Obama's State of the Union address: Repealing 'Don't ask, don't tell' gets applause--from some

On more than one occasion tonight, some people listening to President Obama’s State of the Union address at the Capitol rose to their feet to applaud some pronouncement. One group in the House chamber stayed seated, noticeably so, during one remark.

The moment came when Obama reiterated his support for allowing gays to serve openly in the military and to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“This year — this year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” Obama said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

That’s when many people in the hall stood up -- except the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who remained seated and expressionless, not far from the president. They did not applaud.

During his presidential campaign, Obama promised to be a “fierce advocate” for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. But many gays have complained that Obama has not lived up to his promise. After the address, LGBT groups reacted approvingly, but with some skepticism.

“He vowed what he has vowed before,” said Rea Carey, the director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “We wish we had heard him speak of concrete steps tonight. The next time the president speaks about our community, we expect him to provide a concrete blueprint.”

Carey said that Obama, as commander in chief, has the authority now to stop military discharges on the basis of sexual orientation. He should do that immediately, she said. The next step would be for Congress to overturn the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. Key to that effort is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) known as the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

-- Kate Linthicum

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Photo: US Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen (R) point into the crowd before US President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address to a joint session of the Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, on 27 January 2010. Credit: EPA/ALLISON SHELLEY

Comments

[Michael]

It should be noted that Joint Chiefs of Staff never applaud during a State of the Union speech in order to retain the appearance of political impartiality. They also never stand except for when the president enters. Same goes for the Supreme Court Justices.

[Bryan Kerner]

It would have been as inappropriate for them to applaud as it was for Justice
Alito to mouth off ala Joe Wilson.

[John]

Great talk to the congress the senate and the American people.
The President told it like it is and gave us a way out of this mess.
Time for Americans to stop drinking at the Mad hatters tea parties This is the USA not some southern vision of the corporate confederate states with CEO's and foreign company's running us like a plantation tricking us with trailer park trash talk. Time to wake up and smell the coffee. Far right, we won't be fooled again. Time to get behind our President and fix this economy and win these wars. USA we are the Union.

[Frank]

How was the Civil War apart of the conversation? And why the reference to Alice in Wonderland? If you want to speak of the president's speech just say it; you should not use metaphors simply because you really have not clue as to what is actually going on in Washington aside from the news you get from CNN.

[Dennis]

I believe that you would have to be very naive to not realize that the Joint Chiefs do not want to change "Dont ask, don't tell". The likely hood of that legislation passing is very low and I believe that the President knows that.

[Leo]

Sweet post John.
Far right? Are you kidding?
And I'm sure we'll get behind our President just like we did last year. And look what happened. He gave us a way out of the mess just like he did last year as well. Fool me once shame on you...