ONE YEAR after Obama told him "we're going to get this done", a Lt. Col. awaits DADT discharge fate

[Bluebear]

Lt. Col. Fehrenbach still waiting news on DADT discharge, a year after Obama told him 'we're going to get this done'

Any day now, Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach expects to learn whether he's being discharged from the military under the DADT policy. Last night, on the Rachel Maddow show, the fighter pilot, a nineteen-year veteran, said that the decision in his case is now on the desk of the Secretary of the Air Force. But, it might as well be on Obama's desk. If Fehrenbach does get discharged after 19 years, the responsibility rests with the Commander-in-Chief. And, as you'll see below, last year, the President told Fehrenbach of DADT repeal, "We're going to get this done."

Here's the video from last night:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908//vp/38271591#38271591

Last year, on June 29, 2009, at the White House LGBT cocktail party, Fehrenbach, facing discharge under DADT, met the President. It was surely one of the most important interactions of that evening. Their conversation was described that night on the Rachel Maddow show:

STEWART: You spoke with President Obama today. What did you tell him?

FEHRENBACH: I did, just after he spoke, I was about the third person to get to him and I introduced myself and told him my situation, and he looked like he knew who I was and what my situation was already. So, I basically told him that I was currently being discharged under “don‘t ask, don‘t tell” and I told him the situation for me was urgent and I needed his help.

STEWART: And were you satisfied with the answer you got from the president? How did he respond? That‘s a very direct question.

FEHRENBACH: It was. He looked me right in the eye and he said, “We‘re going to get this done.” And then he continued to say, you know, everyone seems to be onboard. We‘ve got about 75 percent of the public that supports this. He said, but we have a generational issue. And so, there is some convincing to do, that there is a generational gap it seems and some of the senior leadership.

Well, as we know, they haven't gotten it done yet -- and Fehrenbach is still facing discharge. It could happen any day.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/07/lt-col-fehrenbach-still-waiting-news-on.html

[davidinalameda]

1. what a surprise

not

[Bluebear]

2. Fehrenbach, another whining pony-wisher.

:silly:

[msongs]

7. wonder what he wrote on Obama's shower with gays survey? nt

[Touchdown]

50. Ten bucks says he wasn't sent one.

:patriot:

[davidinalameda]

16. I'm stealing that

whining pony-wisher

:rofl:

[Bluebear]

22. :)

[Starry Messenger]

3. Wow, an unrec for Lt. Fehrenbach.

I guess nothing should shock me anymore. :(

[Bluebear]

4. And another two just now!

Support our troops! :patriot:

[Starry Messenger]

10. Probably because I mentioned it.

Sorry Bluebear, I was just so saddened to see how quickly this got voted down.

[sailor65]

14. Yeah, my rec vanished

before my next refresh :-(

[sailor65]

5. So while we're hearing about the 20 Gazillion-Million jobs saved by Obama,

Here's ONE he could ACTUALLY save with no effort at all by uttering very few words.

19 years serving America, and facing nothing better than a kick in the teeth.

As unfortunately is often the case, a rec for Bluebear but NOT for the ridiculous situation behind the OP.

[QC]

6. Lt. Col. Fehrenbach never really loved him!

:cry:

[90-percent]

8. What about us taxpayers?

We have invested an estimated 25 million dollars in training this fellow to serve and defend us. To throw that away because of his sexual preference is imbecilic!

Although, I think anybody in tte service that gets off being juked by a baby octopus and spewed upon with creamed corn should be immediately discharged! That's way too creepy a sexual preference to let into the military. Necrophilia and real torture are perfectly acceptable sexual peccadillo's, however.


-90% jimmy

[davidinalameda]

17. sexual preference?

it's orientation

[Missy Vixen]

9. If you listened to Lt, Col. Fehrenbach's interview with Rachel Maddow

last night, you heard him say that the US Government has spent $25 million training him.

Twenty-five million dollars. Nineteen honorable years of service. He was informed on by a civilian, which isn't an acceptable measure for reporting a DADT violation.

I suppose he should be "practical", and enjoy all the time off he's about to get, huh?

:mad:

[Mimosa]

19. Good points, Missy Vixen & K&R to Bluebear n/t

[SoCalDem]

11. The wheels of justice grind slowly...

Look at how many years it took from the Emancipation Proclamation for any meaningful resolution:(

[frylock]

12. really dude? really?!! do you need to see the list again..

because it's been posted three times today. hater.

:sarcasm:

[Mimosa]

20. ^ ROTFLMAO ^

The list! The list, please!

[Smashcut]

21. #79 - Took steps to start negotiations to create a Committee to discuss repealing DADT

[Bluebear]

23. +

[LostinVA]

33. omfg -- hahahahahahahahahaha

I may be stealing that.

[terrya]

46. That is so, so sad

To have to use something like that to list your accomplishments for people who not only voted, worked for, and contributed campaign contributions for, but for people who are demanding their rightful equality.

[Robb]

48. World-class

A touch mean to a particular poster, but world-class snark. I can appreciate it. :D

Edit: Turns out psoter is spelled "poster."

[Touchdown]

52. What list?

:shrug:

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Your personal snark to the OP is ironic

because the 'point' is in fact the personal face of the injustice of DADT. The point is this happens to actual, living, breathing, talented and highly trained American people with names and faces.
The point has very little to do with the political figures playing their parts in the show, they are extras in this story, which is about the Lt. Col.

[Bluebear]

18. Glad I missed it.

They were probably ignored anyhow lol.

[QC]

24. Kicking sensibly. n/t

[davidinalameda]

25. let's keep this kicked for the hell of it

[gulliver]

26. If you're tired of worrying about DADT, let the GOP have Congress

We won't hear a word about delays in getting rid of it, because there will be no more getting rid of it. Actually the GOP will replace DADT with something, I'm sure, so there might be whatever that is to worry about.

[Bluebear]

28. Oh dear. You forgot to tell me that I just want to elect President Palin.

[davidinalameda]

30. so we're supposed to be grateful for the delay?

anything else we're supposed to be grateful for?

[davidinalameda]

31. so we're supposed to be grateful for the delay?

anything else we're supposed to be grateful for?

[LostinVA]

34. Your substitution of "worrying" for "whining" was ingenious!

:thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

43. Nice touch eh?

[ruggerson]

27. Meanwhile, the President of Argentina declares political war on the Vatican

in the name of marriage equality and guess what?

She wins.

And she didn't even conduct a survey!

This is the face of presidential leadership:

[LostinVA]

35. In a very Catholic, very macho country

HUGE props for her!!!!

[Laughing Mirror]

36. Idem for Spain and now also Portugal

And let us not forget Mexico City.

[LostinVA]

37. Yup

[Laughing Mirror]

38. And Brazil is practically there and

will finally get there before these United States, of that I am sure.

Isn't it sad what this country could become but has not become?

[LostinVA]

41. The lost promise of this nation is very sad

And, I sincerely mean that. I have dual citizenship, and can live and work in any EU country, and I think the time to leave here may be coming within the next ten years, which really is a sad thing to say. I'd rather go to Canada, but it would be much harder, whereas nothing is legally stopping me from moving to Ireland. You can even take your pets now without quarantining them. Yes, I have checked.

[SunnySong]

29. Heh. think of how the people at Guantanamo feel...

[Lilith Velkor]

32. No doubt.

[terrya]

39. Kicking for a hero, Lt. Col. Fehrenbach

And all of the heroes and heroines in the military who want to serve their country, but have to deal with a disgusting, hateful, discriminatory law/policy that forces them to lie about themselves.

[Bluebear]

44. ++

[Touchdown]

40. Kicking for the Hero!

[KG]

42. pragmatical fierce advocatin'!

[Bluebear]

45. Kick for Vic!

[Bluebear]

53. Kick for Vic

[Bluebear]

54. Kick for Vic

[Odin2005]

47. "BUT IT'S JUST ONE SONG!!!"

[Bluebear]

49. That was just the opening act. nt

[Touchdown]

51. Michelle is a big fan of his music!

:silly:

[Ignis]

55. Le coup de pied!

:kick:

[Bluebear]

56. Merci!

[Bonobo]

57. Problem is, he think 18 years in the service qualifies him to demand

:sarcasm:

[cherokeeprogressive]

58. Yup. That's why I voted for him...

I knew he'd keep the discrimatory practices in place. How did I know? He said so. DURING the campaign. I don't have the quote, but you can search for it and find what he said to that asshole Warren during the campaign.

Something to the effect of marriage being a thing between a man and woman. Pretty much said it all for me.

Thank God for politicians like him, those who would keep those awful gays from being a totally equal part of society and totally and completely entitled to the rights everyone else is entitled to...

I'm not sure whether I need to take a shower or puke...

[Bluebear]

59. “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.” - Barack Obama

Sen. Obama said, “I believe marriage is between a man and a woman,” shortly after being asked if he opposed same-sex marriage, to which he responded, “Yes.” This positioning is not new for Sen. Obama. He has uttered those words plenty – during a debate with Alan Keyes in 2004, on the Senate floor in 2006, even in his 2007 Human Rights Campaign candidate questionnaire.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2008/06/20/Obama_and_One-Man,_One-Woman_Marriage/

===

Your recollection of his attitude on marriage equality is quite correct.

[pinboy3niner]

60. Kick!

:kick:

[TheWatcher]

61. It will "get done" about the time Gitmo Closes, The Troops Come Home, etc.

Just give it a few more "business hours."

Everything will be right as rain.

No, Seriously.

He's Only BEGUN to play Chess.

Check out those six-dimensional moves.....

[Bluebear]

62. +