Shooting Straight

President Obama spread waves of shock and delight across the nation when he announced on Saturday that he planned to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of gays in in the military and allow them to serve openly in the armed services without fear of expulsion. Some military leaders have expressed fears that could have a demoralizing effect on the service. Funny, I thought the outsourcing of all their duties to Blackwater had already taken care of that.

The United States would thus become the last Western country to allow gays to serve openly in the military, though it's better late than never. Many homosexual rights advocates had been disappointed on Obama's record of gay civil rights, but it turns out he was with them all the time; it was just a matter of fitting them into his schedule. Health care, two wars, a rotten job market . . . sooner or later the White House had to pencil them in. Friday? No, they couldn't do that, they already had a moon-bombing mission scheduled. :-D

In addition to a big agenda, President Obama has to deal with another thing blocking repeal of "don't ask, don't tell. . . ." congressional and military opponents. Not to mention talk radio hosts. But the President seems to be slowly learning to go ahead and do the right thing, if only because he'd even getting attacked for what he chooses to eat for breakfast.

As for gays in the military, the late Barry Goldwater said it best when he said that you don't have to be straight to serve in the military. You just have to shoot straight.