"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": March 2008 Archives

Former President Bill Clinton fielded some tough questions from college journalists about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s and his current feelings about the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits federal recognition of marriage for gay and lesbian couples, during a recent editorial board meeting with mtvU. Referring to singer Melissa Etheridge’s comment during the HRC Logo Presidential Forum that he threw the LGBT community “under the bus,” reporter Lily Lamboy of the Smith College Sophian asked President Clinton about DOMA and where Sen. Clinton stands on the issue. 

It is encouraging to see that young reporters are willing to ask political leaders such challenging questions about their support for LGBT equality.  It is also noteworthy that President Clinton misstated his wife’s position on DOMA when he asserted that she favors a full repeal of the legislation.  Sen. Clinton wants to repeal only a part of DOMA, which could have two possible outcomes. The repeal could prevent conflict between states that have different marriage laws on the books, while leaving the door open for individual states to follow in Massachusetts’ footsteps.  However, by only repealing one section of DOMA, states could still continue to reinforce bans on marriage for gay and lesbian couples. The media would do well to remember that even the closest advisors and supporters of the presidential hopefuls can misrepresent the facts when it comes to the candidates’ positions on complex issues related to the LGBT community.

Cindi Creager is Director of National News

During this election, media often fail to scrutinize candidates' statements about LGBT issues. The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire recently reported that Republican candidate John McCain told a Texas town hall forum that he opposes the repeal of the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The article quoted McCain saying, “There are some issues in which we just have to rely on the views of our military leaders.” Unfortunately, The Wall Street Journal did not question McCain's assertion that no military leaders oppose discrimination against gay soldiers.

In fact, a number of prominent military leaders have publicly stated their support of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Most prominent among them is former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John M. Shalikashvili (right). In January 2007, General Shalikashvili penned a much-discussed op-ed in The New York Times stating, “I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces.”

Justifying his view on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” General Shalikashvili wrote, “Last year I held a number of meetings with gay soldiers and marines, including some with combat experience in Iraq, and an openly gay senior sailor who was serving effectively as a member of a nuclear submarine crew. These conversations showed me just how much the military has changed, and that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers.”

In addition to General Shalikashvili's column, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and others published pieces noting that 28 retired generals and admirals signed a public letter urging Congress to completely repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

As the media continues to discuss the presidential candidates' statements about issues that profoundly impact the lives of LGBT people, we will encourage journalists to examine whether candidates' assertions reflect the reality that increasing numbers of Americans, including some military leaders, now support the ability of gay people to do their jobs and serve their country while living their lives openly.

Cindi Creager is the Director of National News