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| Home Front: Culture Wars | |
| Gay man backed for NAVSEC - Not dancing with sailors no longer an option. | |
| 2008-12-18 | |
| Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy - a move that would put the first openly gay person at the top of one of the services. The secretary's job is a civilian position, so it would not run afoul of the ban on gays serving in the military, but it would renew focus on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office. "He would be phenomenal," said retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001, pointing to Mr. White's extensive background as a fundraiser for veterans' and military causes.
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| Posted by: Besoeker |
| #8 That's a whole a lot of ink to tell the readers William White is gay. But not a paragraph on why he is qualified to be secretary of the Navy, such as service experience. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-12-18 22:44 |
| #7 Still stuck with the [Congress'] law. Members of the Executive don't have the Constitutional authority to override it. SCOTUS could overturn it, but has already established precedent that 'gay' is not a protected class. You don't want to stick the military in a ethical bind of choosing between their oath to uphold the Constitution and a illegal dictate cause in the end you throw out the leash that keeps them from ultimately being in charge. "Oh, we don't have to obey the law or be loyal to the Constitution?". Yep, that's a good plan. |
| Posted by: P2k on holiday 2008-12-18 21:05 |
| #6 "He would be simply fabulous, no more soap on a rope." said retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001. |
| Posted by: anymouse 2008-12-18 15:07 |
| #5 "sailors were offered the chance to stay below decks under armed guard, and many took up the offer." female sailors? |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2008-12-18 14:58 |
| #4 I knew it was time to retire when the policy was 'don't ask, don't tell' and thus optional to be gay, but before it became mandatory. Not unexepected however when lawn dart pilots are known as Fighter Attack Guys. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2008-12-18 14:57 |
| #3 "Mr. White has become a friend of the military..." Tongue in, um, cheek? |
| Posted by: Uneresing Barnsmell4687 2008-12-18 14:51 |
| #2 Wow, a Secretary of the Navy would couldn't even visit a ship or a naval base without an armed guard. Bill Clinton was in effect barred from lots of military bases because his safety could not be assured. When he visited an aircraft carrier, sailors were offered the chance to stay below decks under armed guard, and many took up the offer. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-12-18 13:21 |
| #1 Welcome to the softer, gentler, easier to bamboozle (or bugger) U.S. Navy..... Lt. (jg) Nick Holden reporting for duty! |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2008-12-18 12:06 |