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Obama Questioned By The Advocate About Don't Ask Don't Tell by gomag.com April 10, 2008 |
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This week in an interview with the gay news magazine The Advocate, democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama answered some tough questions about his policies on LGBT rights in the United States. In response to a question about his stance on the military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy towards gays and lesbians Obama responded that although he favors repealing the policy, he would not require that his appointees to the Joint Chiefs to oppose it. He went on to explain his belief that above all, his appointees must keep the country safe and strengthen the military. Their position on DADT was not a priority.
He said, "I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff..."But I think there's increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy...We're spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn't make us more safe."
The interview has come at a time where Obama has been facing increasing criticism over his neglect of the gay media. In the same Advocate interview Obama said, "The gay press may feel like I'm not giving them enough love, but basically all press feels that way at all times."
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