GOP's Gary Johnson: Obama Too Slow Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

WASHINGTON -- Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, a libertarian considering a presidential bid, said this week that President Obama has helped advance gay rights -- but not quickly enough.

"I think the dialogue was advanced, but when it came to 'don't ask, don't tell,' I would've let that court ruling stand," Johnson said on CBSNews.com's Washington Unplugged on Friday.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that the military's policy banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military was unconstitutional. Mr. Obama's Justice Department decided to appeal the ruling even though the administration opposed policy, because it is the department's obligation to defend all federal laws, they said.

Mr. Obama argued that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was better reversed through legislation than the courts -- a stance that tested the patience of gay rights advocates. In a significant victory for the president and gay rights advocates, Congress did pass a repeal of the policy in December. However, actually implementing the repeal is expected to take some months, and some Republicans are suggesting the fight isn't over.

"Let's get rid of don't ask, don't tell," Johnson said. "I become emotional over the fact that we have young men and women in the service that are gay and can't express that, who are putting their lives on the line."

His position is a far cry from that of some other potential Republican presidential candidates in Washington this week for the Conservative Political Action Conference. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, for instance, said in Iowa this month that it would be "reasonable" to consider withholding funding to keep the repeal from going into place. Pawlenty, who's given strong signs he'll jump into the race, has emphasized his credentials as a social conservative.

The fight over the Republican party's acceptance of gay conservatives and gay rights came to a head at CPAC, after organizers invited the gay conservative group GOProud to be an official participant. Some social conservative groups protested the convention as a result, but gay conservatives and their allies this week declared victory, observing that they were well-received at the event. One of the more popular, high-profile politicians at CPAC this week is Rep. Ron Paul, another possible libertarian presidential contender.

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Johnson's support for gay rights (he has said he supports gay unions, suggesting the government shouldn't be involved in marriage at all) and his support for marijuana legalization have drawn comparisons to Paul. It's also spurred some in Washington to cast him as more of a fringe candidate -- Johnson dug into the issue of marijuana legalization during this speech at CPAC, but organizers started playing music while he was still speaking, as if to hasten his exit off stage.

Johnson's speech, however, left out issues of gay rights. In fact, as he touted his record as a self-made businessman and successful Republican governor in a Democratic state, Johnson sounded more like Mitt Romney that Ron Paul.

"First and foremost, I'm an entrepreneur, [and] I view my venture into politics as entrepreneurial," he said. Voters in New Mexico embraced him, he said, because he promised "to run government like a business."

Johnson said the Republican party has to accept a range of voices -- including his, Paul's, Romney's and others -- in order to grow the party base.

"The voice of the Republican party -- that's up for grabs. It's a contest," he said. "But you've got to provide Republicans with an alternative also, so perhaps I'm engaged in that contest."

Johnson says he's been traveling the country with his nonprofit political action committee Our America Initiative to see how other conservatives receive his message. So far, so good, he said.

"I live in Taos, New Mexico," he said. "I haven't been given my ticket back yet."

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[tauleonardo]

Many people don't realize that Cannabis prohibitio?n is completely counter-pr?oductive as it encourages people to indulge in alcohol and/or hard drugs, which are much more dangerous than Cannabis can ever be. It is proven that Cannabis use suppresses violent urges and behaviors, and "only the unsophisti?cated" think otherwise, according to the prestigiou?s "Substance Abuse: A Comprehens?ive Textbook" 4-th Edition. Marijuana Legalizati?on was advocated by Shafer Commission in 1972, something that Pres. Nixon chose to ignore, and the Administra?tive Law Judge Francis Young said in 1988 that "marijuana is one of the safest therapeuti?cally active substances known to man". The so-called "gateway drug" theory is completely bogus, and Cannabis itself is not physically addictive as it lacks the physical "withdrawa?l syndrome" associated with its use. Drug Marinol, much touted by the DEA, is NOT "Medical Marijuana"?, as the whole plant has over 70 active compounds, interactin?g with one another and constituti?ng the "whole" that is not at all the same as any of its "parts", as it is the "whole" that makes "parts" to be what they are. To say that marijuana does not have medicinal properties is simply the same thing as to say that the earth is flat! This is just not a "rational" statement to make altogether. And why is it that our so-called "representatives" in Congress will talk endlessly about massive cuts in social programs, but no one dares suggest that the huge DEA "marijuana enforcement" budget should be cut, and this is what most people would support, by the way! In the end, to be sure, science and reason will prevail, while ignorance and fear will lose!

[tauleonardo]

Many people don't realize that Cannabis prohibitio?n is completely counter-pr?oductive as it encourages people to indulge in alcohol and/or hard drugs, which are much more dangerous than Cannabis can ever be. It is proven that Cannabis use suppresses violent urges and behaviors, and "only the unsophisti?cated" think otherwise, according to the prestigiou?s "Substance Abuse: A Comprehens?ive Textbook" 4-th Edition. Marijuana Legalizati?on was advocated by Shafer Commission in 1972, something that Pres. Nixon chose to ignore, and the Administra?tive Law Judge Francis Young said in 1988 that "marijuana is one of the safest therapeuti?cally active substances known to man". The so-called "gateway drug" theory is completely bogus, and Cannabis itself is not physically addictive as it lacks the physical "withdrawa?l syndrome" associated with its use. Drug Marinol, much touted by the DEA, is NOT "Medical Marijuana"?, as the whole plant has over 70 active compounds, interactin?g with one another and constituti?ng the "whole" that is not at all the same as any of its "parts", as it is the "whole" that makes "parts" to be what they are. To say that marijuana does not have medicinal properties is simply the same thing as to say that the earth is flat! This is just not a "rational" statement to make altogether. In the end, to be sure, science and reason will prevail!

[thinking-voter]

No argument here. I would vote yes to legalizing it. It would solve so many problems while making more sense, given that alcohol is legal.

[jimbom121]

So Republicans...which is it???

The Republican Senators filibustered DADT last fall. So who is not acting fast enough????

[JebBush]

Troops are saying Do Ask, do Tell now at http://OutMilitary.com - the New Social Network for Gay Service Members.

[bobnjersey]

[Johnson dug into the issue of marijuana legalization during this speech at CPAC, but organizers started playing music while he was still speaking, as if to hasten his exit off stage.]
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is this all you have to do to shut these people up ... play music?

[msimamaji]

Say what??????
CPAC had a big split over whether to admit gays. CPAC sponsored a formuy attacking gay marriage. For years, the GOP has opposed abolishing DADT. Last year they threatened to shut down the government. Republicans are sponsoring laws banning gay adoptions and Senator Jim DeMint want to ban gays from teaching in public schools.
The left is co-opting gays???? Get real. This speech proves that the GOP are a bunch of frauds and liars.

[JWinATL]

What it proves is that few of the generalizations you libs make about conservatives are true. The ones that ARE true are that we understand how to make a living without mooching off of society, and the federal government is not the answer to the problems with our economy. Remember what happens when you ASSUME something?

[bobnjersey]

[The ones that ARE true are that we understand how to make a living without mooching off of society, and the federal government is not the answer to the problems with our economy.]
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talk about a couple of false talking points.

you speak as though there aren't any 'conservatives' taking handouts from the government ... and that it wasn't the 'allowance' provided in legislation that led to the worst economic crisis in a couple of generations.

[mars1259]

You know what cracks me up the most with the rethugs....they gripe and complain all day along about every little thing the President tries to do, yet offer no solutions of thier own...just more crying and complaining...they are so pissed that a black man is in the white house, they just can't come out and say that cause it would doom them forever. And the stupid sheep that follow them, it is simply amazing how many idiots there are in this country.

[catmomtx]

And it is funny how the media and Republicans keep trying to find something to complain about in how President Obama handled the situation in Egypt. He started off to slow, but hey that is exactly what they said about the oil spill and everything else that has occurred on his watch. They can't seem to grasp the idea that the President wants to find out what is going on, why and what the best options are for our country. The media and Obama haters can't seem to grasp the idea that perhaps the President should take time to investigate what options are available to us rather than running head long into a situation that we can't get out of. And of course, do you think the media can give the President credit for not inserting our country into something that could have had the potential to cost us more of our tax dollars and perhaps lives of our military.

Bottom line, the American people are impulsive and inpatient. Thank goodness we have a President willing to spend a little extra time thinking about the American response and not running into a situation without knowing what is happening, what is needed and what it's implication is on OUR country. And!!! besides the aide we already give to Egypt, what resources in money and lives did Americans spend? Perhaps if we had had the same approach in Iraq.............

[thinking-voter]

"Johnson dug into the issue of marijuana legalization during this speech at CPAC, but organizers started playing music while he was still speaking, as if to hasten his exit off stage."

Ha ha ha like it's Academy Awards night or something.

I bet Gary hasn't a single clue why Congress is the better path for the repeal. What buffoonery! Each to their own fringe candidate.