# Obama considering openly gay man for Secretary of the Navy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862 "2008-12-19T04:12:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/21 "2008-12-19T21:24:21Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Or sub Marines. :dubious: Marines are dom, it is the Squids who are sub. _(d&r)_ ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/22 "2008-12-19T21:29:52Z")
In all seriousness, though, I think the military would get over it and cooperate with him. I, as a Republican, don’t have any problem with it besides the fact that some have said he doesn’t have enough relevant experience. Sure, there’s going to be jokes, but military men tend to be relatively pragmatic people. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/23 "2008-12-19T21:37:30Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Given the job description posted by **Grumman** , how often will he really be associating with the average seaman? **Average** indeed! You do malign his tastes! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/24 "2008-12-19T21:37:53Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Yeah, cause when “they” make jokes, its homophobia, but when people in _this_ thread do it, it’s…What? Funny? _ **DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!** _ ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/25 "2008-12-19T22:29:52Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > So accomodate their biases rather than give the most qualified person (woman, gay) the opportunity she or he deserves? If you can’t promote even the most qualified, when will women and gays get a break? In theory the military promotes based on merit. In reality (in my experience) the military promotes based on attrition and seniority. > [@jayjay](#): > > What’s long and hard and full of…nope…never mind…that would be tacky… Only if you don’t wipe it off before it starts to dry. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/26 "2008-12-19T22:35:37Z")
> [@Influential\_Panda](#): > > The jokes will never end. Ever. I hope not! We’ve inherited the Royal Navy’s dominion over the waves - it’s onnly fair we inherit the appropriate jokes to go along with it. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/27 "2008-12-19T22:45:11Z")
I don’t give a shit if he he is gay. My concern is that he has zero military experience. Much like when Bush hired that guy for NASA with no experience in science, and was nothing more than a glorified accountant. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/28 "2008-12-20T00:25:32Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I hope not! We’ve inherited the Royal Navy’s dominion over the waves - it’s onnly fair we inherit the appropriate jokes to go along with it. Britons never shall be slaves, unless that’s what’s on tonight. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/29 "2008-12-20T00:30:21Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > So accomodate their biases rather than give the most qualified person (woman, gay) the opportunity she or he deserves? If you can’t promote even the most qualified, when will women and gays get a break? If they cannot do the job because they are culturally inappropriate then they are not the most qualified person for the job. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/30 "2008-12-20T00:34:50Z")
The increase in the number of gay jokes made about the Navy will be imperceptible. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/31 "2008-12-20T00:54:46Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > If they cannot do the job because they are culturally inappropriate then they are not the most qualified person for the job. But really though, I don’t think the cogs of the Navy would grind to a halt just because a gay guy is in charge. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ETA: Jesus Christ! The ads are giving me “Gay Chubby Dating”. Screw it. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/32 "2008-12-20T07:47:12Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > But really though, I don’t think the cogs of the Navy would grind to a halt just because a gay guy is in charge. I don’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/33 "2008-12-20T14:34:09Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > I don’t give a shit if he he is gay. My concern is that he has zero military experience. Much like when Bush hired that guy for NASA with no experience in science, and was nothing more than a glorified accountant. I have to agree. I am not concerned at all that the guy is gay, his sexual preference wouldn’t affect his job performance. However, even though the position is civilian, I would think that someone with military experience would be much more qualified. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/34 "2008-12-20T14:37:39Z")
[slight hijack] Isn’t there also another gay person Obama’s selected for his Cabinet?[/slight hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862/35 "2008-12-20T14:37:45Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > I have to agree. I am not concerned at all that the guy is gay, his sexual preference wouldn’t affect his job performance. However, even though the position is civilian, I would think that someone with military experience would be much more qualified. If by lack of “military experience” you mean lack of experience in the military, note that this is typical of the position for the last few appointments. He does have experience working on military issues, though not designing and purchasing weapon systems. Is that what you mean? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-considering-openly-gay-man-for-secretary-of-the-navy/477862.md?page=1)