Obama was speaking to America's largest gay group: Washington

America's largest gay group: Washington

US President Barack Obama has said he will end the ban on gay people serving openly in the military.
He said he would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that allows gay people to serve in the military if they do not reveal their sexual orientation.
Mr Obama was speaking to America's largest gay group - the Human Rights Campaign - in Washington.
He had been criticised by some in the gay community for the lack of action on gay marriage and the military issue.A big gay rights protest march is planned in Washington for Sunday.
Disquiet
Mr Obama was addressing thousands of gay and lesbian people at a fundraising dinner in the US capital. He said the US had made progress on gay rights and would make more.
On the military issue he said the US could not afford to lose those people who had much needed skills for fighting.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country," Mr Obama said."We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage."
Mr Obama did not give a timetable for repeal of the policy, passed by Congress in 1993, under which thousands of service members have been discharged.
The US president has repeatedly pledged to tackle issues important to the gay community.But he has faced criticism for what many in the gay community see as lack of action on his promises.Mr Obama asked the audience to trust his administration.
“I appreciate that many of you don’t believe progress has come fast enough,” Obama said. “Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach.”
A day after the president’s remarks, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he expects the ban to be lifted, but he said it’s critical that the administration have the support of military leaders.
A Republican on the committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, agreed with Levin that support within the military is important and said such a policy decision shouldn’t be based on a “campaign pledge.” Both senators appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
There was also this puzzling bit of explanation from the Nobel committee's chairman, Thorbjoern Jagland: "Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early?. Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond - all of us."
Say what? If we wait three years to actually see what the president accomplishes, it will be too late to award him the Peace Prize? Just what dread future does the Nobel committee envision?
Perhaps they are worried that with President Obama overseeing war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the Middle East remaining a tinderbox, with nuclear disarmament a near impossibility, and with climate-change treaties facing an increasingly cool reception, there is almost no hope that the president will be able to win the Peace Prize based on his record. It is therefore best to honor him for his rhetoric of change and for the committee's hopes of a better future.

President Barack Obama Restated His Campaign Pledge

Obama Restated His Campaign Pledge

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military, but many in his audience of gay activists were left wondering when he would make good on the promise.
"I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,'" Obama said Saturday night to a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000 at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group. He offered no timetable or specifics and he acknowledged some may be growing impatient.
"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough," Obama said. "Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach."
A day after the president's remarks, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he expects the ban to be lifted, but he said it's critical that the administration have the support of military leaders.
The closest thing to Barack Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize from the left-leaning Euros in 2009 is Sally Field winning the Academy Award from left-leaning Hollywood in 1985.
Call it a gush-fest.
You'll remember her acceptance speech for its faux fawning sentimentality. Field had already won an Oscar for 1979's "Norma Rae," but then she got her second one for "Places in the Heart," and decided that since she was among friends, she would let her hair down.
"...I've wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me; right now you like me!"
Apparently, that's also what we learned from the Nobel committee: They like Barack Obama; right now they like him.
“He repeated his promises that he’s made to us before, but he did not indicate when he would accomplish these goals and we’ve been waiting for a while now,” said Jones, national co-chair of a major gay-rights rally scheduled for today on the National Mall.
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said he was encouraged to hear Obama’s pledge but added “an opportunity was missed tonight.” He said his group “was disappointed the president did not lay out a timeline and specifics for repeal.”
Obama also called on Congress to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits. He also called for a law to extend benefits to domestic partners.
He expressed strong support for the HRC agenda of ending discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people but stopped short of laying out a detailed plan for how to get there.“My expectation is that when you look back on these years you will look back and see a time when we put a stop against discrimination ... whether in the office or the battlefield,” Obama said.Obama’s political energies are focused on many issues, including managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic crisis and his ambitious plan to reform the health care system.The HRC holds out hope of seeing more action.“We have never had a stronger ally in the White House. Never,” Joe Solmonese, the group’s president, said at the dinner before the president spoke.