Obama vows to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy

Per BBC News, U.S. President Barack Obama pledged in a speech to the Human Rights Campaign Saturday to end the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy.

The Associated Press adds that Obama also vowed to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act, which denies same-sex marriage. Obama gave no timetable to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Twitterers were pleased to hear Obama’s pledge, while many still thought his pledge took too long:

youdomytodo (Lynchburg, Virginia) Our President has vowed to end dont ask dont tell AND to repeal DOMA! This is a day of HOPE for sure!! 11 Oct 2009 from web

TheNavyBear (Nashville, Tennessee) OMG! What a great day for America! Obama pledged to abolish “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and “Defense In Marriage” act! 11 Oct 2009 from web

m_herman (Silicon Valley/San Francisco, California) Love that Obama is banning ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ military policy: http://bit.ly/2dHRp 11 Oct 2009 from web

eliza_writes (Undisclosed) Oh! Obama’s going to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell! http://bit.ly/IvSJK This is awesome. 11 Oct 2009 from Brizzly

danpcurran (Washington D.C.) Change I can believe in. RT @huffingtonpost Obama Says He Will End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy http://bit.ly/PJrSB 11 Oct 2009 from txt

Many more Twitterers remind us that just because Obama made the pledge doesn’t mean the policy has actually been repealed:

wcruz73 (Los Angeles, California) “I will end Don’t ask Dont Tell. That is my commitment to you.” POTUS Obama – Now let’s hold him to it! 11 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

SundevilSal (Arizona) @WestWingReport I will end “Dont Ask, Dont Tell” Prez Obama just promised but why doesnt he just sign an executive order today? 11 Oct 2009 from web in reply to WestWingReport

dptalks (Undisclosed) Pres Obama brought tears to is all with his promise to end Dont Ask Dont Tell. Pass ENDA and repeal DOMA 11 Oct 2009 from Echofon

brainnfun (Washington D.C.) @HomoPolitico he will end don’t ask dont tell, but he won’t do it by himself, we have to do it, and ask him to join us. 11 Oct 2009 from web in reply to HomoPolitico

Some even expressed their doubt regarding Obama’s pledge, and their concern for other issues:

smashedthehomie (Undisclosed) How committed can Obama really be to gay rights if he doesn’t support gay marriage? I don’t want some separate but equal civil union shit. 11 Oct 2009 from Echofon

SouljahSingh (Toronto, Canada) President Obama abolishes “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Pfft… like that’s gonna change anything within the Military circle… 11 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

rushlimbang (Undisclosed) When will Obama and Congress end “Don’t ask, don’t tell” regarding the Healthcare bill? 11 Oct 2009 from web