For Obama, no hurry on don't ask, don't tell

(AP Phote/ CBS Face the Nation/ Karin Cooper)

According to National Security Adviser James Jones, President Obama will tackle the politically radioactive issue of repealing the military's "don't ask/don't tell" ban "at the right time". Jones continued, "I don't think it's going to be-it's not years, but I think it will be teed up appropriately" according to CNN.

To some this revelation will inspire rage. Conservatives will roll out the tired arguments about morale and unity that have been around since the battle to de-segregate the military six decades ago and the outlandish stereotypes that assume homosexuals are uncontrollably animalistic. Liberals, on the other hand will complain that no matter a President's want or desire, some events-some matters pronounce themselves as urgent with no regard for convenience. The plight of homosexuals in the military and society at large qualifies as one such issue.

An issue this President seems willing to ignore for as long as he can get away with it. Indeed, President Obama has already flipped and flopped on his promise to repeal D.O.M.A. and now seems ready to similarly backtrack on his promise to quickly erase "don't ask/ don't tell", a policy that promotes bias against homosexuals and led to the expulsion of 634 members of the U.S. Armed Forces last year alone.

While the comfort of our soldiers is not inconsequential, the belief that any U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan or Iraq would prefer going into a war zone shorthanded rather then alongside an openly gay soldier borders on lunacy.

In allowing the military to continually dismiss well qualified gay soldiers and in sidestepping this issue until a more politically prudent time, the President proves derelict in his duties as Commander in Chief, and as President.