Rachel Maddow: Decorated AF Lt. Col. Fehrenbach Discharged for Being Gay

Run time: 08:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZDRjEKwtQ   Posted on YouTube: May 20, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 20, 2009 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 3138

 
MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show - May 19, 2009: Lt. Colonel Victor Fehrenbach Discharged For Being Gay. Rachel Interviews him.

Eighteen year veteran.
Picked to be part of initial alert crew immediately following the 9/11 attacks.
2002 Deployed to Kuwait where he flew combat missions attacking Taliban and al Qaeda targets.
2003 Deployed to Iraq.
Nine air medals including one for heroism.
88 combat missions.
Logged 400 combat hours.

After 18 years of active duty in the Air Force, this experienced and decorated fighter pilot says he is willing to deply again.

The military is now firing him.

Less than two years shy of being able to retire with full military pension, under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. He and his lawyer have tried to put off his appeal for as long as possible to see what the Obama administration does on his pledge to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

Two important developments on that front today, according to Rachel:

- Appeals court ruled in favor of discharged female gay pilot. Obama Administration could have appealed that decision, but chose not to.
- Pentagon announced today it has no plans to end DADT and don't expect to be asked to end DADT.

RACHEL: What was your reaction when you first found out you were being discharged in September?

LT. COL. FEHRENBACH: "I was devastated, absolutely devastated, Rachel. The Air Force has been my life... basically I was faced with the end of my life as I knew it. My initial reaction I just wanted this all to go away. I wanted a quick, quiet, fair, honorable discharge. But the more I thought about it, about how wrong this policy is, I thought that I had to fight it and perhaps with my unique perspective I could speak out and help other people in the mean time."

RACHEL: "Did you think that President Obama, if he were elected, was going to end the policy?"

FEHRENBACH: "I did. I had tremendous hope around September and that was actually when I reversed my decision and decide to fight..."

when non-citizens (illegal aliens) have been found to be serving in our military, they are given the chance to become U.S. citizens, and then remain in the military

when actual U.S. citizens who happen to be gay are found to be serving in our military, they are summarily kicked out entirely

you tell me how fair this is

President Obama - for chrissake, put a stop-loss order on the military if these 'wars' are so critical that you send MORE troops into harm's way. Even George Bush managed to cross his t's and dot his i's to sign an order of that magnitude. This does not bode well that Obama is not smart enough to do at least that much in this case. He could enact a stop loss order on kicking folks out against their will at the very least, even if not forcing others to extend their service commitments beyond their current contracts.

It is really a scary policy. I was just reading somewhere that Bill Clinton was told by Colin Powell (?) I think that it was the only policy that could get through congress.

For Obama its another day another damn gay problem.

Face it - we are not and never have been in his heart. He danced a little side-step all through his campaign hoping we wouldn't catch on.

However, events are running ahead of the President. Maybe he will try and catch up to the pack around October of 2012.

The fact that you still have people wanting to serve is enough in itself. This must stop now. This is bigotry and it is disgusting.

It's ridiculous and a black mark on the history of the U.S. that it is still going on.

Anyone willing to serve should be honored. This guy has been in for 18 years and they want to kick him out becasue he is gay? Why is the military so out of it???? Obama needs to take care of this!

:kick:

this man is two years away from retirement. obama needs to end this heinous policy now.

who are willing to put their lives on the line for this country which is much more than most ignorant right wing homophobes. Hell, they are too sacred to even live around homosexuals, nevermind putting their own asses on the line.

i support him. Even if he were to stop DADT sometime soon(and i hope he will), he would have waited months before he reversed an outrageous law, causing the military to lose some of the best, the brightest, the most courageous, the most qualified of our troops. it's a shame :cry:

Is that the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, (DADT repeal) which is now languishing in committee, has a provision that anyone that is discharged solely because of DADT will be offered their jobs back.

Of course, in the meantime, they're basically out on the street without support.

who should be kicked out. This is an outrage and Obama still scores zero.

I agree it is unfair.

And admitted that he informed his entire unit that he was gay at about the same time that he told his family.

The General in charge of the Mountain Home Air Base, where Fehrenbach is currently stationed, released the statement yesterday that Fehrenbach was not being discharged because of his sexual orientation, but because of his conduct.