Where Does The New Army Secretary Stand On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
Where Does The New Army Secretary Stand On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?
Today, President Obama named Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) his Secretary of the Army. McHugh is the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, and represents a district that includes the Ft. Drum Army Base. He “brings patriotism and a pragmatism that has won him respect on both sides of the aisle,” Obama said of McHugh.
Notably, neither Obama nor McHugh mentioned the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy, an issue McHugh will surely have to address. His congressional record provides few clues as to his position. McHugh has not signed on to co-sponsor to a House bill that would repeal the ban on gays serving in the military, and last year earned only a 15 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.
However, in opening and closing remarks during a hearing last year on the DADT, McHugh seemed open to changing the ban on gay servicemembers, asking for further hearings on the issue and chastising the military for having “refused to step forward” and testify on the matter:
[O]ur challenge is to examine and determine whether that conclusion of 1993 remains valid here in 2008. … I share the Chairlady’s disappointment that thus far the services have refused to step forward. I don’t see as an individual member how I fully and fairly consider this question and more importantly the issue of changing this question without the input of those in the active military who have the heavy responsibility of commanding our forces in time of war. [...]
Again, to underscore my opening comments about my disappointment in the military services because we have to at some point I would assume, come to a decision as to whose opinion prevails…And with all due deference, and respect, and appreciation to this panel and the five individuals who have appeared here, that kind of weighty decisions from my perspective ought to be based on a much broader foundation of input.
During the hearing, McHugh studiously avoided revealing his own views about the military’s discriminatory policies. With the Obama administration moving slowly on repealing the ban, it remains to be seen whether McHugh can help nudge the Army toward taking that “step forward” toward greater equality.
Congressman John McHugh (R-NY) is ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and has a substantial record of taking care of our troops and ensuring a good quality of life for their families. McHugh has the skills to be a very effective secretary of the Army and open new doors for all Americans who want to serve their country.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
well jeez… dubby didn’t need to worry about installing plants (what’s the term?) in government offices…
W T F ???
it ain’t gonna work, barack… except to bite you, and US, in the BUTT.
… dammitall…
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 pmI heard Victor Fehrenbach on CNN yesterday.
Quite a compelling story, high ranking, honored airman, good-looking (from either side of the fence), well spoken and still HIGHLY ADMIRED AMONG HIS REGIMEN.
DADT is a vestige of the Old Guard (old and in the way) where homophobia was a badge of “manliness”.
It’s as dumb as disqualifying someone for having flat-feet, which YES, was actually policy in the 50’s.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pmbut rednecks are afraid that, if society stops discriminating against gay people, the rednecks will have to admit their feelings for toby keith
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:30 pmIs that a R beside McHugh’s name?….could be wrong, but that should probably indicate what his DADT stance is.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pmRT, don’t you mean Kenny Chesney, or Ty Herndon:
In July 1995, Herndon was arrested in Fort Worth, Texas at Gateway Park by an undercover male police officer who alleged that Herndon was soliciting sex.[5][6] It was reported that Herndon exposed himself in front of the officer, although Herndon professed to be urinating. When taken into custody, he was also discovered to be in possession of 2.49 grams of methamphetamine. A plea-bargain saw the singer sentenced to community service and drug rehabilitation, and the charge of indecent exposure was dropped.
I’m mean, at least they’re the two most likely to reciprocate!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 pmI am totally flummoxed at President Obama’s hesitation to overturn DADT or for him to, in the short run, issue an executive order to the military to stop throwing gays out of the military.
Since having gays serve openly doesn’t seem to be a problem for other nations, why does Obama think it will be a problem for ours?
Among the 19 NATO member countries, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United States are the only six that do not allow gays, lesbians and bisexuals to serve openly. Foreign militaries that have lifted their bans include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
http://www.hrc.org/issues/4882.htm
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 pmwho knows? I can’t get past the fact that people buy the crap they record, but I guess those are the same people that fear gays and brown skin and strong women and intellectuals
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pmI heard this guy speaking on MSNBC and before I even knew who he was my GAYDAR went off. This might just be one of those master chess moves we hope President Obama is making.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Since having gays serve openly doesn’t seem to be a problem for other nations, why does Obama think it will be a problem for ours?
My guess is that he most likely thinks that it will be a for himself.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pmOOPS!
My guess is that he most likely thinks that it will be a [problem] for himself.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pmThe obvious answer to the obvious question: PRESIDENTS HIRE LIKE MINDED CABINET MEMBERS, and sprinkle the cabinet with a few unthreatening opposing view members to appear democratic.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pmBefore C4P says anything dumb:
He CANNOT just repeal the policy. It would then be illegal for gays to serve PERIOD. Other laws must be dealt with as well. We did not elect a Legislature in Chief.
That being said, I hope this policy will be dealt with. No one who chooses to serve their country is less honorable or important because they are gay. I’m sure Obama will act on this but unfortunetly it’s not high on the priority list.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 pmOT – just heard that paulenty will announce that he will NOT run for MN gov again…
to me, that says he does not plan to allow franken to be seated as senator because he doesn’t give a shite about re-election to MN… but wins major points for the prez ticket…
just a hunch…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pmSheepdog Says:
The obvious answer to the obvious question: PRESIDENTS HIRE LIKE MINDED CABINET MEMBERS, and sprinkle the cabinet with a few unthreatening opposing view members to appear democratic.
So the Bush administration had plenty of opposing views in the Cabinet? Like, for instance . . . ?
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm#11 – Sheepdog Says:
——————————————————-
“The obvious answer to the obvious question: PRESIDENTS HIRE LIKE MINDED CABINET MEMBERS, and sprinkle the cabinet with a few unthreatening opposing view members to appear democratic.”
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Pres. Clinton had a problem with cabinet members excoriating him after they left their positions. Pres. Bush had an un-official “loyalty pledge” before he would consider anyone for a position in his administration.
Pres. Obama is a welcome change to the politics of the past by his appointing un-apologetic Republicans to his administration. Pres. Obama is too accomidating to the opposition Republicans. Pres. Obama should be more like Pres. Bush was: we’re doing it MY way, if you don’t like it, tough cookies.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pmA$$wipe
Just tell us how much you LOVE seeing Americans die. We all KNOW its party time at your house when Americans are dying. Nothing you like better than hearing about dead Americans especially when they die slowly and horribly. It is the only thing that gets your useless thingy hard. It has been a bad time for you lately since less Americans are DYING. You cry at night thiking how happy you would be if only MORE Americans would DIE so you could feel like a toughguy in your sad, lonley pathetic life. Why havent you killed yourself yet. It is the only thing someone as stupid and pathetic as you can do to make this a better country so go find a nice can of raid and do the right thing
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pmobamawipe$
He wrote… nothing of consequence or even sense… ever.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmobamawipe$ Says:
toby keith
He wrote “Boot in your ass” thinking of enemy defending progressives.
***
that’s not true.
tobey told me he was thinking
of his hair falling out and canker
sores covering his mouth when
he wrote it.
…
;\
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmPretty sure Toby Keith wrote “Boot in your ass” thinking about the money he got from ignorant rednecks like you.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmSheepledog is a liar a fool and a brainwashed moron. He doesnt care if what he posts is true or even if it makes sense. He KNOWS he is stupid and regurgitating idiocy is the only thing he is qualified to do
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pmtoby keith
He wrote “Boot in your ass” thinking of enemy defending progressives.
Am I supposed to be intimidated by some right-winger’s ignorant tough talk? I am not.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pmyeah, it was number 3256 on the top ten hit parade.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pmobamawipe$ Says: toby keith He wrote “Boot in your ass” thinking of enemy defending progressives.
To paraphrase Freud: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, sometimes it represents something else. Same with “boot”. Just sayin’.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm…
s-dog,
back in the dang ho valley
we had a name for a troop like you:
kia.
*
or, if you were missing:
mia.
…
now sound off like you got a pair!!!
;0
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 pmtoby keith is a registered DEMOCRATIC PARTY voter.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pmRealness Says:
Pretty sure Toby Keith wrote “Boot in your ass” thinking about the money he got from ignorant rednecks like you.
…
every penny was donated to a
home for unwed mothers.
that tobey!
:)
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pmkaty Says:
toby keith is a registered DEMOCRATIC PARTY voter.
***
that is true.
..
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 pmIf the president just reaffirmed his “support” of “ending the existing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security”, then the new Secretary of the Army better be completely on board, or else he shouldn’t accept the assignment.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pmnot that i’m proud of that… just thought that was quite interesting when he said it… on colbert, i think…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pmThe power of homophobes in the military is appalling.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pmDo I dare hope that this choice for Sec/Arm is an avenue to get repugs not to deny this any longer.
obamawipe$ Says:
katy Says: toby keith is a registered DEMOCRATIC PARTY voter.
Why all the hatred directed at him from the far lefties?
What makes you think it’s directed at him and not you?
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 pmDon’t forget that Bush/Cheney kept George Tenet (a Clinton hold over) in the cabinet, but that was done purposefully because Cheney knew that there would be many things that he wanted to blame on the CIA. (9\11, false Iraq intel………)
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 pmMy take on it is that Obama is a very careful politician. He knows that DADT needs to be repealed and that most Americans also believe that, or at least they don’t care one way or the other. Gay is more “normal” than politicians would lead us to believe.
However, Obama doesn’t want to take the political risk of unilaterally changing a controversial issue. He does have a second term to consider. And, he saw the hit that Gavin Newsom took in San Francisco. So, Obama’s political calculation is to appoint a Republican Army Secretary who is like-minded on DADT. The new Secretary carries Obama’s water on this issue and gets it done by picking up at least a few Republican Congressional votes.
Not a bad strategy. Let’s hope that’s the plan.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pmhow is pointing out that his music appeals primarily to ignorant rubes equal to “hate”?
maybe you’re just an idiot
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pmobamawipe$ Says:
katy Says:
——————————————————————————–
toby keith is a registered DEMOCRATIC PARTY voter.
Why all the hatred directed at him from the far lefties?
***
i didn’t lie about tobey.
you did.
:)
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pmI read somewhere that he registered dem so he could vote for Hill in the primaries…….may be wrong but that is my recollection…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:33 pmWhy all the hatred directed at him from the far lefties?
A$$wipe
What hatred? And your delusional fantasies dont count. I barely ever heard of the guy.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 pmobamawipe$ Says:
katy Says:
——————————————————————————–
toby keith is a registered DEMOCRATIC PARTY voter.
Why all the hatred directed at him from the far lefties?
all those dashes should be used to separate MY comment from yours…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pmif used at all, but not as you have used them…
Let’s not forget that McHugh, if confirmed, is only going to be Sec. of the Army, which is but one branch of military service under the DoD. For DADT to be dismantled, it’ll be up to Obama and SecDef Gates to take action; McHugh will just be along for the ride on that one…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 pmgoogle search for “tobey keith, registered Democrat”:
http://www.google.com/search?q=tobey+keith%2C+registered+Democrat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:45 pm#43 – The Dogfather Says:
———————————————————
Let’s not forget that McHugh, if confirmed, is only going to be Sec. of the Army, which is but one branch of military service under the DoD. For DADT to be dismantled, it’ll be up to Obama and SecDef Gates to take action; McHugh will just be along for the ride on that one…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Very true! Pres. Obama could issue an executive order stating that the armed forces will no longer discriminate against sexual orientation in recruting and retention, just as Pres. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 that forced the armed forces to end segregation in 1948.
There are times it takes an order to do the right and honorable thing, and DADT has unfairly established a double-standard. It’s past time for the Armed Services to grow up and allow service by ALL qualified personnel.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:51 pmDemocrat Soldier Says:
The problem with that is a Presidential directive cannot overturn a LAW and Congress made DADT into a law. They will have to go to Congress and get that law off the books THEN he can do what Truman did
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:53 pmVery true! Pres. Obama could issue an executive order stating that the armed forces will no longer discriminate against sexual orientation in recruting and retention, just as Pres. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 that forced the armed forces to end segregation in 1948.
As a soldier you should know that there are other laws that have to be dealt with. We did not elect a Legislature in Chief. I don’t know about you but I’m not ready to go back to the Bush years where the President can repeal any law he likes.
I agree that both need to take action and pressure Congress but an Executive Order is not that way.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:54 pmDADT is legislation that must be amended in the congress.
Obama continues to state that he opposes DADT and will end it, so I believe he is setting his ducks in a row so as to accomplish that.
That said, I still worry about the repugs he has in his administration – I don’t trust a one of them as far as I could throw one – but I do have trust in Obama’s judgment.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pmJose Cantwell: you are a Vietnam Era Soldier? Thankyou for your service. I guess that means you’ll have no idea whatsoever on my question posted to you earlier?
AS FOR DON’T ASK DON’T TELL. IT WORKS! IF you’re in any kind of government service, there’s only a few things you’re allowed to talk about regarding your personal life. So if you can’t talk about GOD at work, the direct opponent to the GAY lifestyle, then nobody should be talking about their gay lifestye while at work. For military types who are gay, it serves no work related conversation value in the foxhole, quarterdeck, bridge, cockpit, staff call, tank crew etc. When you go to work, you’re there to work. NOT SHOVE YOUR LIFESTYLE IN PEOPLE’S FACES!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 pmA specious argument Sheepdog. You CAN talk about God at work that is protected what you CANNOT do is proslytize to the point you annoy other workers. So you dont really have a point.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pmEUGENE DEBUTANTE: Congratulations, the meds are working and you are now criticizing with brevity. What color Pom Poms did you end up getting anyway for your hate cheers?
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pmEUGENE DEBUTANTE: Specious argument? THE WINNING ARGUMENT!!! Thankyou Uncle Clinton. Notice Don’t ask don’t tell is the winning argument as well for Bill and Hillary’s arranged marriage. Don’t ask either who they really sleep with and the marriage front gets perpetuated.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pmAnd once again Sheepledog descends into the abject stupidity that defines his very being you were WRONG. Your argument is WRONG. Anyone can talk about God at work if they want. I dont really care if you are too stupid to recognize reality. You are wrong you are a liar and a fool and an ignorant punkass troll. Your ignorance is a stench in the nostrils of decent people and you dont care. You LIKE being a brainwashed moron who never knows what he is talking about and is still mesmerized by the Clenis. Do yourself a favor. Since we already KNOW how stupid you are just STFU
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:06 pmEUGENE DEBUTANTE: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You go girl. If only fishing for trout were this easy. I saw the POM POMS all whipped in a flurry on that one. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:12 pmSheepledog you are astonishingly stupid. You are an ignorant punkass troll. The fact is I LIKE to laugh at people as stupid as you. As easy as it is I like to slap morons like you around. I know you are stupider than a retarded monkey and its easy but I amuse myself that way. If only anyone in the world liked you or respected you then perhaps you wouldnt be so pathetic. You would still be stupid. You are always going to be stupid. However you might not think acting like a petulant six year old and annoying people was fun. The thing is you are too stupid to annoy me you just give me amusement with your free clown show and target practice. Mopping the floor with morons like you is practice. So until you find some self respect somewhere stop begging us for our pity and STFU I will continue to slap you around like the punkass troll imbecile you are
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:23 pm#50 – Sheepdog Says:
———————————————————-
“NOT SHOVE YOUR LIFESTYLE IN PEOPLE’S FACES!!!!”
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Too bad your opinion proves itself to be a double-standard.
I had to listen to all the straight service members shove their lifestyle in my face when they talked about the women they banged over the weekend. Even the female service members would talk about the men they humped.
I had to listed to all the straight married service members shove their lifestyle in my face as they talked about their children and husbands/wives, in-laws and such.
Why haven’t you stood up for ALL lifestyles NOT being shoved in anyone’s face? Is that too much to ask of you?
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 pmExcept for the bane of American foreign policy (like the 15% human right’s rating this man has), this looks like a wise approach to me.
If I remember correctly, the Air Force was the first to desegregate, then the Navy, and that was all she wrote. If the Air Force could manage to make is so that gays could serve openly, then I think Air Force leaders could establish the guidelines and maintain the discipline necessary for the integration of gays to go as smoothly as it has gone in every other nation that has allowed gays to serve openly.
Just a hypothetical.
And if it came down to a war between an integrated USAF and a DADT U.S. Army, the Air Force would kick its ass.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 pmIt is always politically lethile however, for a president to force the Pentagon’s hand when it comes to military culture. I trust that President Obama is sincerely working toward the goal—but through diplomacy with military leaders—not force. They get tired of dealing with force all the time, they really do–threats especially.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm#63 – wiley Says:
———————————————————-
“Just a hypothetical.
And if it came down to a war between an integrated USAF and a DADT U.S. Army, the Air Force would kick its ass.”
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Hypothetically speaking, if the USAF were still on the ground, they’d get their asses handed to them by the US Army. If USAF got in the air, it would be air-strikes until the Army surrendered.
I base this on my basic-training experience in the Army compared to the Air Force basic as explained to me by my Air Force friends. The Air Force basic is much less concerned with ground-based fighting techniques. Yes, there’s some exposure, but it’s far from the comprehensive training the Army provides.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am#66 – Johnintexas Says:
———————————————————-
“The military does not want Butt Pirates. The military is not a social experiment.”
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
One wonders why the Armed Services embraced the “de-segregation” social experiment in the late 40’s if it was so unpopular with the average joe-schmo soldier. Oh, that’s right, it took an order by Pres. Truman to force the military to do the right thing!
Eventually, the United States will enter the 21st century and extend equal rights to gays by allowing them to serve in the armed forces. Then we’d be as advanced as Canada and Great Britian, who’ve had no problems with equal rights for all.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:21 pmMethinks johnintexA$$ doth protest WAAAAAAYYYYYYY too much.
A teabagger in _every_ sense of the word.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm#67 – Johnintexas Says:
———————————————————-
“Faggotry is an abomination in every culture around the world.”
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
That’s MISTER faggot to you, pussy boy! Until you can serve your country, you’re the failure to the American spirit.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:18 pmI just joined this great site and I already noticed that some right-wing extremists and losers (such as Johnintexas and Sheepdog) are begging for trouble. I’ll never know what propels them to intrude on sites they hate so much….
My full support for Democrat Soldier and republicans hate facts!
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pmHey Kevin. I just saw the YouTube video about web 3.0 and I have had this idea about our future economy.
June 6th, 2009 at 5:13 amIt’s a bit in tune with the Zeitgeist film. See, if all of our knowledge was shared, we couldn’t make money of it. Siki?
porno
Porno izle
sex videolar?
I’m a musician and I kinda have the feeling that in the future people will pay for live performances, because we have computer software that is very close to sounding like a musical instrument, with a modelled human touch. So, if a person that has never played the guitar, can click a button and sound like Jimi Hendrix, than what is the coolness about all this digital music really? Infact, I think that the more advanced this gets, the less interesting it becomes. We are still in awe over a youngster that can make the violin cry and we will definately be in even more awe when a person can actually do with their fingers that what we can do in an iPhone application.
Sesli Sohbet
Sesli Chat
Görüntülü chat
Sheepdog Says:
Jose Cantwell: you are a Vietnam Era Soldier? Thankyou for your service. I guess that means you’ll have no idea whatsoever on my question posted to you earlier?
I have an IDEA. How about YOU LICK YOUR OWN B*LLS like a GOOD B*TCH and STFU?
Sheepdog Says:
AS FOR DON’T ASK DON’T TELL. IT WORKS!
No it DOESN’T! It has keep valuable and well trained officers and enlisted people from serving purely based on the BIGOTRY of TEABAGISTAN DOMESTIC TERRORISTS such as YOURSELF.
Sheepdog Says:
IF you’re in any kind of government service, there’s only a few things you’re allowed to talk about regarding your personal life.
Yet *STRAIGHT* soldiers talk about their sex lives ALL OF THE TIME… Oops…
Sheepdog Says:
So if you can’t talk about GOD at work, the direct opponent to the GAY lifestyle, then nobody should be talking about their gay lifestye while at work.
WTF? Soldiers talk about *GOD* at work ALL OF THE TIME! Evangelism from you BIBLE QUACKS in the MILITARY is WIDESPREAD and CONDONED!
Sheepdog Says:
For military types who are gay, it serves no work related conversation value in the foxhole, quarterdeck, bridge, cockpit, staff call, tank crew etc.
What, to say you’re *married*? Or in a *RELATIONSHIP*? Or is your EXPECTATION that GAY PEOPLE can only talk about the *SEX ACTS* because that’s all YOU WOULD DO?
Sheepdog Says:
When you go to work, you’re there to work. NOT SHOVE YOUR LIFESTYLE IN PEOPLE’S FACES!!!!
Then *WHY* do STRAIGHT PEOPLE do it ALL OF THE TIME? Double standard much, LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL B*TCH?
Perhaps no other fundamentalist Christian group is more influential than Military Ministry, a national organization and a subsidiary of the controversial fundamentalist Christian organization Campus Crusade for Christ. Military Ministry’s national web site boasts it has successfully “targeted” basic training installations, or “gateways,” and has successfully converted thousands of soldiers to evangelical Christianity.
GOP = PARTY OF BIBLE QUACK FANATICS AND HYPOCRITES
June 7th, 2009 at 4:18 am