.

He’s pandering people…wake up. This guy is so funny. Yea, funny thing is is all the naive libbies out there who support this joke

I am so tired of hearing about Obama. I hope that I do not have to hear anything about him after he loses at the convention in August. He is repulsive, arrogant racist that needs to go back to Chicago. Superdelegates need to realize that it would be a grave mistake and the end of the Democratic Party if he were nominated. He will NEVER WIN AGAINST MCCAIN in NOVEMBER.

Here are some of the many things that have came out about Obama over the past few months: Obama keeps telling lies and then when he is about to be exposed, he then changes his story to tell the truth. Remember NAFTA (no one talked to Canada), but then Canada produces minutes from the meeting, then the story is the minutes were wrong on the meeting. He only had worked a few hours with Rezko, then it was exposed about his long term friendship and business dealings. And then there was I had not heard this while I was in Church, but then he noted that he had heard these type statements in Church. There are so many more examples of his compulsive untruthfulness. This goes a lot to character and it is obvious to me he can’t be trusted. Then there are the other shady, underground characters in his past such as Ayers, etc. He has no experience, bad judgment, and is a liar Are these qualities that we want in our President??
People are quick to criticize the Clintons, but they are the ones out there taking up the cause and helping the unfortunate or victims of disaster-no matter what race, income, age, etc. It is a shame that so many people are lost in the empty rhetoric of Obama to see he is only in this race for himself and will DO NOTHING to help anyone else other than his cronies.

My gay/lesbian/transgendered friends, check out another of Obama’s spiritual “mentor” “friend” “uncle”…whatever he chooses to call him…Rev. Meeks. He has a lot to say about the gay community. The whole lot of them are homophobic. Obama won’t fight a bit for our rights. This article is just more proof. All of a sudden, he cares about gay rights. Sure he does.
Hillary 08′ and if not…no choice but McCain

Divante Jackson: You are wrong. The Clintons have gotten themselves very involved with the black communities over the years. They have helped them with money and with time. Can you please list the charities, foundations and any other type of assistance that Obama has created and/or done in favor of the African-Americans? How many schools in a ghetto has he visited to help to create any type of fund or something to help the black kids. The last time I checked Obama and Michelle are earning over $1 Million a year and live in a priviliged house with a privileged income and privileged neighbors. Or did he grew in a ghetto? And you are wrong again. You do not need to be suffering to understand the pain and suffering of other people. I am white and I get involved in helping black people and by relating with then I understand their suffering and needs. By actions, I try to help them. Obama only has words.

I think Divante Jackson went to the same congregation as Obama. Listening to hateful preachings from Wright. That is sick. Do we want this people seeking power if and when Obama becomes the POTUS.

Obama makes this gay man want to puke! After months of avoiding the gay media he throws us a bone and were suppose to bite it and be quiet. I dont think so. What obama was basicly saying was that he will support gay rights when its politiclly convenient, but will not go out of his way to do anything of significance. thanks Mr. Obama, but Hillary has my vote. She has a proven record of support and will not stab us in the back like you have.

Here’s some irony for you – The Clinton Global Initiative, part of the Clinton Foundation, has secured partnerships for the following initiatives:
$271,000,000.00 over a 5-year period for educational opportunities for 7.5 million children in Africa and Asia.
$40,000,000.00 over 5 years for critical education needs for 3,000,000 girls in Africa.
$12,000,000.00 over 8 years to improve schooling and health outcomes for girls 10-14 in Southern Africa.
Maybe someone should tell Barack Obama that trying to label Bill Clinton a “racist” is contrary to everything he has ever done in his life, and is not only dishonest, it is disgusting.

2iceman2: Wonderful comment. I wish everyone felt the same; our world would truly be a better place.

Fred, Fred, Fred, it appears that you have problem putting things into perspective. Just because a person who supports Mr. Obama says something that should not be said does not mean that Mr. Obama said nor agrees with it. People on both side of the democratic primaries have said things that neither of the candidates that they support agree with. Yet, supporters of the opposite candidate claim that it came right from the mouth of the candidate himself/herself. Reasonably, you cannot get 50 people together from your neighborhood who would agree on something as simple as “What is the best tasting food?”. Yet, in a competition for the highest seat in the land, you seem to believe that every word that comes from the mouth of a candidates supporter came from the candidate first. Or, maybe only the other candidate and not yours.
With regard to Wright, let me see if I can make a comparison here. If you take all of the sermons from Louis Farrakahn for tha past twenty years, you would be able to put together enough recorded segments that would be considered racist when played in context to the whole sermon and be listening for at least 10 years. When you look at Rev Wright, to the contrary, after 40 years of preaching, the most that can be done is you take a few segments that all together don’t even last 30 seconds and determine that for 20 years he has been preaching hate. Not to mention that they were taken out of context and there were no lies in them. If reasonability were to take the forefront, everyone who goes to a black church, would here a different sermon in context as to what is preached in a white church. It was like this from the time of slavery. Black preachers have always preached to black congregations about overcomming oppression. White people have always heard from their preachers that life is good and in heaven it will only get better. Black ministers from around the country have rallied behind Rev Wright. His record shows that he has been anything but racist even though he grew up racially oppressed. He had to sit in that back of buses while he transported white German prisoners of war to holding areas on military bases. The whiter people had no problem sitting next to a white man that would have killed them had he gotten the chance as opposed to sitting next to the black Marine (Wright) who was protecting them. Amazing, don’t you think? Yet and still I am sure that I will be viewed as racist because like Rev Wright, I will have no problem telling the country that I love when she is wrong and needs to straighten up. When MLK said that America was the greatest perveyer of violence in the world with regard to the Vietnam War, he was demonized by white America then too. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

So Obama felt the criticism for ignoring gay press for months, and now talks about a gay issue. how convenient, but as always without commitment one way or tthe other.

If he isn’t willing to DO anything about Don’t ask, Don’t tell ( other than playing to the gay vote) what IS the point of talking about it? “A less conversation, a little more action.”

Bill Clinton is respected by many in the gay community for trying to bring about the change in our countries discrimination in the armed forces, though not as successful as most had hoped, many like myself appreciate him trying when no one else would. It also probably has helped bring about the change of some in the military view, who have looked at the issue in more of a fair light toward us ( because of their experiences with Gays and Lesbians in the service ), and are now more open to the idea. Hillary has been very clear in her support of the GLBT community and our full rights.

The Clintons have always been friends with the gay community. They are, and always have been fair to every American.
This crap about Obama suddenly wanting GLBT support is just ridiculous and completely transparent. That guy says anything he thinks (wait, his advisors think) we want to hear. He’s a joke and he’s a sinking ship, finally!
GO HILLARY!!!!

So what does this guy support? He is so slick, he makes Slick Willy look bad. He has taken no stand on any issue. Mr Hope is a dope. Vote Hillary in 08, and if not Hill then John.

The Clinton’s have always supported the Gay community. Hillary has spoken about our issues at rallies and whatnot from the get go. I’m pretty sure most of us will stay loyal to those who have our true interest at heart (unlike another “community” who turned their backs on the Clinton’s) Obama could care less. Is the reason for his sudden interest because of Hillary’s appearance on Ellen Monday?? Once again, she made a point to tell us EXACTLY what she would do for us if she were elected. I just don’t trust this guy, period! I trust John McCain more. If I’m going to have to vote for someone who’s going to do squat for the gay community…it might as well be someone I know for sure is patriotic and loves our country.

JORDAN -
Please dont make excuses for what Clinton did when he signed that law into affect. Have some backbone Dems (if possible) and stand behind your decisions. Thanks LORAINNE

When obama talks about don’t ask, don’t tell he’s talking about being a fraud. People should read the article in the washington post and posted on msnbc, a.k.a. the obama network, about how he gets his money; billionares, wall street executives,general dynamics etc. etc. he’s in the lobbists back pockets. why has the director of general dynamics, whose profits have greatly increased since the war, received earmarks from obama. obama has complained about gambling for its steep “moral and social cost” yet takes big bucks from a billionaire casino developer in philadelphia. this list goes on and on. what a hypocrit

Definitely Common Sense – I have to tell you – as I started to read your post from 1:31pm.. it didn’t start with bashing, and I was enjoying it… But then.. you actually said that 4 years of McCain is better than 4 years of Obama. ???? WHAT????
What kind of drugs are you taking exactly? Do you have any knowledge of the issues whatsoever? ANYONE who supports either of the democratic candidates and votes for McCain in November isn’t voting on issues. ANYONE who turns against the party at this point is doing it out of bitterness or spite – it’s a very selfish move. A move that says “I didn’t get my way – so I’m gonna take my ball and go home” so to speak. This is definitely NOT common sense.
ANYONE in politics has skeletons in their closets – ALL of them. They all suck.
Everyone knows that Clinton and Obama differ by only a small margin in their views for the future of OUR country. McCains’ views vs. either democratic candidate is like oil and water.
The competition between these two democratic candidates is so out of control, and followers on both sides are RABID. Take a look around and VOTE DEMOCRAT 08!
Everyone needs to get over their selfish pride and pull together… in order to form a more perfect union!!!!

I don’t know why everyone keeps talking about Bill Clinton and how great he was……HE is the reason gays and lesbians have ZERO federal benefits, rights and protections.
Ever heard of DOMA??? You guys keep giving him excuses for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” but what was his excuse for DOMA? Tell me do you LIKE not having over 1100 federal benefits, rights and protections? Do you LIKE fighting for the rights, benefits and protections that we as human beings and Americans SHOULD HAVE?? If you like it..then keep on tooting Bill Clintons horn and Hillary…….if you think he didn’t talk to her when he was in office and she wouldn’t talk to him if she’s in office then you have another thing coming!
I am a lesbian who will be voting for Barack Obama.