Comments on: The President and Don't Ask / Don't Tell – Is it 1862 all over again?

By: Dan S.

Dan S. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:42:59 +0000

I honestly hope the Professor's prediction comes true. In any event, it could be the basis for a great action thriller on the big screen. Imagine this…. a courageous band of non-heterosexuals forms an underground combat team that infiltrates the bad guys' camp and wipes out the evilest meanies on the face of the Earth. In the closing scene, dying heroes will be united as married couples, via satellite phone, by a grateful Commander in Chief.

Isn't it sad that it COULD take a desperate act of patriotism before some of us realize that love of country is not dependent upon whom we love???

By: The Reverend

The Reverend — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:57:20 +0000

Quite a prediction Professor….

"I predict that before the end of 2009 Osama bin Ladin will be captured or killed, and that five days later President Obama will announce concrete steps to repeal Don't Ask – Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act to welcome gays and lesbians into the armed forces on an equal basis."

By: Matthew H

Matthew H — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:44:24 +0000

Prof. Huhn,

While I appreciate your analogy and hope for the day when DADT and DOMA are no longer the law of the land, it seems to me that President Obama's actions on gay rights will differ from President Lincoln's actions on slavery. DADT and DOMA are Congressional acts, and as such require action by Congress to repeal them, whereas, as you mentioned, Lincoln repealed slavery by executive order pursuant to his power as Commander-in-Chief.

I know that President Obama can do a great deal as agenda-setter, and even in light of capturing Osama Bin Laden, it seems to me he would have to exert a great deal of political capital in convincing Congress and the American public that these two laws should be struck down. Much polling data indicates that a slim majority of Americans now favor equal rights for gays and lesbians, but President Obama would face a very vociferous and organized minority opposition. Depending on how effective his economic policies have turned out and the ensuing battle over health care reform, the President may need this political capital elsewhere.