Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett declares being gay is a lifestyle choice (video), then apologizes

For most of the 634 days Barack Obama has been president of these 57 United States, he and his voluble sidekick from Delaware have pleaded with the gay community to give them time, trust us, be patient, we understand, you'll be happy with us later, you know where we stand over the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Obama has often promised that valuable element of his political base that, by golly, as soon as possible he was going to get rid of that freedom-clogging subterfuge that keeps gays closeted during their military service for fear of being discharged.

But, you know, the military is still conducting another review. And the Democrat-controlled Senate declined to repeal the law.

It's just the kind of unrest that the Democrat does not need within his political base as he barnstorms the country (today Delaware, Saturday Boston, Sunday Ohio) to arouse demoralized Democrats for the already challenging midterm elections on Nov. 2.

Well, this week Obama was handed a golden opportunity to finally dump DADT for good when, as The Ticket reported here, California's District Judge Virginia Phillips threw the whole policy out as unconstitutional, totally banned it from that day henceforth, despite President Clinton having signed the legislation in 1993.

But then Thursday the Obama administration decided to appeal the judge's order. And, again, the president tried to explain how he was really opposed to "don't ask, don't tell," although his decision to appeal its ban made it seem that he was for it before he was against it.

In a televised townhall Obama said, ""I don't think (being gay) it's a choice. I think people are born with a certain makeup, and we're all children of God." And, once more, the president sought patience from the gay community.

However, GetEQUAL, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group, called the appeal ....

..."yet another shocking lack of leadership from the White House on issues of equality for the LGBT community."

But then popped up a new problem for the Democratic administration -- and one that may well help explain the inexplicable delays in Obama changing federal policies. Valerie Jarrett, the president's senior adviser who seems at his elbow virtually everywhere, this week gave a videotaped interview (see below) to Jonathan Capehart, an editorial writer at the Washington Post.

In it, she described the pain of a gay man's family after his suicide: "They were aware that their son was gay. They embraced him. They loved him. They supported his lifestyle choice."

"Lifestyle choice"? Is that what they really think in the Obama White House after all this time? How could someone so close to Obama get his thinking so wrong in public on tape? Unless....

Capehart did not press her on that surprising, perhaps revealing slip.

But in his blog, well-known gay rights advocate Michael Petrelis quickly called Jarrett's lifestyle phrase "obnoxious" and excoriated both her and Capehart. "With friends like Jarrett and gay reporters such as Capehart," Petrelis said, "why worry about our enemies?"

To get back in line with her boss' public position, Jarrett issued an apology Thursday clarifying that what she said about sexual orientation wasn't what she believes about sexual orientation. "I meant no disrespect to the LGBT community, and I apologize to any who have taken offense at my poor choice of words," Jarrett said. "Sexual orientation and gender identity are not a choice."

The gay question of Jarrett begins about the 3:20 mark in the video below.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Susan Walsh / Associated Press

Comments

[Mark]

"The Republican party has been all about no, they don't want to do anything." Is that Jarrett speaking? No, it's the language of the supposedly objective, hard-hitting reporter, who is actually in the pocket of the Obama administration.

Obviously, this is a soft-ball interview designed to allow the administration to deliver its talking points. Why would you expect him to challenge Jarrett on her "lifestyle choice" comment?

[kinderlach]

Did I miss something? Was I sleeping? When was it definitively proven that homosexuality is genetic? Was there a homeosexual genetic marker identified?

Sexual identity is far more complex of an issue than just chalking it off to "I was born this way" One individual's life situation can differ from another's. As with any trait we are born or hardwired with certain inclinations both positive and some not so(Nature) That in combination with various life experiences and choices (Nurture) present us with numerous challenges otherwise known as opportunities for true spiritual growth in our journey through life. Whether one is homosexual or heterosexualis is irrelevent: there are behaavioal choices to be made. The homosexual struggle certainly cannot and should not be equated to the long and historic struggle of people of color. Skin color cannot be altered but behavioral choices can.

[fredCPA]

capehart is gay?? huh, who knew. i remember one time on morning joe he was tlaking about ya know how whites are racists and dont like obama. and they are afraid of "raging" black men. so obama had to be so softspoken. i kept laughing to my self thinking...jonathan, i doubt any body of any color has ever been afraid of you, my fem dear....

[Arthur]

If it's not a choice, then how do you account for all of the people who did live a gay lifestyle and have since changed?

[Greg M]

"Capehart did not press her on that surprising, perhaps revealing slip."

What are you talking about? Jarrett's comment is completely revealing! She used the word "choice" to describe homosexuality. What other words do you need?

So we, meaning us homosexuals, have actions (an appeal against the DADT ruling) AND words from this administration. How's the hope and change feeling for the majority of gays who voted for these people?

Gay enablers of this administration are just like battered spouses...self-hating, love-starved messes who excuse the punches and bruises.

[Ian Lawrence]

When did she decide to be straight woman

[Robert]

It's clear the Obama administration only wants gays for their votes.

With control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency, "don't ask, don't tell" could have been ended in any number of ways, yet this administration continues to delay, delay, defer till another day.

[Carrot Cake Man]

Scientists have proven that human sexual orientation is inborn and unchangeable. Gay-haters deny this, but can't point to ANY scientific evidence for their wild claim "it's a choice."

Gay-haters (Arthur, is that what you are?) also claim we can choose not to be gay any more. Scientists gave the gay-haters that make that wild claim an opportunity to prove it by letting the scientists interview someone who claimed they have been "changed" more than 5 years. The gay-haters refused.

Name anyone you want who you say claims they are "no longer gay," and we'll prove that person is being PAID to make that wild claim.

Sexual orientation is as natural and unchangeable as race.

[libhomo]

Another heterosexist bigot in the Obama Administration? I'm shocked. I tell you. Just shocked.

[realist]

Of course lifestyle is a choice. Since when is a person born with a lifestyle in their genes?

Equating lifestyle with genetic determinism reduces humans to the level of animals ... no rationality and no free will, only instinct.

[Doug]

My brother was gay for about 3yrs. the family did not support his "life choice" and we left him out of our "normal life" functions. We did not coddle or support the life style he was seduced into by his perverted older neighbor. 15 yrs latter, he lives happily with his wife and 4 children. Freedom to choose exists in ever avenue of life.

[Jeff]

@kinderlach your post is absurd. If you don't believe Homosexuals were born gay and "chose" to be gay then you have to believe you "Choose" to be straight (If you are in fact straight). Being gay (Or Straight) is NOT a choice. Believe me I know. In have been gay since the day I was born. Just ask my Mother.

[Jeff]

@ Arthur; Name one. The only reason someone would "change" and start living straight is because of outside pressure, etc. It doesn't make them Straight because they "Live" straight. Just because you have a wife/Girlfriend doesn't make you straight. Most gays are married to women because they are in the closet. I know. I have been married twice before I finally came out. I assure you, it is MUCH easier being straight than it is to be gay. Why would anyone ever choose to be gay? You wouldn't. You CANNOT change your Sexual Orientation. That is an absolutely absurd statement. EDUCATE yourself.

[Jeff]

@ realist; You're not "Born with a Lifestyle". You're born with an ORIENTATION. Being gay is not a lifestyle choice. Need I say more about your post? EDUCATE YOURSELF.

[Jeff]

@ Doug; HAHAHAHA. Do you really think your brother is straight? He "Decided" to ACT straight because he was surrounded by a Bigoted and Hateful family (YOU). Get back to us in 10 years or so after he has come out of the closet and can finally be a happy man. It's people like you and your "Family" that are disgusting and bigoted. You are truly a waste of human flesh. Hopefully God will see to it that you go where you and your "family" belong. In hell.

[James Towers]

Being black isn't a choice. Being white isn't a choice. Deciding to 'live' a gay "lifestyle" however is a choice, just as deciding to live a polygamous lifestyle is a choice. Perhaps there's a polygamy gene or an incest gene we have yet to discover. Impulses can be decided on, skin color can't. Comparing the two is an apples to oranges comparison.

[blackone]

Wow. A simple word choice taken out of context, and the useless media goes bonkers.