Martin O'Malley vows to clear military records of those discharged for being gay.

[elleng]

'Democratic candidate lays out most detailed plans yet for veterans, including an overhaul of the department’s health system.

Democratic presidential underdog Martin O’Malley will lay out his plan for veterans on Monday, the latest attempt by the former Maryland governor to boost his chances by emphasizing his policy bona fides.

O’Malley – who lags far behind both former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in the polls – outlined plans to clear the service records of members of the US military who had been discharged for being gay, make it easier for veterans to get occupational licenses as well as to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health system through technocratic computer programs that he pioneered in Maryland.

The former governor, who has emphasized his executive experience, also used the rollout to tout his accomplishments in the Old Line State, including signing legislation to give military families in-state tuition at Maryland public colleges and allowing veterans to get college credit for their service in the armed forces.

O’Malley is increasingly trying to differentiate himself from Sanders, who previously chaired the Senate committee on veterans affairs and emphasizes his commitment to veterans on the campaign trail. The former Maryland governor attacked Sanders on Friday for entertaining a primary challenge against Barack Obama in 2012.

Both Sanders and Clinton have made similar pledges to improve veterans affairs administration but O’Malley’s is the most detailed outline to come from any Democratic candidate so far this year. The Republican frontrunner Donald Trump laid out his plan for veterans in an event in Norfolk, Virginia earlier in November.'

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/09/martin-omalley-vows-to-clear-military-records-of-those-discharged-for-being-gay

[askew]

1. Can't wait to read the plan. He's been putting on the best plans on issue after issue.

I expect the same on this issue.

His platform on immigration is so good that Bernie announced it at his rally tonight as his own.

[elleng]

2. HA!

[NuclearDem]

3. Oh, I'm going to like this!

[riderinthestorm]

4. Yes!! He's amazing!! mt

[PatrickforO]

5. EVERY candidate in either party who is running needs to pledge that.

A dishonorable discharge for being gay is fucked and should NOT be allow to stand.

[elleng]

6. They sure as hell should, and Martin O'Malley has done it.

[FSogol]

7. K&R. n/t

[bigtree]

8. k&r!

[hedgehog]

9. Thinking ahead as always!

[lark]

10. Good for O'Malley

I got to watch him and both of the others in the a replay of the Rachel Maddow hosted Forum this Sat. What an awesome format, it really got to who they are both from a policy and personal standpoint. All 3 are so much better than anything the Repugs have to offer, it's not even close. Still intend to vote for Bernie in the primary, but O'Malley's making me think about it now. However, I will vote for the Dem in the general, regardless of who he/she is since I'm not suicidal and couldn't take 4-8 years of the Repugs being in charge. They'd ruin the country forever and that's just not OK.

[FSogol]

11. Can you imagine how crappy the GOP would appear in that same format? n/t

[lark]

12. They can't handle the truth,

so would have hated actually being held accountable for it. OMG, it would have been funny to watch. Of course, none of them have the cojones to go toe to toe with Rachel, she's so much smarter than all of them added together. Makes me giggle, just thinking of the implosions.

[sarge43]

13. Good on him. It's the right thing to do. n/t

[bigwillq]

14. Cool

K and R

[YOHABLO]

15. That's right scour the shame away. Just some more political bullshit. Why should gay men/women care?

Make all military discharges for alleged homosexuality honorable. Pay off their student loans.

[bigtree]

16. read his proposal

• Provide Clean Service Records For Discharged Gay And Lesbian Troops.

Governor O’Malley will provide long-overdue justice for LGBT veterans whose only transgression was being true to who they are. He will commit his administration to passing legislation automatically upgrading the service records of troops discharged solely because of their sexual orientation.

in addition:

As president, Governor O’Malley will:

• Reform The Discharge System To Prevent Wrongful OTH Discharges. Governor O’Malley supports creating a uniform system of determining the level of military discharge. All military personnel being considered for administrative separation for misconduct or poor performance who served in a war zone must be evaluated for PTS and/or TBI. No service member who is found to suffer from PTS, TBI or any other medical condition that would impact his or her ability to serve should be separated for misconduct or poor performance. Instead, these service members should be sent through the medical board evaluation process.

• Ensure Appropriate Legal Counsel For Those Facing OTH Discharges. Enlisted soldiers who maintain their innocence are sometimes pressured by their commanders to accept an OTH discharge. While the Army provides a right to legal counsel, commanders have been known to pressure soldiers to waive this right. Part of the problem is that military regulations do not provide an absolute right to legal counsel. All military personnel being considered for an OTH discharge should have the non-waiver right of legal counsel.

https://martinomalley.com/policy/veterans/

[elleng]

17. Thanks, bigtree.

Have avoided that one all day.

[That Guy 888]

18. Good for him

It's good to see someone with concrete plans.

[friendly_iconoclast]

19. Good!

[YOHABLO]

20. The point I am trying to make is that the damage has been done.

X-military service people who have received discharges for alleged homosexual conduct, have mostly been through a lot of emotional pain and stress. I don't know how many gay/women have been discharged with less than honorable conditions, However I would imagine that most have received general discharges under honorable conditions. It's not the discharge that causes the pain, it's the stigma. I'm all for correcting the error of receiving a less than honorable discharge, but even the fact that you had the records corrected will be on the record. If it's been more than say 15 years since you've received your discharge, good luck. They won't be able to find the records or your DD-214. Military people know how important the DD-214 is after service in the military.

[AllyCat]

21. Glad to hear this!

[pinstikfartherin]

22. K&R!