Obama Blasts Republicans Over Booing of Gay Soldier

“You want to be commander-in-chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States”

Not a single GOP candidate at their “debate” is qualified to run for the office of President and Commander in Chief. No one.

Give it a rest, libs!!! I agree with deadwrestler – they were probably booing ‘bama.

You liberals are a total joke!!!

Jimmy Hoffa’s remarks were a call to get out and vote next November, and to take the tea party and the right wingers out by voting. So what?

Obama is the kind of tough Commander in Chief who destroys Al Qaeda by day and stands up for servicemen and women by night. He’s right, the GOP field acted small that night.

Something tells me Obama’s going to want to be cautious about trying to hold candidates responsible for what members of an audience do.

Posted by: MayBee | October 2, 2011, 12:48 am 12:48 am

That was a quiet TV audience, so everything could be heard clearly. Much different from – for instance – a larger, louder crowd in a larger venue. The booing of an American soldier was loud and clear.

Posted by: Oliver Shagnasty | October 2, 2011, 1:13 am 1:13 am

Why would you condemn Hoffa’s remarks which were a call for Obama’s ‘army’ to get out and vote next November, and to take the tea party and the right wingers out by voting? So what?

This is a foolish president who treat pregnancy as a kind of sickness and gays are normal. He is destroying the country, a deceiving son on of devil.

How many of you were actually at the debate and heard the booing and how many of you were on the stage and heard it?

Once again leading from behind and coming out on issues once others have put them forth. President Obama is still “evolving” on gay marriage, for example. He is the ultimate creature of political convenience. A real commander-in-chief should have served in our armed forces – someone such as Ron Paul, John McCain or Rick Perry. President Obama would vote “present” on gay rights issues if he had to vote.

OBAMA IS A LIAR ! Go back and listen to the event. The soldier was NOT booed. Listen to it you morons of the left! It was his question that was booed !!! You stupid lying twit ! OBAMA MUST GO ~!

Booing the soldier, how is that possible? They must have been booing the poor video linkup, or the gay question, or maybe the host’s dress. And all those big men on stage showing their moral character.

Oh and did I mention the clown is a clown doing clown stuff in a clown world led by clowns?

Posted by: Gina | October 2, 2011, 9:54 am 9:54 am

Yes, me too. Clowny, clown is a clowning clown who only accomplished clowns, compared to the last clown and his clown wars and clown economic depression and clown deficits and Halliburton clown clowning with the people of clown town. And smell the coffee. And thank you for your clown coffee.

“Republican presidential candidate Gary Johnson slammed the booing of a gay soldier at last week’s Fox News/Google GOP Debate, telling Rev. Al Sharpton in an MSNBC interview that he regrets not speaking up during the incident.

“During the MSNBC interview on Friday, Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, told Sharpton that he had to resist the urge to “pound” his fist in anger when the crowd booed Stephen Hill, a gay soldier who asked fellow long-shot candidate Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., about open service in the military in commemoration of last week’s repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“‘The way I think about it,” Barack Obama told a TV station in Orlando, “is, you know, this is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft.”

He has a point. This is a great, great country that got so soft that 53% of electors voted for a ludicrously unqualified chief executive who would be regarded as a joke candidate in any serious nation.

One should not begrudge a man who seizes his opportunity. But one should certainly hold in contempt those who allow him to seize it on the basis of such flaccid generalities as “hope” and “change”: That’s more than “a little” soft.” – m steyn

Posted by: foggy | October 2, 2011, 10:27 am 10:27 am

Yes, but ignorant people think just like you.

Yep Obama…all those Republicans booed. Every last one of them.

This is a great, great country that got so soft that 53% of electors voted for a ludicrously unqualified chief executive who would be regarded as a joke candidate in any serious nation.
Posted by: foggy | October 2, 2011, 10:27 am.

LOL!!! As opposed to the serious rocket scientists we have running on the Right? Bwahahahahahahaha! THEY are the true laughing stocks of the international community……..

Posted by: Searambler | October 2, 2011, 10:44 am 10:44 am

No kidding!

Posted by: Common _ Sense | October 2, 2011, 10:50 am 10:50 am

Huh?

Jimmy Hoffa’s remarks were a call to get out and vote next November, and to take the tea party and the right wingers out by voting. So what?

NEWCOUNTRYMAN, October 2, 2011, 10:46 AM:

“Yep Obama…all those Republicans booed. Every last one of them.”
========================================================
LOL!…. once again, newountryman, you missed the entire point:

NOT ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SHOWED EVEN AN INCH OF LEADERSHIP TO STOP THE BOOING BY AT LEAST DOING A SIMPLE THING LIKE THANKING THAT SOLDIER (regardless of his sexual orientation) FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR NATION.

Then again newcountryman, we’re all used to you “missing the point”… LOL!

How about some press time about the race card Pres Barry has played since 2008.

Posted by: bl | October 2, 2011, 10:54 am 10:54 am

Once again, a right winger introduces race into the discussion . . . and pretends its the Democrats who bring in race. Yawn.

Sea; You haven’t resorted to LOL’s and Bwahaha’s have you? Just don’t lower your standards down to hehehe’s.

Posted by: newcountryman | October 2, 2011, 10:56 am 10:56 am

You missed the point again and instead watched the hand movements. Focus.

Go back and listen to the event. The soldier was NOT booed. Listen to it you morons of the left! It was his question that was booed! Posted by: Fred | October 2, 2011, 8:54 am.

LOL! OK, just a couple of points. Let’s assume they booed the question and not the soldier who happens to be gay. Why do you think that is better? Isn’t a US soldier allowed to ask a question of the people who want to be his Commander-in-Chief? Do Republicans support censoring US service members who want to ask questions of the Republican presidential candidates? I guess they think that the FOX Noise penchant of asking Republicans nothing but stupid partisan softball questions should be carried over to the debates as well. The other point I wanted to make is, if you believe the Left are “morons” for claiming the soldier was being booed, then what does that say about the Republican presidential candidates themselves, who have come forward and said it was ‘regrettable’ and ‘unfortunate’. Though none of the candidates openly condemned the booing on stage when it happened, Santorum appeared the following day on Fox News with Megyn Kelly and denounced it. “I have to admit I seriously did not hear those boos. … But certainly had I, I would have said, ‘Don’t do that. This man is serving our country and we are to thank him for his service.’” (Notably, when the soldier actually ASKED the question, Santorum did NOT bother to thank him for his service right then and there, to his face). Prominent Republicans spoke out after the debate, both against Santorum and the audience. Former press secretary Ari Fleischer, who served under George W. Bush, tweeted, “Booing a soldier serving our nation is uncalled for. If I were on stage, I would make that point.” The Log Cabin Republicans, a national gay and lesbian Republican organization, released a statement saying that they were “disgusted” by Santorum’s “shameful” response. It would appear that an awful lot of people on the Right also believe the soldier was being booed. Are they morons too, Fred………..?

So why didn’t Obama stand up to what Hoffa said?…Hypocrites..

So why didn’t Obama stand up to what Hoffa said?…Hypocrites..
Posted by: william | October 2, 2011, 11:07 am

Why should he? What did Hoffa say, exactly, that needs to be ‘stood up to’?

He should be scolding the idiots he put in his half— administration. Yep, lets give him another trillion dollar band-aid to blow like he did the first one. Next year we can do it again.

LOL! William, is that all ya got? Bwahahahahahaha! What a tool…………

@Searambler

Shouldn’t you be out mocking muslims for their anti-science views?

“Everybody here’s got a vote. Let’s take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,” he (Hoffa) concluded.

What’s wrong with that? And how does that compare to Republicans BOOING A US SOLDIER?!?!? Or their supposed leaders not doing one damn thing about it? The Right WHINERS in this nation are becoming more and more desperate and infantile every single day…………..

@searambler

Shock us all and defend your president instead of spewing hate.

Well, he’s right but he won’t be back for a second term. Gheez! Somebody give us an alternative. Not an impressive field in the Republican ranks.

The Right WHINERS in this nation are becoming more and more desperate and infantile every single day…………..

POSTED BY: SEARAMBLER | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 11:16 AM+++Nice try…..who is sinking in the polls faster than the Titanic? Americans don’t trust the dims with the economy or defending our country..

Obama is pandering to his left whining base. No one else is listening to his BS rhetoric anymore but his base. Heck he is even dropping in the polls with Hispanics. Independents are leaving him in droves and his base is not enough to get him elected. Michelle better get use to shopping at Target..

Posted by: william | October 2, 2011, 11:24 am 11:24 am

Republicans call for corporate tax breaks almost every day. It’s ironic how they sit on their hands when it comes to small business and middle class tax breaks. Americans better start paying close attention to who’s on the American peoples side and who’s only on the side of multi-national corporations and the super rich. When GOP politicians inject the term “the American people”, they are only talking about corporate America and the wealthy. They fight against employee rights, employee benefits and anything that may help employees and mom and pop businesses. They don’t care about true small business otherwise they would have voted for the bill in 2010 that was a loan bill specifically FOR SMALL BUSINESS!! They ALL voted against it! Don’t you get it?? The GOP are in the pockets of people like the Koch brothers. Joe the plumber need not apply!!

Posted by: dan | September 10, 2011, 12:38 am 12:38 am

POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 11:26 AM++++Just how many times are you going to post that drivel??

Thank you President Obama for keeping us safe and standing up for what is right. Obama 2012!

@jim

You reposted, w/o comment, a post that mention the Kock Brothers. Outstanding. Treat yourself to a latte and change your name the next time you comment.

POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 11:29 AM+++Zzzzzzzzzzzzz….Zzzzzzzzzzzz…

RUSS | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 9:37 AM 9:37 AM posted: “Wake up and smell the coffee, Obama has accomplished ZERO his 3 years as Pres.”

Weary of this kind of misinformation. Hello? Has the Right Wing been asleep all this time? Not exactly. They have been busy blocking progress to improve a disastrous Recession that started in 2007, an entire YEAR before President Obama stepped into the White House. The Right Wing has openly admitted their goal is to destroy the Obama administration – and no matter at what the cost to the United States of America. Why do these extremists dismiss unemployed citizens and say nothing when a crowd boos a gay American soldier?

Meanwhile, the Obama administration HAS in fact worked hard to pull us out of the Recession and re-build America’s future.

International non-proliferation. Stronger Veteran’s benefits. Building and upgrading fire stations across America. Wall St reform designed to end taxpayer bailouts. Strong consumer banking protection. Wind power up 39% due to stimulus. Embryonic stem-cell research and new biomedical research. $8 billion combined public/private funding committed to develop Smart Power Grid. Funding new streetcars, buses, and transit facilities. 5 million charging stations by 2015. Returned the rights of Americans to visit and assist their families in Cuba. Dismantled the Minerals Management Service to stop oil industry and government corruption.

The U.S. did not create a terrible economic mess overnight – it will continue to take YEARS of work to restructure our economy. WE are the UNITED States of America. WE want peace and prosperity for future generations, not a stratified Gilded Age and No Banker Left Behind.

@jim
You reposted, w/o comment, a post that mention the Kock Brothers. Outstanding. Treat yourself to a latte and change your name the next time you comment.

Posted by: foggy | October 2, 2011, 11:29 am 11:29 am

POSTED BY: JIM | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 11:29 AM+++Zzzzzzzzzzzzz….Zzzzzzzzzzzz…
____________________________________

Wow. That’s the extent of your intellectual abilities? Try again, prove it wrong . .. .

Republicans call for corporate tax breaks almost every day. It’s ironic how they sit on their hands when it comes to small business and middle class tax breaks. Americans better start paying close attention to who’s on the American peoples side and who’s only on the side of multi-national corporations and the super rich. When GOP politicians inject the term “the American people”, they are only talking about corporate America and the wealthy. They fight against employee rights, employee benefits and anything that may help employees and mom and pop businesses. They don’t care about true small business otherwise they would have voted for the bill in 2010 that was a loan bill specifically FOR SMALL BUSINESS!! They ALL voted against it! Don’t you get it?? The GOP are in the pockets of people like the Koch brothers. Joe the plumber need not apply!!

@green.goddess

I can’t get past your unwillingness to come to grips with the power that Big Finance has over your party.

Cheers.

Right on cue. Keep that hatred flowing. Thanks for proving my point…..

POSTED BY: SEARAMBLER | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 11:50 AM+++LOL…I just took the opportunity to stoop to your level…

That was a quiet TV audience, so everything could be heard clearly. Much different from – for instance – a larger, louder crowd in a larger venue. The booing of an American soldier was loud and clear
===============

Every situation is going to be different,but Obama is going to have a hard time explaining why his transgressions are fine while the Republicans are dastardly.

In the last election, for example, Obama let the founders of Code Pink bundle for him. Did he ever stand up to the things they said and did about our military?
What did he say about Harvard not allowing Military recruiters on their campus? What did he say when he was a Senator and protestors used to harass the recruiting centers in San Francisco?

And for heaven’s sake, what kind of respect for our service members did Obama show as a candidate when he couldn’t remember the name of the soldier whose bracelet he was wearing, or when he wouldn’t go into the hospital at Landstuhl because his campaign advisor couldn’t come, or when he gave a “shout out” prior to addressing the Ft Worth shootings, or when he couldn’t keep his Medal of Honor winners straight?

His own actions have been problematic, you would think he would learn not to try to point fingers or act superior.

And really, I think the game of holding candidates responsible for not adequately chastising other people for their actions is just exhausting. It is nothing but an opportunity to exercise hypocrisy. “But my situation was different!” Both sides have some pretty embarrassing people supporting them. How much time and attention do we want the candidates to focus on those people?

Oh! And let’s not forget Obama’s supporters MoveOn calling General Petraeus “General Betray Us”.

Not a word from Obama against that.

I’m not making a “he did it first” argument.
I’m making a ‘be careful what standards you want to hold your opponents to, because you’ll have trouble meeting those standards yourself” argument.

In Germany they first came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the sick and gays, and I didn’t speak up because I was neither. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up. The crowd that was at this debate are not the Goldwater Republicans of the past. Thanks God that Obama won because of him we know who are all of the nutjobs whom have come out of their dark holes of hell. What you saw in the debate are Satan’s lackies in Brooks Brothers Suits. Fascism is growing rapidly in the US. Wake up America. The South will Rise Again. Republican party has been taken over by the KKK and Koch Brothers. What do you think they will do with absolute power?????

Maybee, President Obama’s actions speak louder than words. He has been very supportive of Petraeus, and upon his retirement from the military, President Obama called General David Petraeus congratulating him on an historic career of service including extraordinary contributions to our national security in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also welcomed General Petraeus as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The GOP no longer represents for the military as far as I can tell. The military is far too intelligent and well-educated to fit in with their willful ignorance and anti-science , anti-alternate energy platform. On top of that, they have frontrunning candidates who know little, if anything, about foreign policy and national security, and their platform is no federal gov’t., basically.

In one post, you list several things that didn’t occur directly in Obama’s presence, comparing apples to gravel. When was President Obama present– right there– while a soldier was being booed, most likely due to his sexual orientation?

The twisted logic of right wingers is likely one reason the GOP, its tea party, its congressional members and its presidential candidates are so unpopular and viewed so negatively by the majority of Americans, who are NOT conservative.

I’m glad the president brought up the subject. I found the booing of the gay soldier disturbing as well as the cheering on of death both in the form of executions and allowing the uninsured to die.

Posted by: Kimberly | October 2, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm +++Nice BS rant. Have you ever heard of Herman Cain? Bahaha!!!— Yes I have and he is an UNCLE TOM!!!!!!!!!

Maybee, President Obama’s actions speak louder than words.
==========

Ok, judge the actions of a person, rather than words. Don’t hold him responsible for the words of his supporters. Judge them based on the totality of their actions, not on a particular moment in time.

That sounds like a pretty decent standard.

Pres Barry: I’ll take “Can I get gay a friend?” for $500, Alex.

Let’s be honest. 99.999% of politicians are one notch below child molesters. Senator Bernie Sanders is a real patriot but there are very few Bernie Sanders in either house. That is one of the reasons why our country is in trouble. There are not enough Bernie Sander’s in our gov’t.

Posted by: Don | October 2, 2011, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm That’s one of the most ignorant and racist posts I’ve ever read anywhere. Wow.— There is nothing racist in what I am saying. The world has been going down the toilet for the past 40 years because of white economics and not white skin. White Economics has poisoned the world because people believe that if they have what most rich white people have then they will be white like them. The gilded age has returned to America and be prepared for worst things to come. Elitism == white economics and not white skin.

Maybee, your funny logic is, indeed, humorous, but not very logical. lol. I take politicians as politicians. You’re the one asking them to be something else and applying double and triple standards as a means of political posturing. At least it’s transparent, though maybe not to you.

The most consistent candidate is probably Ron Paul. And yet, I don’t think he’d a good president or a better president than Obama.

I’m glad the president brought up the subject. I found the booing of the gay soldier disturbing as well as the cheering on of death both in the form of executions and allowing the uninsured to die. The GOP, its base, its tea party and its congressional members do not represent the majority of Americans and that needs to be made crystal clear.

Speaking of deafening silence, has Obama killed more Yemenis or Mexicans? And why doesn’t the left care?

Where was Gingrich during all of this? His sister is a lesbian. Why couldn’t he speak up?

@kimberly

By refusing to even acknowledge that 200 Mexicans have been killed by weapons your government sold to drug cartels, what message are you sending?

@Foggy,

what message are YOU sending?

I don’t trust politicians, including Issa, and I find it odd that he skips mainstream media and goes directly to conservative bloggers. Why doesn’t the right find that peculiar and what message does that send to the majority of Americans, who are NOT conservative and don’t read conservative blogs which fail to fact check?

I’ll wait and see what the facts are. Sorry-but I’m not driven by ideology and emotion over reason and facts.

How about some press time about the race card Pres Barry has played since 2008. Fact or Fiction for Pres Barry?

Posted by: bl | October 2, 2011, 12:36 pm 12:36e p

Once again the right wing introduces race into the discussion and points the finger at the Democrats. A long-time standby of the right wing.

Posted by: david | October 2, 2011, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

“We don’t believe in the kind of smallness that says it’s OK for a stage full of political leaders — one of whom could end up being the President of the United States — being silent when an American soldier is booed,” Obama told a cheering crowd of gay and lesbian advocates at the annual Human Rights Campaign gala in Washington, D.C. “We don’t believe in that. We don’t believe in standing silent when that happens.”

Then, Obama spoke directly to his would-be opponents.

“You want to be commander-in-chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it’s not politically convenient,” he said.

David, that smattering of boos should have been rejected by those on stage. Silence in the presence of racism or gay bashing or misogynist talk is giving it legitimacy. Those on stage are either cowardly or agree with those who booed.

Somebody please watch the video, They did not boo the soldier, they boo’d his question about not repealing don’t ask don’t tell.

Posted by: CajunW | October 2, 2011, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm

Why should a gay soldier be booed for asking a question about a military issue about gay people?

POSTED BY: KIMBERLY | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 2:09 PM+++No Obama just has a hard time remembering that he didn’t meet a dead soldier or whose name was on the wrist band that he wore..

Posted by: allen | October 2, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm

Oh yeah, I forgot, Obama has to be perfect, you know ‘even better than the others’ just to be considered normal.

Oh yeah, I forgot, Obama has to be perfect, you know ‘even better than the others’ just to be considered normal.

POSTED BY: TERRY | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 4:01 PM+++Thats ok…He did say he wanted him and his administration held to a higher standard..

Oh yeah, I forgot, Obama has to be perfect, you know ‘even better than the others’ just to be considered normal.

POSTED BY: TERRY | OCTOBER 2, 2011, 4:01 PM+++Thats ok…He did say he wanted him and his administration held to a higher standard..

Posted by: allen | October 2, 2011, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm

No he didn’t. He said every government should be held to task. It’s only the Republican right who thinks he’s the first President who is not allowed a mistake. I mean compared to the last dude who ended up launching us into a bogus war, deficits and debt – and an almost complete economic collapse.

I heard two boos……..This is to funny. Obama really needs to get back to work and quit being childish

Where was all the outcrys from the Democrats when former President George Bush was booed at the Inaugual Address back in 2009? Why did’nt President Obama find that distastful or offensive?

Posted by: Renee Wade | October 2, 2011, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm

Bush was booed for his “accomplishments” not his sexual orientation. Same as in baseball – you can be booed for your actions on the field – that’s what happened to Bush.

Booing someone (or discriminating against someone) for their race, or sex, or sexual orientation is a different matter and is covered under human rights legislation.

Posted by: allen | October 2, 2011, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm

Allen you seem to have missed the whole gist of the issue . … start here . . .

“President Obama tonight sharply criticized the field of Republican presidential candidates for remaining silent after the booing of a gay soldier by members of the audience at the most recent GOP presidential debate.

“We don’t believe in the kind of smallness that says it’s OK for a stage full of political leaders — one of whom could end up being the President of the United States — being silent when an American soldier is booed,” Obama told a cheering crowd of gay and lesbian advocates at the annual Human Rights Campaign gala in Washington, D.C. “We don’t believe in that. We don’t believe in standing silent when that happens.”

By the way Allen, its not really acceptable to verbally abuse or verbally attack someone based on their race, sex or sexual orientation. It’s only a short step to outright bullying in the minds of the stupid. You go right ahead and roll on the floor laughing.

All this nonsense over two people booing? So they were expected take the attention off of the debate and put it on two hecklers?

Posted by: Claudia | October 2, 2011, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm

Yes, since that’s what the question focused on, it would have been absolutely appropriate for any of the candidates to make a strong, ethical comment on the booing.

O well when you got nothing you can run on I guess the left has to get desperate and grasp at straws…

Posted by: Bsquare | October 2, 2011, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm

Tell a gay kids getting beat up across the country because of prejudice that standing up for a gay soldier getting booed at is ‘grasping at straws’.

Any miltary man should have the right to ask any question he wants, as long as it’s tasteful, and not have himself or the question booed. No matter how much the tea party trys to fool the American people into to beleiving their not extremaists the more they fail. They just can’t help themselves.

I’ll take the candidates word for it that they didn’t hear the boos, but they sure as hell should have said something once they realized it happened. The silence was deafening.

I think the predsident should bring up this subject. No solider should be booed whether they are gay or not. Plain and simple. Just because he is different doesnt mean he should be disrespected.

This is what the republicans applauded that night…the number of people executited in Texas…big applause…they booed a gay soldier…an American who is fighting for them….and finally the crowd and Ron Paul said it was o.k. to let someone die who does not have health insurance. Yet, this weekend Ron Paul was sympathetic to an American who went over to the other side and was plotting to hurt us as the security says…yet he found no sympathy for the American who had no insurance. I think his loyalties are a little screwed up to me.