Clinton's response to DADT question makes case against triangulating

[ProSense]

At Netroots Nation, Blogger Challenges Bill Clinton On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

At the Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh yesterday, former President Bill Clinton delivered the opening day’s keynote address. In his speech, Clinton declared that it is “imperative for the Democrats to pass a health care bill now,” telling the bloggers and activists that “the president needs your help and the cause needs your help.”

About 20 minutes into his speech, however, Clinton was interrupted by blogger Lane Hudson, who asked about the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that Clinton implemented. “Hey, you ought to go to one of those congressional health care meetings,” Clinton joked before defending his actions as president and claiming that “nobody regrets how this was implemented anymore than I do”:

CLINTON: I hated what happened. I regret it but I didn’t have, I didn’t think at the time, any choice if I wanted any progress to be made at all. Look, I think it’s ridiculous. Can you believe they spent, whatever they spent, $150,000 to get rid of a valued Arabic speaker recently? You know, the thing that changed me forever on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was when I learned that 130 gay service people were allowed to serve and risk their lives in the first Gulf War and all their commanders knew they were gay, but they let them go out there and risk their lives because they needed them. Then as soon as the first Gulf War was over, they kicked them out. That’s all I needed to know. That’s all anybody needs to know that this policy should be changed.

Watch it:

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At the Huffington Post, Hudson wrote that he interrupted the speech because “it became clear there would be no questions,” so when President Clinton said that “We need an honest, principled debate,” he stood and asked his question. Hudson said he was satisfied with Clinton’s answer on DADT, writing that “he made the strongest objection to DADT he has ever made to the best of my knowledge.”

The Obama White House has committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but is waiting to see “congressional action” first. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Sen. Kristian Gillibrand (D-NY) are taking the lead on repealing the provision in Congress.

(underlined emphasis added)

On health care reform, let's stop and think. No public option is not progress.

[SIMPLYB1980]

1. So what do you think of Obama triangulation moves?

I think he is fairly good at them himself which is why I like him as much as the Big Dog.

[ProSense]

2. Are you saying two wrongs make a right?

What triangulating moves? He's held very close to his campaign promises and have signed a stupid bill yet.

[SIMPLYB1980]

3. If you can't see Obama's triangulations then maybe that

is a good thing. My opinion is that it is awfully hard to hit a target without triangulating it's position.

"In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly. The point can then be fixed as the third point of a triangle with one known side and two known angles."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulation

[ProSense]

4. Cite examples.

Again, do two wrongs make a right?

Are you for triangulating?

[SIMPLYB1980]

5. Pulling the race card on the Clinton's was his finest.

Now I will leave you to be in your hatred of everything Clinton.

[Hutzpa]

7. Thats the best you have

wth!!

[ProSense]

9. WTH? You obviously have no clue what triangulating means. n/t

[SIMPLYB1980]

11. You better get ready to defend it because you are

going to start hearing it from the other side soon. I've heard it from a lot from republicans around here already. Haven't heard it in the news yet but you can bet it's coming. Personally I have no problem with it. You have to wheel and deal to get anything done in Washington.

[ProSense]

12. " I've heard it from a lot from republicans around here already." Um...

What the hell are you talking about?

[Hutzpa]

19. What??

:crazy:

[Hutzpa]

6. I would like you

to please show me where the President have triangulated?

[SIMPLYB1980]

10. How about the beer summit fine piece of Triangulation.

Diffused the situation nicely.

[ProSense]

13. Give it up or go look it up. n/t

[SIMPLYB1980]

14. Yawn.

[dsc]

15. Rick Warren

does that ring a bell?

[jesus_of_suburbia]

16. queers don't count.

:sarcasm:

in case you didn't know

[ProSense]

17. Does anyone know what triangulating means?

Seriously?

Inviting Rick Warren to the inauguration is not triangulating.

[Hutzpa]

18. .

:rofl: gotto laugh at the silliness being displayed....:silly:

[dsc]

20. Oh really

the only other option is that Obama actually believes what Warren spouts I don't really think you want to go there.

[ProSense]

21. "the only other option is that Obama actually believes what Warren spouts" What?

You have to agree with someone to invite them to an event?

It's still not triangulating.

[dsc]

22. either he invited the man because he believes him worthy of the honor

or he invited him because he was trying to appeal to the right wing. If it is the first then it wouldn't have been triangulating if it is the second then he definitely is triangulating.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Ah so it was Lane Hudson.

That kid has moxy.