Time to end “don’t ask, don’t tell”?
From CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President-elect Obama is committed to ending the "don't ask don't tell" policy that prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.
Should "don't ask, don't tell" be overturned?
He campaigned on this, and a spokesman reiterates it on a new video posted on the change.gov web site.
Commitment aside, the spokesman elaborated on his comments to add that the President's first priority is jump starting the economy.
Not to mention that overturning the policy requires legislation from Congress. President Clinton tried to overturn it when he took office in 1993 but opposition from military leadership prevailed.
Ret. General Colin Powell, who was the chairman of the joint chief of staffs at the time, has said Congress should review the policy because attitudes have changed since it was passed more than 15 years ago.
In an attempt to create a loophole of sorts, a bill was introduced during the last session of Congress to implement "a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" but it never came up for a full House vote. So that bill and Obama's commitment to overturn the policy remain on the back burner, at least for now.
Here’s my question to you: Is it time to end "Don't ask, don't tell" for gays in the military?
Tune in to the Situation Room to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Tax cuts or government spending for stimulus package?
From CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There's no formula for success when it comes to stimulating the economy. As Time Magazine points out, the economists and experts speculating on what will work are simply guessing.
Should the President-elect's stimulus package emphasize tax cuts or government spending?
At the heart of it all is whether the boost should come from tax cuts or government spending. There are pros and cons for both but no one knows if either is the magic bullet.
Tax cuts are a quick solution, and have been effective in the past. But this time they may not be the answer because with consumer confidence as low as it is people are likely to hold on to any extra money they can get their hands instead of running out and spending it.
As for government spending, the projects take a long time to get under way. They leave debt for our children and grandchildren, but the idea is that there is something to show for them at the end of the day. There is a bridge or a building or a highway. There's also the option of, rather than starting new projects, pumping money to state and local governments where it can be spent on projects already under way that are likely going to be cut.
Here’s my question to you: Should President-elect Obama's stimulus package emphasize tax cuts or government spending?
Tune in to the Situation Room to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Guantanamo Bay: What should happen to the inmates?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Pentagon says 61 former detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay have resumed what they call terrorist activities since their release.
A guard stands his position at Camp V on the US Naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
President-elect Obama says he'll close the prison as soon as his first week in office. He admits there are issues to work out if he does so, primarily the threat that the suspects still in custody there pose to the safety of the American people. There are about 250 of them including 2 of the alleged conspirators of the 9/11 attacks. They can't simply be released.
Perhaps the Pentagon is trying to emphasize that very point with the information they released. But it lacks details like what actions the detainees have taken since their release, where they are now and why they were released in the first place. Human rights advocates are skeptical of the report.
President-elect Obama's haste in closing the prison is an attempt to make a clean break from the Bush Administration's war on terror. Yesterday, when asked about Obama's plans to close Guantanamo, President Bush told CNN's Larry King that signing the paper is one thing but actually doing it is more involved. President Bush said he wants the base closed too, but it's a complex matter.
Here’s my question to you: If President-elect Obama closes the Guantanamo Bay prison, what should be done with the inmates there?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Bill Clinton’s Financial Affairs Prevent Hillary’s Secretary of State Confirmation?
From CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Senator Hillary Clinton intervened 6 times in government issues that directly affected companies or individuals who became donors to her husband's foundation, according to the Associated Press.
Should the Clinton Foundation's ties to foreigners affect Hillary Clinton's nomination?
This raises obvious questions about the potential for ethical conflicts that could arise in her official business as Secretary of State. Christopher Hitchens at Slate.com calls into question whether Hillary Clinton should have been nominated for the post at all.
The article points out that everyone around the world knows that you can get the former president's attention through his foundation. Not a problem in itself but when you factor in that he's the confidant to the would-be Secretary of State, someone she's sure to rely on since she has no foreign affairs track record of her own, it can become one.
The foundation has agreed to disclose its list of confidential clients and every year new donors from foreign states could be subject to the scrutiny of Obama administration lawyers.
Here’s my question to you: Should the foreign financial affairs of Bill Clinton's foundation be enough to prevent Sen. Hillary Clinton's confirmation as Secretary of State?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Should Tax and Housekeeper Problems Cost Geithner the Treasury Job?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Timothy Geithner, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Obama's pick for Secretary of Treasury, hit a road block yesterday on his path to Washington to lead the nation through the current economic crisis.
Geithner's confirmation hearing is now rescheduled for after the inauguration.
His confirmation hearing turned into a closed door meeting between members of the Senate Finance Committee and the would-be Secretary. At issue, were Geithner's failure to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes while he worked at the International Monetary Fund and employing an immigrant housekeeper who had expired work papers for three months.
The President-elect and his aides chalked these problems up as honest mistakes. They were quick to point out that all back taxes, interest and penalties have been paid and filings were amended.
As Treasury Secretary, Geithner will ultimately oversee the IRS, so his tax mistakes conceivably could be an issue.
Some members of the committee said they still support Geithner, who's been widely praised for his experience. Others aren't willing to give him a pass just yet.
As for the housekeeper, she's married to an American and has her green card now.
Geithner's confirmation hearing is now rescheduled for next week, after the inauguration.
Here’s my question to you: Should Timothy Geithner's tax and housekeeper problems cost him the post of Secretary of Treasury?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
What Will You Do To Help the U.S.?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Reality is sinking in for President-elect Obama as he comes to terms with the fact that all of his campaign promises can't be accomplished right away, some of them not at all.
What are you willing to do?
It's a matter of priorities, political maneuvering and money.
The economic crisis is so serious that raising taxes on the wealthy, giving homeowners a 10% tax credit, and not running up debt for future generations are all going to have to wait, at least for now.
Obama is expected to be the President of change but at the moment things need fixing.
On the campaign trail, Obama said fixing the economy would be a priority. Since then the situation has gone from bad to worse.
The President-elect is desperately trying to get support for an emergency stimulus package before he's even sworn in.
President-elect Obama has made it clear that everyone must step up to the plate. He's asked Americans to, "embrace a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice."
Here’s my question to you: President-elect Obama has called on us to make sacrifices for our country. What are you willing to do?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bush Farewell Speech: What Do You Want To Hear?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Bush gave his last scheduled news conference yesterday and now plans to give a farewell address to the nation on Thursday night at 8pm. He's asked the networks to give up some of their coveted prime-time schedules for it.
President Bush plans to give a farewell address on Thursday night.
He will deliver the 15- minute speech in the East Room of the White House in front of a live audience of "courageous Americans."
According to the White House press secretary, the President is expected to reflect on his 8 years in office and how the country has changed during that time. He will defend his record but will also share his thoughts on the greatest problems facing the nation and what it takes to meet them.
There's no law about if, how and when Presidents say good-bye as they leave the White House. Past Presidents have done so on Capitol Hill, in newspapers, from the White House, or not at all, as was the case with Bush 41 before Clinton took office.
Here’s my question to you: What would you like President Bush to say in his farewell address to the nation Thursday night?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Sen. Burris: Why did Reid and Durbin cave in?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's official: Roland Burris will be sworn in and officially seated in the United States Senate later this week. He fills the seat vacated by President-elect Obama.
Why did Reid change his mind?
This comes after a circus of events that started with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich allegedly trying to sell the seat. Then he refused, and does to this day, to resign from his post. Last week, Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois legislature. But in a brazen show of arrogance, and perhaps as a way of calling Harry Reid's bluff, Blagojevich went right ahead and appointed Roland Burris. As promised, the Senate refused to seat him.
When Burris was named, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others quickly said they would reject anyone appointed by Governor Blagojevich.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, number two in the Senate, initially said the fate of the vacant seat should wait until Blagojevich is removed from office.
And there was no shortage of lawmakers issuing statements or rushing in front of cameras to speak their minds. But look what can happen in a week. Burris met behind closed doors with Reid. Democratic Senators suddenly changed their tune and now they will welcome Burris with open arms as their new colleague.
Here’s my question to you: Why did Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin cave in and agree to seat Roland Burris as President-elect Obama's Senate replacement?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
More Than a Third of Americans are Obese
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There are now more obese Americans than those who are merely overweight.
A new Federal report says that 34% of Americans are now obese.
A new Federal report says that 34% of Americans are now obese as compared to the 32.7% who are overweight. More than one third of all Americans, 72 million people, are obese.
Among the objectives set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services for the year 2010 is to reduce obesity to less than 15% of the adult population. To say they've got their work cut out for them is a gross understatement. It's now 2009 and the numbers are moving in the wrong direction.
The rising rates of obesity aren't new. As a nation, we've been getting fatter and fatter for years. Health officials have warned us that obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other illnesses. The message is clear, eat healthy and exercise. But we don't listen and rather than shedding the pounds people are putting more on.
Here’s my question to you: What does it mean that more than a third of Americans are obese?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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