This is pretty rich, as civil rights stories go, particularly since we now have our first black president. Recently, Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings (see photo & the letter to the public on his web site) attempted to attach H.R. 3326 to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010. This amendment would prohibit the use of funds to investigate or discharge dedicated service men and women on the grounds of revealing their sexual orientation. In other words, it would nullify Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DA/DT). Overturning this oppressive and, frankly, stupid law was something that candidate Barack Obama made a firm commitment to. Well, apparently times have changed.
Citing pressure from the White House and other congressional colleagues, Alcee Hastings abruptly withdrew his amendment. According to our president, “next year.” Apparently, now is not the right time. And that’s a load of crap, folks. It’s not the right time for Spain to investigate Bush & Company. It’s not the right time to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It’s not the right time to overturn DA/DT, in spite of the fact that most Americans think it is just plain wrong, and in spite of the fact that it is harming the military and our national security. It appears that our president is the judge and the jury on what our elected officials can and cannot accomplish. If he’s doing absolutely nothing that he promised, Obama will be damned if anybody else is going to pick up his slack.
Note: Be sure to click on the second link in this story and see Rachel Maddow interview Alcee Hastings on the subject.
