Lt Col Fehrenbach re: barry’s reception (video)

Another missing post

July 2, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

Video clips of barry’s June 30th teleprompter reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn police raid (June 28, 1969), which went on to spark the gay rights movement. TEXT of remarks.

Folks are not so happy with barry. It started during the primaries when he refused to talk with the Philadelphia gay newspaper, which left white space where barry’s interview should have been. Then Prop 8, Rick Warren, Iraq, Eric Holder’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) brief likening gay marriage to incest and now DADT.

barry, who vowed to stop DADT during his campaign of false Hope! and Change! and Transparency! is passing the buck to Congress. From his own words it’s clear he has no intention of intervening in any way.

Over 250 servicemembers have been discharged since barry could have done something to stop it.

Several high profile gay activists boycotted a DNC – Joe Biden fundraiser in Washington, saying: “the GayTM is closed.”

Priceless.

And in a language barry understands.

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Lt Col Fehrenbach: The young officers and enlisted servicemembers he works with find it a non-issue so the “generational gap” excuse seems feasible to him. He was skeptical going in. It was the first time barry spoke about it as president so he got renewed hope.

I hope LC Fehrenbach didn’t read the transcript – because no where does barry say that he personally believes DADT is wrong and that he personally will work to get it done.

Allison Stewart wondered if it was just an appeasement of the gay community and associated photo op.

It was another chance for barry to celebrate the anniversary of something.

And this is how far they have gone to strip Lt Col Fehrenbach of his identity. Although he is still an active duty member of the military, he was told that morning he could not wear his uniform because they considered it “a political event”. An 18 year active member of the military was told he could not wear his uniform to an event at the White House hosted by his Commander in Chief.

How can his superiors do this in good conscience to a decorated pilot?

Who gave the order? barry?

A man handpicked to guard the skies over the Pentagon after it was attacked on 911 will be discharged by the very same people he was handpicked to protect.

Where is the rationality?

Because Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach and Lt Dan Choi and others will be/have been discharged from the military – how many husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters have been/will be less protected?

Some relative will be going into combat in Iraq without the leadership and experience of an Arabic-speaking, West Point graduate with two tours of combat in Iraq. Some other relative will not be lead into combat by a decorated fighter pilot, who has the judgment and experience of a 18 year veteran with over 2100 total flying hours, including 400 hours of actual combat. The value of an experience pilot was made clear with Capt Sullenberger’s successful water landing.

Lt Col Fehrenbach is irreplaceable. His dismissal will directly weaken the United States Air Force by one fighter pilot.

How is this acceptable to the Commander in Chief?

And why should a man who has served with distinction for 18 years – who has put his life directly on the line at least 88 times – be discharged for something that has nothing to do with how he or anyone else in his squadron carry out their missions?

This Week: Adm Mullen re: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Another missing post

Lt Choi/Lt Col Fehrenbach/DADT/posts/interviews

May 25, 2009

Admiral Mullen was on This Week with George Stephanopoulos yesterday and they got around to discussing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It’s perfectly clear from Adm Mullen’s words, demeanor and body language that he is going through the motions and that nothing is happening any time soon. And it appears he, personally, does not want to change anything. He speaks of the stress the force is under and says nothing about discharging a West Point Grad with two combat tours in Iraq who is fluent in Arabic and willing to do a third.

How is his discharge not adding to the stress – especially in his unit?

And if they discharge a decorated fighter pilot with 88 combat missions under his belt?

What he is saying is inherently deceitful. Wonder if he was like that to begin with or barry’s wearing off on him? He reminds me of Rumsfield.

Most telling words: That it’s his intent at some point in time to ask Congress to change this law.

Then he mentions how it would take time to implement once it became law. barry has no intent on doing anything but leaving it to Congress.

TRANSCRIPT

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me talk about the issues of gays in the military. The president has told you that he wants to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy so that gays and lesbians can serve openly in the military. And the Pentagon said this week that you personally, along with Secretary Gates, are working to address the challenges associated with implementing the president’s commitment. What exactly are you doing? And what exactly are you worried about?

MULLEN: The president has made his strategic intent very clear. That it’s his intent at some point in time to ask Congress to change this law. I think it’s important to also know that this is the law, this isn’t a policy. And for the rules to change, a law has to be changed.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And there’s legislation introduced in the Congress.

MULLEN: And there is. Exactly. And so I’ve had discussions with the Joint Chiefs about this. I’ve done certainly a lot of internal, immediate staff discussions about what the issues would be and how we…

STEPHANOPOULOS: What are they? What are the challenges?

MULLEN: Well, it’s my job as the senior military adviser to provide best advice, best military advice for the president. And what I owe him is an objective assessment of what these changes would be. What they might impact on. And there could be speculation about what that might be, but my goal would be to achieve an objective assessment of the impact, if any, of this kind of change.

How long is that going to take in military time? 3 years?

In addition, you know, I would need some time for a force that’s under a great deal of stress – we’re in our sixth year of fighting two wars — to look at if this change occurs, to look at implementing it in a very deliberate, measured way.

AKA a long time.

And what I also owe the president, and I owe the men and women in uniform, is an implementation plan to achieve this based on a timeline that would be set, obviously, after the law is changed.

barry has no intention of doing anything before the law is changed and he has the intent – but has not done so — to ask Congress “at some point” to change the law. Translation: when it becomes politically expedient – when the damage done by doing nothing is worse than his panderment to Rick Warrens et al. Folks are starting to see barry has no spine and that his words rarely match his actions–if he acts at all.

STEPHANOPOULOS: One of your predecessors, General John Shalikashvili, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs back in the early ’90s, has said he has second thoughts on this whole issue now. He was against opening up service to the gays and lesbians then. Now he’s written, “I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces. Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job.”

Is he right?

MULLEN: He’s certainly entitled to his own personal opinion. And certainly, I have the greatest respect for him. There are also lots of retired generals and admirals on the other side.

STEPHANOPOULOS: What’s your opinion?

MULLEN: And what I would hope to do in this, George, again, given the strategic intent of the president, is to avoid a polarizing debate that puts a force that’s very significantly under stress in the middle. And to get this, get to this, assuming the law is going to change, and, again, a measured, deliberate way. And that, as the senior military leader, is what I consider my principal responsibility.

The good Admiral does not answer the question and says “George” in the same fashion Br Gen Walsh said “Ma’am” to Sen Boxer. Trying to remind “George” of his rank – even though he is in George’s house.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Measured, deliberate way. So it sounds like if the Congress calls you up to testify in this, you’re going to say now is not the time to repeal?

MULLEN: No, I actually — I’m going to talk to the process that we have in this country, which is we follow the law, and if the law changes, we’ll comply. There’s absolutely no question about that.

And what are the chances of it being passed if barry says nothing? He basically says he doesn’t seeing it changing.

————————-

STEPHANOPOULOS: We have a couple of minutes left. I want to ask you about working with President Obama as the commander in chief. You’ve been doing it for about four months now, a little bit more than four months. What have you learned about the president as commander in chief? And is he performing as you expected?

MULLEN: It’s very rare with any kind of major issue that the president doesn’t initially ask, OK, where are we going here? What’s our end stake? And then developing a strategic view of how to get there and the major pieces with respect to that. That he is developing policies and policy objectives that the military can support, and the policy and the strategy are very clear.

And I’m not a policy and a strategy guy. I’m — you know, the military basically supports what the president wants, the decisions that he makes. And he has done that, he has done that in Iraq, he has done that in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. And I find that to be — to be a method that gives the military the kind of focus it needs for where we’re going.

By deferring to the people in the room and then deciding.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Has he surprised you in any way?

MULLEN: No, not really. I mean, I met him before the — I think a week or so after he was elected. We had very frank conversations about our positions on various issues, in terms of how we saw things. He was very clear about what he wants to do.

He’s a very bright, focused individual. He takes a diversity of opinion, and then he is — he is as every president is, you know, he knows he has to make decisions. He has made them, he has made hard ones, and I think he will continue to do so.

After listening to people who know what they’re talking about.

Dear Admiral Mullen:

Do you think barry is capable of making a decision of global import in 30 seconds without any advisors nearby?

Maddow: Lt Col Fehrenbach update (6-23)

Another missing post

Lt Choi/Lt Col Fehrenbach/DADT/posts/interviews

June 24, 2009

Rachel Maddow gets an update from Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach. He was on her show a month ago and it was the first time his coworkers found out about anything. He said only 10 people had known and they were all involved in the case. He has gotten universal support at work and remains hopeful that barry will keep his word.

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Lt Col FEHRENBACH: Surprisingly, there’s been absolutely no change at work.

First day back there was a squadron meeting with the Commander who made mention of Lt Col Fehrenbach’s appearance “media event”.

Lt Col FEHRENBACH:

[The Commander said] ‘Everyone in the squadron is a valued member of the team [aka inconsistent with good order conduct and morale] and no one should be treated differently, and that everyone should go about their business and execute the mission.’

And my squadron has done just that the last month. It says alot about their professionalism and dedication as well as the professionalism of dedication of everyone in the military. It just shows that this policy is antiquated and needs to go.

Can the entire military handle it?

Military people are professionals — they’re dedicated to the misssion and they get the job done.

I don’t think this is unique to me at all. We prove on a daily basis that we now have an openly gay person serving in our squadron and our squadron didn’t fall apart – people didn’t quit. They’re doing the mission – as well as the entire fighter wing. Everyone has gone about their business.

Maddow reads a comment posted on Atlantic Monthly written by a 26 year active duty Master Sargeant who was supervised by Lt Col Fehrenbach. He described himself as an “unwavering Christian Conservative” and said Fehrenbach was “one of the best supervisors [he] has ever known” and that Fehrenbach’s “service to his country should never be overlooked because of who he loves or what he does outside of duty“. That he “supports Lt Col Fehrenbach 100%” and that he “will pray our institution will make the right decision to allow him to continue to serve with honor and dignity”.

Fehrenbach says he’s received thousands of messages of support – family, friends, strangers and coworkers. And aviators he’s flown in combat with who said “Dude, I’ll go to war with you tomorrow.”

It takes about 5 months after the board recommends discharge till it passes through to the Secretary of the Air Force and the final disposition made. Watch his face (5:20) when he says he could “still be saved by any kind of action from our Commander in Chief.“

Fehrenbach will be attending (guest of the [?] Members Legal Defense Fund) barry’s White House Reception honoring the LGBT community and commemorating the Stonewall Inn Riots.

What would he say to barry?

Lt Col FEHRENBACH:

I would love to tell that him I want to continue to serve. That it’s been my dream — that it’s been to my entire life – I want to serve my country. I would like to ask him when he plans on saying or doing something about it – when he plans to keep his promise to all of us to be able to continue to serve, and end discrimination, and to stand up for equal rights for all Americans.

MADDOW: You hopeful?

Lt Col FEHRENBACH:

I am still hopeful.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

July 8, 2009

Lt Choi/Lt Col Fehrenbach/DADT/posts/interviews

Factoids re: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT):

• 65,000 active servicemembers gay and lesbian Americans currently serving on active duty
• 12,500 discharged because of DADT
• At least 265 discharged since barry could do something about it

• Discharged because of DADT in the last 5 years:

• 800 mission-critical troops
• At least 59 Arabic linguists
• 9 Farsi linguists

• 1994-2003 financial cost of DADT = $363.8 M
• More than 100 retired admirals and generals support the repeal

And who are they replaced with? Convicted felons. (Source April 2008: AP)

• 2006 – 249 convicted felons admitted to Army, including 1 manslaughter, 2 sex crimes, 2 negligent or vehicular homicide, 1 terror threat.
• 2006 – 208 convicted felon admitted to Marines, including 1 sex crime, 2 terror threats (including bomb threats)
• 2006 – 48 convicted felons admitted to Navy — 3 terror or bomb threats

• 2007 – 180,000 recruits taken in by all branches of Armed Forces
• 2007 – 18% of recruits needed conduct waivers

• 2007 – 511 convicted felons admitted to the Army — a bit more than half were various types of thefts, ranging from burglaries to bad checks and stolen cars, 130 were for drug offenses, 2 manslaughter, 5 sex crimes, 3 negligent or vehicular homicide, 2 terror threats (including bomb threats)
• 2007 – 350 convicted felon admitted to Marines — 235 various types of thefts, 63 were for assaults or robberies that may also have included use of a weapon, 1 manslaughter, 4 sex crimes, 5 terror threats (including bomb threats)
• 2007 – Zero convicted felons admitted to Air Force
• 2007 – 42 convicted felons in the Navy — thefts or drug and drunk driving convictions 2 terror or bomb threats

• Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. JONATHAN WITHINGTON: “Waivers are used judiciously and granted only after a thorough review.”
• Sexual crime convicted felon, ok.
• 18 year, 9-time decorated USAF fighter pilot with 400 combat hours, not.

• Lt Col WITHINGTON: “low unemployment, a protracted war on terror, a decline in propensity to serve” make recruiting a challenge.
• Manslaughter convicted felon, ok.
• West Point Grad, Arab linguist with two tours in Iraq and willing to do a third, not.

• Army Lt. Gen. JAMES D THURMAN, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations:
• We are growing the Army fast and there are some waivers; we know that. It hasn’t alarmed us yet….the better part of making soldiers is about leadership. Somebody invested in me, you know. That’s the beauty of the United States Army. It’s about leadership … You’ve got to give people an opportunity to serve.

And those who have been leaders are discharged?

In support of Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach

DADT/Lt Choi/Fehrenbach posts/interviews

July 7, 2009

How did Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach skills as a USAF pilot suddenly change once his sexual orientation was known?

Did Commander in Chief Clinton lose his ability to lead once that girl crawled out from under the desk?

Consider the crime and the punishment:

A married Republican governor and once talked about potential commander in chief, who in front of the whole world chose to leave the country to commit adultery with his foreign adultress on Father’s Day – instead of spending it with his four sons and the woman he took a vow before God to honor and love until death and who, when he was caught, initially lied about it.

A 9-time decorated 18-year USAF fighter pilot with 400 hours of combat and 88 successful combat missions, whose personal life has nothing to do with what he does in the cockpit and whose coworkers weren’t aware until he spoke out in support of his unnecessarily discharged fellow servicemembers, who also volunteered to risk their life for that governor and his family and the Commander in Chief and his family

Who was told his existence in the workplace was inconsistent with good order, discipline and morale?

The decorated fighter pilot with an impeccable record who did not choose his sexual orientation or the man who intentionally chose to ignore his wedding vows and shame his entire family by intentionally committing adultery and engaging in sex acts that he had free will not to do?

Which of the men is able to fight his dismissal?

Which of the men will retire with a full pension?

Who has undoubtedly saved many Americans’ lives?

Who has never abandoned his post?

Whose career will effectively be ended because of something entirely unrelated to his stellar job performance?

Who is being discriminated against with full knowledge of the President of the United States?

*

Lt Col Fehrenbach:

I find it immensely sad that your first inclination was to go without a fight. That a decorated combat veteran of 18 years – a man who willingly risked his life 88 separate times and had the skill to return 88 times – would have to face such a choice.

And it is unconscionable that the USAF would tell you your presence is ‘inconsistent with good order discipline and morale’ and that you weren’t worthy enough as a still active military man to wear your uniform to the White House to meet your commander in chief.

There is something so fundamentally wrong with what they are/have been doing to you that I can’t grasp how the man ultimately responsible can look you in the eye and tell you to just wait. That he sees no urgency in stopping the discharge of a pilot who is irreplaceable.

Please don’t give up.

Please fight for what you are owed – which at the very minimum is respect and gratitude for all you’ve done for our country.

As a civilian daughter of a WWII veteran, I am ashamed that they are willing to discount your worth for something that should have no bearing on anything and for 18 years did not.

Thank you for coming forward so we know who you are and what you have done to safeguard our freedoms. It’s criminal you are not awarded the same.

Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach facing discharge after 18 years

July 1, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

Just because of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

I was aware of 1Lt Dan Choi [follow link above]but I was not aware of USAF combat pilot Lt Col Fehrenbach. Here’s some background info from Congress’ letter (77 Reps) to barry asking him to suspend investigations and discharges in regards to DADT:

Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach, Assistant Director of Operations for the 366^th Operations Support Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, has honorably served his country for 18 years as an F-15E pilot. He has received nine air medals, including a Medal for Heroism during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and was hand-picked to protect the airspace over Washington, D.C. after the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2001. Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach, who has flown combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan against the Taliban and al Qaeda, continues to serve while the recommendation for his honorable discharge moves forward to a review board, and eventually to the Secretary of the Air Force. Just two years away from his 20-year retirement, he stands to lose $46,000 a year in retirement and medical benefits for the rest of his life if discharged.

His entire life’s work this far.

• 88 Combat missions
• 2,188 Total flying hours
• 1,487 Fighter hours
• 400 Combat hours

18 years spent defending our country thrown away because of something that has nothing to do with the performance of his duty.

It is unthinkable that the Pentagon would allow this to continue.

It is unconscionable that the Commander in Chief would allow such blatant discrimination.

And there are no words to describe the President of the United States’ cowardice in pretending he can’t do anything.

He can.

He can suspend discharges immediately with an executive order.

He can lobby Congress like he has already done.

He can, with one swipe of the pen, prevent a man–who was awarded a medal for his heroism–from losing a job that only a select few are capable of and which benefits every American.

Here is Lt Col Fehrenbach discussing his case with Rachel Maddow. He was told that his presence was inconsistent with good order, discipline and morale when no one in his squadron or anyone else he works with even knew about the case and will only be learning about it because of this interview.

They should be honest and say – you are an excellent pilot who has performed his duty with distinction but we have no choice in the matter. They shouldn’t say such crap to a man of this caliber who has served 18 years.

NewsPoliticsNews

Born on an Air Force base – his family is Air Force – he’s been Air Force for 18 years. When he found out that allegations has been made in May 2008 he was “absolutely devastated“ & felt it was “end of his life as he knew it“.

When he was served papers in September 2008, he said he initially “just wanted it to go away” and to have “a quick, quiet, fair, honorable discharge”.

Then he thought he could use his unique perspective to speak out and help others because he had faith barry was going to do what he promised and he decided to fight it.

MADDOW: Did you think that President Obama if he were to be elected was going to end the policy?

FEHRENBACH: I did. I had tremendous hope around September and that’s actually when I reversed my position and decided to fight. Because I did have hope that President Obama would follow through on his commitment to change the policy and initiate a policy of nondiscrimination.

….I would hope that the president moves fast and fulfills his promise to us and proposes a policy of nondiscrimination.

I did…I had…I did have…would…I would hope. Not good.

I hope for your sake, Lt Col, that for once barry does something out of “character”.

As is, from his own words and body language and his minions’ comments, he has no intention of doing anything – either personally or as a lobbyist on your behalf.

Lt Col Fehrenbach told Herr Olbermann on Countdown that barry looked him in the eye and said he would get it done.

And for the first time, Olbermann said something truthful regarding barry. That as concerns DADT:

“The President is goddamned wrong!”.

barry: LGBT reception remarks

July 3, 2009

Take note that he waited as long as he could to have his little reception. Was probably hoping something would come up.

Lt Choi/DADT posts/interviews

June 29, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT LGBT PRIDE MONTH RECEPTION [partial transcript - emphasis added]

18 minutes of nothing. He does not actually say anywhere what he believes in especially when he gets to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He actually says he must be a responsible c-i-c during a time of war. How is discharging West Point grads, fluent in Arabic, with two tours of Iraq and more than willing to do a third, in any way responsible?

After greeting and introductions.

You have my thanks for the work you do every day in pursuit of equality on behalf of the millions of people in this country who work hard and care about their communities — and who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

Now this struggle, I don’t need to tell you, is incredibly difficult, although I think it’s important to consider the extraordinary progress that we have made.

“We”? What has he actually done?

There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop. And though we’ve made progress, there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.

So do something. Now.

And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives…For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts.

Yes. His. Does anyone believe that he would do anything if he didn’t have to as head of the Democratic Party? I sure don’t.

And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington.

Sure looks that way.

Indeed, that’s the story of the movement for fairness and equality — not just for those who are gay,

Yes it is – for those in the room – for those who he is talking to it’s about nothing else. It’s a gay pride month celebration – not a generic oppressed person’s reception.

but for all those in our history who’ve been denied the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; who’ve been told that the full blessings and opportunities of this country were closed to them. It’s the story of progress sought by those who started off with little influence or power; by men and women who brought about change through quiet, personal acts of compassion and courage and sometimes defiance wherever and whenever they could.

He mentions Frank Kameny, fired as an astronomer because he was gay, the Stonewall protests and HIV/AIDS.

So this story, this struggle, continues today – for even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot — and will not — put aside issues of basic equality. We seek an America in which no one feels the pain of discrimination based on who you are or who you love.

And I know that many in this room don’t believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that. It’s not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago.

But I say this: We have made progress and we will make more. And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I’ve made, but by the promises that my administration keeps. And by the time you receive — [interrupted by applause. What was the rest of this sentence?] We’ve been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.

In 4 years or 8?

And how many partners will have died alone because their partner wasn’t allowed to be with them?

How many more brave Americans are going to be dismissed from the military – losing the pension and benefits that they risked their lives for?

How many more children are going to go unloved and abused in group homes because gay couples were prevented from adopting them?

How many survivors are going to be destitute because they were unable to receive their partner’s benefits?

How many partners will go without basic physical, dental and mental health care because they were excluded?

How many will be victims of a crime that goes unpunished as a hate crime because they are not one of the recognized “groups” ?

He recites all he’s done…

Now, while there is much more work to do, we can point to important changes we’ve already put in place since coming into office. I’ve signed a memorandum requiring all agencies to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as current law allows.

Nothing about changing it. He had to because of Secretary Clinton.

And these are benefits that will make a real difference for federal employees and Foreign Service Officers, who are so often treated as if their families don’t exist. And I’d like to note that one of the key voices in helping us develop this policy is John Berry, our director of the Office of Personnel Management, who is here today.

Then he has the nerve to mention DOMA – after he allowed it be passed.

I’ve called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act to help end discrimination — (applause) — to help end discrimination against same-sex couples in this country. Now, I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides. And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law. I’ve made that clear.

Mentions Matthew Shepard’s parents and the hate crimes bill.

I’m also urging Congress to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, which will guarantee the full range of benefits, including health care, to LGBT couples and their children. My administration is also working hard to pass an employee non-discrimination bill and hate crimes bill, and we’re making progress on both fronts. Judy and Dennis Shepard, as well as their son Logan, are here today. I met with Judy in the Oval Office in May — and I assured her and I assured all of you that we are going to pass an inclusive hate crimes bill into law, a bill named for their son Matthew.

In addition, my administration is committed to rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status. The Office of Management and Budget just concluded a review of a proposal to repeal this entry ban, which is a first and very big step towards ending this policy…And that’s why this past Saturday, on National HIV Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested.

Curious how he doesn’t say what his status is. He waits till the end to mention DADT.

And finally, I want to say a word about “don’t ask, don’t tell.“ As I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our national security. In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.

Where did he say that it was discriminatory. Where did he say what HE thinks about it?

Now, my administration is already working with the Pentagon and members of the House and the Senate on how we’ll go about ending this policy, which will require an act of Congress.

That may be true but it does not mean he can’t do anything. He can sign an order to suspend investigations and dismissals because of DADT. Exactly what 77 Members of Congress requested he do in a letter sent 6-22. If DADT discriminated just against Black servicemembers would there even be a discussion?

Someday, I’m confident, we’ll look back at this transition and ask why it generated such angst, [the policy to his non-reaction?] but as Commander-in-Chief, in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term.

Precisely. But immediately – not in the long term. Since he took office at least 265 servicemembers have been dismissed, including Arab linguists.

Is there anything more important right now than troops – trained troops – in particular Arabic/Farsi speaking ones? He just said he is not going to do anything: someday…time of war (which it still will be in 4 years) …practical…long term. He normally operates by polling and 3/4 Americans believe DADT should be done away with. And yet, he is doing nothing and has no intention of doing anything.

Knights Out and other groups – you are going to need to get LOUD and in his face. Every day. Are there any out reporters in the WH press corps? What’s Helen Thomas’ stand? What about Joe Biden? You are going to have to hammer away and make it so it is politically expedient for him to suspend it. And there is no way that is going to happen unless he’s forced. It’s clear what he thinks of the LGBT community. But DADT goes beyond into every community. 3 out of 4 Americans are on your side – use them. Lt Choi stay visible and keep mentioning that you speak fluent Arabic. Drive home how important it was to be able to communicate with Iraqis one on one. Lt Col Fehrenbach make sure as many people as possible know that barry looked you in the eye and made a promise. He’s already passing the buck.

That’s why I’ve asked the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal.

And non-thoroughly he could stop the discharges. Today.

I know that every day that passes without a resolution is a deep disappointment to those men and women who continue to be discharged under this policy — patriots who often possess critical language skills and years of training and who’ve served this country well. But what I hope is that these cases underscore the urgency of reversing this policy not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is essential for our national security.

That is as much an understatement as it gets. Never even mentions Lt Choi whose hearing was the next day. And “these cases” are human beings – Americans - who volunteered knowing that they would not be able to be themselves and yet they loved their country so much they volunteered anyway. And after combat tours they get discharged without full benefits and pensions. $40k/yr, an education and medical care is more than a disappointment – it is an existence. And it is something they are owed – no matter what gender their partner is. And barry as their ultimate commander should be taking care of every single one of them.

Now, even as we take these steps, we must recognize that real progress depends not only on the laws we change but, as I said before, on the hearts we open. For if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that there are good and decent people in this country who don’t yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters — not yet.

What about him? He states nothing personal. If he is so determined – then why doesn’t he say his beliefs out loud? What effect would they have on the military leaders and Congress? Instead, he thinks about how it will affect his future.

Are there any LGBT servicemembers who have taken video of what they have survived in combat only to be discharged? Are there any documentaries? Can you get discharged servicemembers — as many as you can of the 265 discharged since he’s been in office – to make 30 second videos and post them on YouTube? What about distinct incidences that went bad (other than 9-11 intelligence) because there was no Arabic-speaking servicemember?

What he’s going to do? Talk.

That’s why I’ve spoken about these issues not just in front of you, but in front of unlikely audiences — in front of African American church members, in front of other audiences that have traditionally resisted these changes. And that’s what I’ll continue to do so. That’s how we’ll shift attitudes. That’s how we’ll honor the legacy of leaders like Frank and many others who have refused to accept anything less than full and equal citizenship.

Forget shifting attitudes. He needs to become a man of his word by taking a stand as commander in chief and doing something other than telepromptering. He never mentions the real group he is pandering to by doing nothing – it’s not the jermiah wrights – it’s the Rick Warrens.

The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you — or, for that matter, I — (laughter) — would be standing here today. So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country. That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress — step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a President who fights with you and for you.

The only way they are going to know that is if you do something, barry. Now – not in 4 years. In 6 months you’ve turned off some of your base and repeatedly dissed the LGBT community. What are the chances the evangelicals and other minds that need changing are even going to listen to you on another 6?

You, Sir, are a coward, and by no means or stretch of the imagination, a man of your word.

Think: Iraq.

And in no sense can you call yourself Commander in Chief when you do not care equally about each and every servicemember, as evidenced by your intentional non-action and doubletalk on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Letter to Pres Obama from Vietnam Vet re: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Very pleasant surprise. A missing post that I found in the cache.

July 2, 2009

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell/Lt Choi/posts/interviews

This letter was in the comment section of the “Petition to POTUS to prevent Lt Dan Choi from being fired” post that I’ve been meaning to enter. It is an open letter from Vietnam Veteran, BILL STODDART to barry. I’m posting it because I think Mr Stoddart deserves to be heard and Lt Choi should get to hear his support and the chances are better in a main post than in the comment section. I don’t think Mr Stoddart would mind since his intent was to get his message to POTUS but I didn’t include his name in the title just in case.

Text unchanged – typos addressed and spacing added.

Submitted on 2009/06/21 at 9:34pm

Mr. President,

I served in the US military from 8/66 thru 8/69. One of these three years was with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam.

It just amazes me that the mere fact of my sexual orientation, even today, if discovered would prevent me from serving my country.

Because of low enlistment rates, the military continues to lower it’s applicant expectations. Today, even convicted felons are permitted to enlist. Yet a law abiding gay or lesbian American is not permitted to serve simply because of who they are.

The US stands alone as the only major world power that discriminates in this way. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is just like the “Separate But Equal” policy of the 60’s and 70’s that promoted segregation. The Supreme Court ruled that the will of the majority should never be used to subject the rights of a minority and that “Separate But Equal” was inherently “unequal”.

The Pentagon is complaining that we don’t have enough qualified linguists serving in Iraq. Yet, within the last few years, a whole group of servicemen serving in Iraq (and fluent in Arabic) were discharged simply because of who they were.

I fully realize that there are many issues on your plate at this time. HOWEVER, how can we portray ourselves as the beacon of democracy in the world if we permit this type of blatant homophobia at home!!

Do what you promised to do Mr President and abolish “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell today!!

Respectfully,

Bill Stoddart

Rachel Maddow Show: Lt Dan Choi statement (6-30)

June 30, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

Short statement from Lt Dan Choi on the Rachel Maddow Show – Allison Stewart sitting in.

Military Board in Syracuse, NY recommended firing Lt Choi – even though all the witnesses on both sides said he was asset to the unit. He’s an asset to the entire United States.

Don’t acquiesce, don’t settle

1LT DAN CHOI:

I’m disappointed, but I need to send a message to my soldiers that if you get knocked down, get yourself back up and keep fighting. What kind of officer or leader would I be if I gave up?

He plans on fighting all the way to the Secretary of Defense or to the Supreme Court, if necessary. barry could have suspended Lt Choi’s discharge before it got to this point. Another barry false promise.

List of Representatives backing suspending DADT

July 1, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

List of the Members of Congress who signed the letter to the president requesting that he “Suspend “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and Initiate Bilateral Repeal Process”. Meaning no more investigations and discharge of service members in the Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation. He pretends he is powerless but as Commander in Chief they have to take his orders. Problem is he is too weak to do so. He feels it’s more politically expedient to avoid the gays in the military and the LGBT Community in general because of his need to pander to the Bible Belt. The gay community is not exactly going to defect to the Republicans. They need to stop being so polite. Unless he is forced – he is not going to do anything.

REPRESENTATIVES: 77 out of 435

Alan Grayson (D-FL)
André Carson (D-IN)
Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Barney Frank (D-MA)
Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Bill Delahunt (D-MA)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Chaka Fattah (D-PA)

David Wu (D-OR)
Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-FL)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Diane Watson (D-CA)
Donna F. Edwards (D-MD)
Donna M. Christensen (D-VI)
Doris Matsui (D-CA)

Ed Pastor (D-AZ)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)

Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-CA)

Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Gregorio Sablan (D-MP)
Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

James Clyburn (D-SC)
James Langevin (D-RI)
James McGovern (D-MA)
James Moran (D-VA)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Jane Harman (D-CA)
Jared Polis (D-CO)
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
John Larson (D-CT)
José Serrano (D-NY)
Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Linda Sánchez (D-CA)
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Lois Capps (D-CA)
Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)
Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)
Melvin Watt (D-NC)
Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Mike Honda (D-CA)
Mike Quigley (D-IL)

Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)

Peter Welch (D-VT)
Phil Hare (D-IL)

Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-VA)
Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Rush Holt (D-NJ)

Shelley Berkley (D-NV)

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Tim Bishop (D-NY)

William Lacy Clay (D-MO)

Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Olbermann: “the President is goddamned wrong”

Lt Choi posts/interviews

June 30, 2009

Herr Olbermann speaks out against barry as far as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He brings up the obvious point that needs to be hammered at. barry is Commander in Chief. They have to follow his orders. He doesn’t need to wait for a “generational gap” to pass. He doesn’t have to wait until Congress changes things. He can stop discharges. He can suspend investigations. He can make a stand. But he won’t. The gay community has always been expendable to him and they saw that with DOMA. [Secretary Clinton led the way in getting same sex partners benefits.] The polls are in his favor – but his panderment takes precedent. The value of gaining more barryfans is greater than the chance of losing the LGBT community — because where are they going to go?

What’s Rachel Maddow saying lately – other than blaming “birthers” for that crazy man who killed at the Holocaust Museum? Have to repost that video – unfortunately it was hand transcribed and no way I’m doing that again.

Video courtesy of RAWSTORY.

TRANSCRIPT

OLBERMANN: Marking the anniversary of the modern gay rights movement in front of those now fighting for it, the president likened the struggle to past civil rights battles, then listed his administration‘s accomplishments towards achieving equality, with one exception, repealing Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell. In our third story, four decades after the Stonewall riots, the president faces criticism that he is stone-walling. In the East Room, Mr. Obama telling members of the gay community and their families, welcome to your White House. Then addressing the elephant in the East Room, the 16-year-old policy banning gays from openly serving in the military.

=========video clip===========
OBAMA: I believe Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell doesn‘t contribute to our national security. In fact, I believe—I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.
=========video end===========

OLBERMANN: And while Mr. Obama also pledged to work with the Pentagon and Congress to repeal the policy, the commander in chief gave no firm time line. Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, one of those discharged under Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell, attended the ceremony last night, and spoke with the president.

VICTOR FEHRENBACH, DISCHARGED FROM ARMY THROUGH DON‘T ASK DON‘T TELL:

[Look at this man's resume and ask yourself why his sexual orientation matters. Do you know they take convicted felons in the army? I hope Lt Col Fehrenbach doesn't let barry rest on this. A look in the eye doesn't mean much from barry. How many times did he look The American People in the eye about Iraq?]

FEHRENBACH: He looked at me right in the eye and he said, we are going to get this done. And then he continued to say, you know, everyone seems to be on board with it. We have about 75 percent of the public that supports this. What we have is a generational issue, so there‘s some convincing to do, that there‘s a generational gap, it seems, in some of the senior leadership.

[Why can't barry be honest just for once? Why does the C-I-C have to "convince" anyone?]

OLBERMANN: Earlier tonight, a military board recommending that Lieutenant Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran Arabic linguist, be discharged from service. If that recommendation holds, Choi will become the 266th service member to fall victim to Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell since President Obama took office in January. Joining us now is activist Dan Savage, author of “The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage and My Family.” Thanks for some of your time tonight, sir.

DAN SAVAGE, ACTIVIST: Thank you for having me, Keith.

OLBERMANN: Is it times like this where the president needs to be reminded he‘s also commander in chief of the military? Is there an argument to be made that he can‘t somehow use that authority to end this process?

SAVAGE: There is an argument to be made. And last week, 78 members of the Congress made just that argument in a letter to the president to encouraging to use his authority as commander in chief to suspend enforcement of Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell, and end the discharges of gay and lesbian service members like Choi and Fehrenbach. He has that authority. You see over at the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano has used just that authority to suspend enforcement of something called the widowers penalty, which is a law that requires people who have been married to a U.S. citizen for less than two years, whose spouse dies, to be deported.

Napolitano wants that law changed. She thinks it‘s cruel and inhumane. And she suspended enforcement while Congress, quote/unquote, works on a fix. She seems to have authorities and powers that the president, her boss, commander in chief, does not? It‘s really quite shocking that everyone in that room would applaud so politely when the president stood there and pretended like he couldn‘t end at least enforcement of Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell today, right now.

OLBERMANN: What Lieutenant Colonel Fehrenbach said after the conversation he had with the president last night is that the president told him there was this generational gap to deal with. But even the oldest man in the Army is not required to follow the orders of the president of the United States? What is—it feels like—does it not feel like this to you, being directly involved in this, and to me as sort of on the sidelines, that there‘s something that he‘s hinting at, that Obama is hinting that, that is just not getting through to anybody?

SAVAGE: Well, he‘s the president. He doesn‘t have to blink out distress signals. He can issue orders. Yes, there may be a generation gap. There was a much bigger and wider and more problematic generation gap when Truman ordered the military to integrate racially. If Truman had waited for everyone to be on board—the president himself said 75 percent of the country supports the end of Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell. How many more retrograde bigots do we need to wait to come up to speed before the president moves at least on suspending Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell. And then demanding that Congress repeal it.

OLBERMANN: Is there—he said generational. Is there also a religious thing going on here? Is Obama coming up against the organized fundamentalists, proselytizers who look at the military and so these fertile fields for indoctrination among the new recruits, and, of course, the indoctrination of the more of these restrictive religions, components that include homophobia?

SAVAGE: Perhaps. Obama does seem to have kind of a hang-up when it comes to wanting to find common ground with the likes of Rick Warren and fundamentalist Christians, who are never going to see eye to eye with him on gay and lesbian issues.

If he is our fierce advocate, if he is our champion, as he described himself last night at the White House, he needs to stop pandering to religious conservatives.

Not all religious people oppose equal rights for gays and lesbians. Many religious organizations and people have endorsed marriage equality and endorsed the appeal of Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell. The president needs to worry more about those religious people, and less about Rick Warren and his ilk.

OLBERMANN: Was there any silver lining in this for you? Did you see anything to suggest there‘s progress within the administration?

SAVAGE: Well, we, once again, got a reiteration of the promises the president made to the gay and lesbian community. We got them know as president, as opposed to as candidate Obama. And there was tremendous symbolic value to what happened at the White House yesterday. I don‘t want to discount that.

However, there‘s been very little action, very little progress. And what comes out of the president‘s mouth doesn‘t seem to translate into policy. And we didn‘t—we got the promises when he was candidate Obama.

What we want now is actually we want the fierce urgency of now. People are being discharged from the military now. People are being turned away from their partner‘s bedsides during medical emergencies now.

We weren‘t sold the fierce urgency of maybe in my second term or I‘ll get to it or one day or wait, have patience. We want these promises fulfilled now.

[barry took care of Gitmo on day one and yet has allowed 266 servicemembers to be discharged since that first day - including Arab linguists. He's a damn joke.]

OLBERMANN: Yes. On two levels, A, human rights and, B, by the way, we need all of the Arab linguists we can find. I don‘t care what they look like, what they do, or who they are. The president is god damned wrong on this. Dan Savage, author and activist, thank you for being here.

SAVAGE: Thank you for having me, Keith.

Lt Choi letter to Members of Congress

June 29, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

Lt Choi letter posted in AM/FIX Blog in conjunction with his American Morning appearance - though it was written back in May I believe. I thought we posted it before. 77 members of Congress stand behind Lt Choi. Their letter in a following post.

This letter is both profoundly courageous and profoundly sad – especially this:

When I receive emails from deployed soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone, and even suicidal because the torment of rejection and discrimination, I remember my leadership training: soldiers cannot feel alone, especially in combat.

Why should any American who volunteered to risk their life to help preserve our freedoms not be given the same freedoms?

How is DADT any different than the segregation of Black soldiers in WWII?

And why should 1Lt Choi, who has spent 10 years in the service, including two tours of combat in Iraq, have to beg the President and Congress not to fire him?

Lt. Daniel Choi is an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic who has dismissed from the military for saying “I am gay”.

By Lt. Daniel Choi
Special to CNN

Open Letter to President Obama and Every Member of Congress:

I have learned many lessons in the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country. The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.

At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught us to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.” The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort.

Following the Honor Code never bowed to comfortable timing or popularity. Honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why I refuse to lie about my identity.

I have personally served for a decade under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: an immoral law and policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception and lying. These values are completely opposed to anything I learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.

As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates. I demand honesty and courage from my soldiers. They should demand the same from me.

I am committed to applying the leadership lessons I learned at West Point. With 60 other LGBT West Point graduates, I helped form our organization, Knights Out, to fight for the repeal of this discriminatory law and educate cadets and soldiers after the repeal occurs. When I receive emails from deployed soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone, and even suicidal because the torment of rejection and discrimination, I remember my leadership training: soldiers cannot feel alone, especially in combat. Leaders must reach out. They can never diminish the fighting spirit of a soldier by tolerating discrimination and isolation. Leaders respect the honor of service. Respecting each soldier’s service is my personal promise.

The Department of the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23rd. I will not lie to you; the letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me. It is a slap in the face to my soldiers, peers and leaders who have demonstrated that an infantry unit can be professional enough to accept diversity, to accept capable leaders, to accept skilled soldiers.

My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professional.

Further, they are respectable infantrymen who work as a team. Many told me that they respect me even more because I trusted them enough to let them know the truth. Trust is the foundation of unit cohesion.

After I publicly announced that I am gay, I reported for training and led rifle marksmanship. I ordered hundreds of soldiers to fire live rounds and qualify on their weapons. I qualified on my own weapon. I showered after training and slept in an open bay with 40 other infantrymen. I cannot understand the claim that I “negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard.” I refuse to accept this statement as true.

As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.

When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.

Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.

Very Respectfully,

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard

Lt Dan Choi posts/interviews

July 1, 2009

This is easier than trying to link up each post. You can see the link and find what you’re interested in. The ones without links I’m in the process of posting.

Lt Choi posts/interviews

March 19 Conspiracy at the Rachel Maddow show involving Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

March 21 Lt Dan Choi: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has got to go (video)

April 29 Lt Dan Choi’s speech at U of C San Diego

May 6 Lt Dan Choi kicked out of Guard b/c he’s gay (video)

May 7 Rachel Maddow: Lt Dan Choi re: his dismissal from the Army (video)

May 8 Lt Dan Choi on CNN’s American Morning

May 8 How do you say “Don’t ask, don’t tell” in Arabic?

May 27 Petition to POTUS to prevent Lt Dan Choi from being fired

June 29 American Morning: Lt Dan Choi (video)

June 29 1Lt Choi’s letter to POTUS/Members of Congress

June 29 Letter from Congress asking POTUS to suspend DADT

June 29 List of Members of Congress (77) backing Lt Choi

June 30 Final judgment: Lt Choi kicked out of Army

June 30 Herr Olbermann sounds off (video)

July 1 Letter from Vietnam Veteran to POTUS re: DADT

July 1 In support of Lt Choi and LGBT members of Armed Forces

July 1 Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach also facing dismissal under DADT

American Morning: Lt Dan Choi

June 29, 2009

Lt Choi posts/interviews

Lt Dan Choi was on CNN’s American Morning discussing the impending final decision as to whether he is dismissed from the Army simply because he said “I am gay.” A West Point Grad and Arab linguist, a man who served two combat tours in Iraq and wanted to do a third, is being thrown out of the Army for something that was born with him as much as heterosexuality was to the Commander in Chief.

How does the West Point code of honor square with the silence of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

More than 12,500 gays and lesbians – including dozens of Arabic linguists — have been forced to leave the military since DADT went into effect. And estimated 65,000 LGBT are actively serving in the Armed Forces.

Video courtesy of RAW REPLAY. First time a CNN video actually embedded. Thank you RR.

CNN Transcript [emphasis added]

JOHN ROBERTS: Well, this morning, an update to a story that we first brought you in AMERICAN MORNING. U.S. Army First Lieutenant Dan Choi, a West Point graduate, an Arab linguist who is being forced out of the military because he’s openly gay. And President Obama still has not moved on a campaign promise on getting rid of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military.
Tomorrow, Choi is scheduled to appear before an Army retention board to make his case on why he should not be discharged.

Joining us now from San Francisco is Lieutenant Dan Choi. Dan, it’s good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for the update. What do you plan to tell the retention board tomorrow?

LT. DAN CHOI, BEING DISCHARGED FOR BEING GAY:

Well, I originally thought that I would open up in Arabic. (Speaking in foreign language.) But I heard that they’re having a hard time retaining and recruiting Arabic linguists so that might not be very fair. But seriously, I do want to tell them, and I appreciate the opportunity to tell them, that the Army values and the lessons that I learned at West Point, honesty and courage and integrity, those are the things that we don’t just give those lip service. We actually act those out in our lives and in our duty and in our jobs. We can’t just talk about it like reading it in a book and that’s enough.

ROBERTS: Yes, that’s something I wanted to ask you about. Because you talked about this in Davis, California, the California Progress Report. It had some of the quotes of what you said there. One of them was “they are firing people from their units in a time of war when you need people to serve in their country. And these people are able, capable, willing, and trained. You’re firing them for the sole basis of who they are and the sole basis of their honesty. You learn that code of honor there at West Point.” And I’m wondering, how does the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy fit in with that code of honor that was instilled in you at West Point?

CHOI: It absolutely does not fit in. And one of the most disgusting things that we see is the kind of threats that don’t ask don’t tell imposes on some of the soldiers that are honest, that are telling the truth about who they are. I’m facing an other than honorable discharge tomorrow morning simply for being honorable and saying who I am in truth. And that can really strip away a lot of the veterans’ benefits to include an education, home loan, and even veterans’ hospital and medical benefits. These benefits that I’ve earned by being a combat veteran of the Iraq war.

And so really what we’re seeing is in the face of these threats and in the face of so many immoral things, we go back on our training. And we see that having honor and having integrity, those things are important as officers, as leaders, and as Americans.

ROBERTS: At the same time, Lieutenant, you’re a member of an organization that is based on stringent rules, you broke those rules as they were written. Regardless of whether you think they’re fair or not, if you break the rules, should you suffer the consequences?

CHOI: We all know the consequences. And if you look at the risks and you take a look at what you’re up against, of course. It’s an informed decision, but more important than the consequences, more important than punishments or those fears that we might have, we take courage and we take those things very seriously of the values that we were taught. And it’s more important that we be honest with ourselves, we have integrity, and we have courage. Those are American values and they’re under assault because of immoral policies like “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Don’t ask…

ROBERTS: I was just going to say, do you have any hope that you’re not going to be discharged? Or are you just going to go there tomorrow to make a point?

CHOI: Well, I have a huge hope and a desire to continue serving in the military and, of course, whatever the outcome tomorrow, I’m going to work as hard as I can and continue marching for equality and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and when that law does get repealed, I’ll raise my right hand one more time and I will say I’ll serve my country.

ROBERTS: All right. So just one more time, if you would for us, Lieutenant, the president has not moved on his campaign promise to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.” What do you have to say to the president this morning?

CHOI: Well, I think the time is now. We can’t wait to support our troops, we can’t wait to end immoral policies that really are an assault on everything that we stand for as Americans. So we shouldn’t wait one more day to stand up for American values.

ROBERTS: Lieutenant Dan Choi, it’s good to talk you again. We’ll be watching you very closely tomorrow, and I think we’ll have you on afterwards and find out how it went. Lieutenant Dan Choi for us this morning from San Francisco.

CHOI: Thanks, John.

ROBERTS: Thanks very much, Lieutenant.

Lt Dan Choi’s speech at U of C San Diego

May 6, 2009

[Just found this in the drafts. Never got posted for some reason. His words are worth reading. Lt Choi Archives have his Rachel Maddow appearances. Petition to POTUS to prevent Lt Choi from being fired due to DADT.]

Here Lt Dan Choi’s speech from the “Knights Out” website. Knights Out was founded by Choi and is an organization of out LGBT West Point Alumni seeking rquality in the military – beginning with getting rid of DADT. His words need to be put out there for more people to hear.

65K gay and lesbians in the service? It’s mindboggling. And Lt Choi speaks fluent Arabic and saw firsthand the significance and importance of speaking the Iraqi’s language.

Favorite line: “They defended our country even before our country learned how to discriminate against them.”

—————-
29 April 2009
Lt Dan Choi’s Speech at University of California San Diego

My name is Dan Choi. I am a West Point graduate. I am a Lieutenant in the United States Army.

I am gay.

I serve my country. I serve my country because I heard a leader say: “ASK NOT what your country can do for you… ASK what you can do for your country.” But when I step up to serve our country, to put my life on the line to protect my community, to protect my neighbors, to protect my family, to protect America, I am ordered… DON’T ASK. I am ordered… DON’T TELL.

I serve with 65,000 selfless gay and lesbian Americans; we are ordered to deny who we are. We’re ordered to HIDE. But I am not hiding anymore. I am not asking permission anymore. I am done ASKING. I am TELLING. I am gay.

Courage is the bedrock of action and the foundation of leadership. The courageous soldier who steps up to meet the needs of our country is the very essence of our country. When the courage hides, the country hides. But a soldier does not hide, and a soldier does not allow his leaders to hide.

The truth is, Gays and Lesbians have served our country since its founding. They defended our country even before our country learned how to discriminate against them. They have served and they have risked their lives, and they have been killed in combat for their country. To protect their country’s freedoms, they risk their very existence – yet they are not free to exist. They go to war so their neighbors at home can live in peace and find love and marriage- yet they are not free to love or marry. They fight terrorists in other countries so that American citizens won’t have to live in fear- yet they are terrorized by fear of revealing their true lives. To protect free speech they do what they’re told- yet they are ordered DON’T TELL.

But now is the time to tell. I am done ASKING. I am TELLING. I am gay. I am gay. I am gay.

We are told that the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is inevitable. We are told our equality will be restored , that equality is a HUMAN RIGHT. But RIGHTS are aren’t simply given to those who wait. Rights are earned. For a soldier, RIGHTS are not simply entitlements. They are a responsibilities. And when I look at the Constitution I see more than a list of rights. I see a list of my responsibilities. And so I came out, in order to fulfill these responsibilities, to fight for the rights of 65,000 gay and lesbians in the US Military. The time for waiting is over, the time for asking is over. It’s time to tell. It’s time to stand. It’s time to fight for America

Petition to POTUS to prevent Lt Dan Choi from being fired

Lt Dan Choi Archives – Rachel Maddow and CNN videos

May 27, 2009

Here is a copy of the petition to prevent Lt Dan Choi’s firing due to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. Just saying “I am gay” constitutes “homosexual behavior” and meets the criteria for discharge. Even of a West Point Grad, who can speak fluent Arabic, who is well-respected in his unit and willing to do a third tour of combat duty.

Petition at Courage Campaign:

The Online organizing hub for progressive Californians…a network of over 700,000 grassroots and netroots citizens empowered to leverage online tools for offline activism.

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Keep your promise, President Obama
Tell the President to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and not to fire Lt. Dan Choi

Lt. Dan Choi, from Orange County, California, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an Iraq War veteran. Last March he went on Rachel Maddow’s show and spoke three truthful words: “I am gay.”

As a result Lt. Choi received a letter from the Army on April 23 discharging him for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He told Rachel Maddow the letter was “a slap in the face” to himself and the soldiers he as commanded and served with over the past decade.

Lt. Choi is fighting to stay in the military and ensure that no other soldier is ever again discharged as a result of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile are joining his effort to secure equality in our armed forces.

President Obama did not create this policy. But he now has the opportunity to keep his promise and allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly in the military. It’s the right thing to do — for justice and for national security.

140,860 people (as of Tuesday, May 26) have signed the following petition to President Obama from the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile. Please add your name now:

Dear President Barack Obama,

The time has come to end discrimination in our armed forces. We, the undersigned, ask you to stop the discharge of Lt. Dan Choi and any other soldier as a result of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. We ask that you uphold your pledge and push Congress to quickly put a bill on your desk to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Sincerely,

How do you say “Don’t ask, don’t tell” in Arabic?

May 8, 2009

I ran across the first chapter of Nathaniel Frank’s book: “UNFRIENDLY FIRE How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America” in the NY Times. Fascinating reading. Excellent writing. I have to wonder if Lt Choi’s speaking out was somehow linked to Frank’s book excerpt. The excerpt was published March 18th and Lt Choi first appeared on Rachel Maddow on the 19th. Maybe that’s why he was on. I don’t recall.

This is how Nathaniel Frank’s book begins. Emphasis added.

On September 10th, 2001, the United States government intercepted two phone calls placed from Afghanistan between Al Qaeda operatives. “Tomorrow is zero hour,” said one of the voices. “The match is about to begin,” came another ominous line. The National Security Agency intercepts millions of messages every hour, but these calls came from sources deemed to be high priority. They were, of course, spoken in Arabic, so they made their way to a translator’s queue, waiting to be interpreted. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2001 our government did not have enough Arabic linguists to translate the messages quickly. The phone calls were not translated until two days later, on September 12, 2001. It was two days too late.

How many gay linguists have been fired?

The firing of gay Arabic language specialists during America’s war on terrorism is a particularly stark illustration of the gay ban’s costs to national security. And so it’s no surprise that the Pentagon has not been forthcoming about the number of linguists fired. In 2004, when Palm Center researchers asked the Pentagon for the total discharge figures of gay linguists (including all foreign language specialties), they were told that figures only existed since 1998. It took a Freedom of Information Act request and pressure from members of the House Armed Services Committee to force the Pentagon to release even these incomplete figures, which landed at 73 discharges of language specialists from the Defense Language Institute between 1998 and 2004. Of these, 17 were Arabic speakers, 11 spoke Russian, 18 studied Korean, 6 were training in Persian-Farsi, and the rest studied other languages.

Thing is the records did go back further than 1998.

Then in February, 2005, a GAO report was released that included figures dating back to 1994 – the period when data was not supposed to have existed. Those figures were even more troubling. According to the GAO report, 757 troops with “critical occupations” were fired under the policy. These included voice interceptors, interrogators, translators, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialists, signal intelligence analysts, and missile and cryptologic technicians. Three hundred twenty-two fired service members had skills in what the military deems “an important foreign language.” Fifty-four of them spoke Arabic. Ian Finkenbinder makes fifty-five. And counting.

What the Army says themselves. Lt Choi is/was a member of the NY Army Guard:

An Army report released that year by the Center for Army Lessons Learned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, found that “the lack of competent interpreters throughout the theater impeded operations” in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The US Army does not have a fraction of the linguists required.” The 9/11 Commission Report concluded that the government “lacked sufficient translators proficient in Arabic and other key languages, resulting in significant backlog of untranslated intercepts” and the secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, pleaded that “we need more Arabic-speaking analysts.” A Pentagon advisory panel reported in 2004 that the U.S. “is without a working channel of communications to the world of Muslims and Islam.” A Justice Department Inspector General Report that same year found that the government “cannot translate all the foreign language counterterrorism and counterintelligence material it collects,” due largely to inadequate translation capabilities in “languages primarily related to counterterrorism activities” such as Arabic and Farsi.

Learning Arabic is not easy and is not something anyone with an ear for foreign language can pick up.

Arabic is what DLI calls a “category 4″ language. Along with Chinese, Japanese and Korean, Arabic is the hardest for English-speakers to learn, and the course lasts 63 weeks for basic knowledge. Because it’s not a “cognate” language for English-speakers — not one that shares the roots of the Germanic or Romantic family language trees — most American students hit the books for several hours each night, after taking up to seven hours of class every day. Arabic reads from right to left, has no capital letters and its characters run together like cursive, making it difficult for the untrained to distinguish them without months of practice. The year after 9/11, the number of students graduating from all American colleges and universities with an undergraduate degree in Arabic was a whopping six. Six.

It seems there’s a way around not discharging gay soldiers:

The week after the twin towers were felled, the Pentagon looked around and noticed it would need as many soldiers as it could get its hands on for the wars it was about to wage. Under the authority of President George W. Bush, the Defense Department issued an order giving each military service the authority to suspend administrative discharges (called “stop-loss” in military speak). In explaining the decision, the folks in the Pentagon’s public affairs office showed that no one was more confused than they were about how to retain badly needed gay troops while reassuring the public that the military was abiding by the law that required their discharge. “Stop loss has been authorized,” spokesperson Maj. James P. Cassella told the San Francisco Chronicle, referring to the status of the gay discharge policy. “However, consistent with past practices, administrative discharges could continue under stop-loss.” To clarify what the military really intended to do, Cassella said that “Commanders would be given enough latitude in this area to apply good judgment and balance the best interests of the service, the unit and the individual involved.”

Bottom line:

As we struggle against an enemy whose world most American can scarcely begin to comprehend, the few men and women in the military conversant in that world would seem an invaluable asset. Instead, more than 55 Arabic language specialists are no longer working for the U.S. military because they are gay.

And it appears Lt Choi will be the 56th.

Nathaniel Frank’s closing paragraph:

Running through all these reasons is a commitment not to face the truth. And this, every bit as much as the wasted Arabic linguists, counterintelligence officers, artillery operators, pilots and surgeons, is the insidious nature of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” There is something deeply embarrassing about the most powerful nation in the world imposing a gag rule on itself; we have voluntarily shackled ourselves in order to deny what we know to be true, all in the name of protecting our supposedly fragile soldiers from a phantom gay menace. The gay ban marks no less than the stalling of the Enlightenment project. The last three centuries of Western civilization have celebrated the ideals of freedom, truth, reason and self-understanding. In America, we often consider ourselves to be a world beacon for these efforts. We hallow our Constitution for its use and protection of these traits; we broadcast and praise our commitment to liberty and free speech.; and we have framed our war on terrorism as a struggle against sectarian, anti-intellectual and illiberal forces who are trying to overturn all we hold sacred. Yet “don’t ask, don’t tell” demonstrates that the American government is helping these forces along, to our own detriment. Americans should be asking themselves: what is gained and what is lost by sticking our collective head in the sand?

[Source: NY Times "Excerpted from Unfriendly Fire by Nathaniel Frank. Copyright © 2009 by the author and reprinted by permission of Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, LLC."]

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3-19 Conspiracy at the Rachel Maddow show involving Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
3-21 Lt Dan Choi: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has got to go
5-6 Lt Dan Choi kicked out of Guard b/c he’s gay
5-7 Rachel Maddow: Lt Dan Choi re: his dismissal from the Army
5-8 Lt Choi on CNN’s American Morning