Richardson on Don't Ask Don't Tell: Rule is "immoral and a choice"

[seasat]

He played on his misstatement at the LOGO forum by stating:

Homosexuality is not immoral, it is not a choice, asking someone to hide their identity and devaluing their sacrifice is both immoral and a choice.

The question asked by the Human Rights Campaign was "If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?’" The part of Richardson's reply that covered that was:

I was in the House of Representatives when the legislation enabling “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was proposed. I voted against it then and am unalterably opposed to it now. As President, I would use executive orders, legislative proposals and personal persuasion with the Congress to reverse this egregious policy. I would seek to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as rapidly as possible. This law forces people to be dishonest and jeopardizes them in ways that should not be allowed in a free and open society.

The rest of his statement is here. There are also links to statements from Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, and Obama above Richardson's. I thought Obama's answer was pretty good too.

[troubleinwinter]

1. Biden, Richardson, Edwards, Clinton, Dodd and Obama have spoken against it. Good.

[Alexander]

2. Every Democrat raised their hands when asked if they'd get rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

Thankfully all the candidates seem to be on the same page on this issue.

[Toasterlad]

3. If Being Gay is Not Immoral or a Choice, How Come I Can't Get Married, Govenor?

None of the "top Democratic candidates for president" are in any rush to do anything about THAT.

Meanwhile, FUCK the HRC for consistently ignoring the two democratic candidates who fully support equality for gays. They've received their last donation from me.

[AnnieBW]

4. Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Make Sense!

As Chucklenuts and his boys keep telling us, we're in a time of war. We're having trouble recruiting enough people for the Armed Forces as it is. We're resorting to putting criminals into uniforms. But we won't let homosexuals defend their country as well? Because some people might be UNCOMFORTABLE with it? Colin Powell would never be a General if people were uncomfortable with a black man as an officer!

What about those Arabic linguists who were kicked out of the Army because they were gay? A lot of taxpayer money was spent on training these guys, and it was thrown out the window because of DADT. Who fucking CARES if the person listening to terrorists talking about where to plant IEDs is gay or straight, as long as they can do their jobs? People forget that one of the heroes of Flight 93 was a GAY MAN. Of course, the Christian guy with the cute, blonde wife got all of the glory, but he was helped by a GAY MAN. And our pResident and Congress won't let gay people fight? That is total fucking bullshit.

:rant: