Former President Bill Clinton on DOMA & DADT

[SonOfSlobone]

I agree that DADT looks like it's headed for the last roundup, and probably the need for more troops is part of the reason.

But it's also really an idea whose time has come. The military has been increasingly isolated as the only organization that still actively persecutes homosexuals, and even their dinosaurs have to become extinct eventually...

 

[JB3]

What an elementary, unrealistic perception of presidential governance. Fortunately we DO NOT live under a dictatorship, if you think it's as easy as the president "Doing the right thing when he wants, how he wants, with the swipe of a pen" then I propose a new bill that all US citizens be forced to repeat 8th grade social studies. Ever heard of "Checks and balances?"

No. You misunderstand.

The whole point of a veto is for the President to voice his disapproval, and to stop something questionable. Had Clinton felt strongly against the bill, he should have vetoed it. Of course he knew that it would become law, regardless of his veto. But if he had truly disagreed with it, to the point that he states now, he should have issued his disapproval in the form of a veto.

 

[NickCole]

How did gays in the military affect Clinton's presidency? Again, let's check the record.

Your research and analysis is fascinating. Thanks for these re-caps that help correct some things commonly misrepresented on this forum and elsewhere.

But this, because of today's troubled health care reform legislation, is the most interesting to me:

Both Clinton and Obama pledged to end the ban during their campaigns. But Clinton did more (or tried to do more) in his first week than Obama has done in 6 months. Can anybody doubt that Obama's stalling is attributable to his determination not to go down in flames like Clinton did?

If you're right, it speaks very poorly of Obama.

The lessons to learn from Clinton's failures with gays in the military and health care reform are not to be more reticent but to be more aware of the opposition and make sure you establish firm footing for a hard fight before you begin.

If what you say is true, Obama learned timidity where a strong leader would have learned boldness.