Obama and McCain
I’ve been one to eagerly criticize the president’s lack of aggressive action toward fulfilling his campaign promises on LGBT issues, including repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I would like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act already to be the law of the land. None of that has happened yet. Our “fierce advocate” has appeared to be less than that.
And I’ve been unhappy with that.
Then, Ana Marie Cox today interviews Senator John McCain, and I become once again thrilled to be wearing my Obama Ohio T-shirt and writing today about President Barack Obama.
In the interview today, McCain comes off as nasty and dismissive as he ever has:
McCain: I know that I have served with people that are gay. I know that, they just didn’t say it. I didn’t ask, and they didn’t tell. OK? . . . .
Policies concerning the military should be tailored to one object and one object only, and that is: how we can best secure our nation’s security, and improve our nation’s defenses. . . .
People voluntarily join up, and they know what the policies are when they join, no matter what their orientation is.
AMC: Lt. Col. Ferenbach was actually outed by a civilian. . . .
McCain: I don’t know the circumstances. I know that there are many people who are gay individuals in the military and are serving honorably under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. So, I don’t know the details, but in most cases, they’ve made the declaration themselves or there have been circumstances which make it, uh, uh um, uh, obligatory that the issue be addressed. . . .
My position is clear: The job of the military is to defend the nation. . . .
AMC: In this particular issue, however, you don’t want to voice an opinion. . . .
McCain: My opinion is shaped by the views of the leaders of the military. [Military deference, including Colin Powell's support for the policy in 1993, discussed.] I have not heard General Powell, or any of the other military leaders, reverse their position. . . . [Expert deference discussed.]
AMC: Truman desegregated the military, through executive order, and he did it against the wishes of some people in the military. . . .
McCain: Let me tell you again, Colin Powell was asked exactly that question, as an African-American, he was asked that question exactly, and he answered it hundreds of times, and he said, “I do not equate ethnicicity [sic] with sexual orientation.” I agree with that.
AMC: Well, there’s actually something to that. . . . Right now, there’s no segregation at all . . . because we don’t know who is gay, so I guess I have to ask, you said that you’ve served –
McCain: The two issues are not comparable. So, I’m not sure why you bring it up.
AMC: I think they’re comparable in that they’re both civil rights issues –
McCain: Well, you’re entitled to your opinion. I don’t think so.
So, today, I proudly wear my Obama shirt.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Chris Geidner is the senior political writer at D.C.'s Metro Weekly and has written for The Atlantic Online, Advocate.com, Salon and other publications, as well as at his blog, Law Dork. Prior to moving to D.C. in 2009, he served as an attorney on the senior staff at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and had earlier worked for a leading Columbus law firm. An extended biography can be found
Slightly wasted opportunity — if I ever got someone who positively support DADT (as opposed to being indifferent/ thinks it’s not up to the courts/ etc.) to discuss the matter, I’d want to ask, “If it’s no threat to the military for there to be gay service members, why does it make the difference based on whether they’re out or not? Why is there more unit cohesion when one guy has to lie by omission or pretend, than when he can be honest as it comes up and otherwise not get into it?”
Also, not sure why this would make you very Obama happy when he himself has done nothing to repeal DADT…one must assume that he is not convinced it is a civil rights issue either or that he simply doesn’t care if he does think it is.