To the Point
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and Don't Rush into Anything
President Obama promised to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. Now many supporters are getting impatient. We hear about equal rights, military morale, conflicting court decisions and shifting public opinion. Also, balancing California's budget, and the price of gasoline is going up, but don't blame the oil companies. Blame the banks.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenPresident Obama promised to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. Now many supporters are getting impatient. We hear about equal rights, military morale, conflicting court decisions and shifting public opinion. Also, balancing California's budget, and gasoline prices are rising as Memorial Day approaches, but not for the usual reasons.
Banner image: Daniel Choi discusses "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show on March 20, 2009
In this episode
3 storiesDraconian Cuts Necessary to Balance California's Budget
Faced with a $21 billion deficit that appears to be rising, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed to transform California. Instead of one of the nation's most generous states to the poor, it would be one of the stingiest. Eric Bailey reports from Sacramento for the Los Angeles Times .
Read the story8 min'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Back on the Front Burner
It's estimated that 65,000 gays and lesbians serve in the military, but that's legal only as long as their sexual orientation is secret. Since " Don't Ask, Don't Tell " was enacted in the early 1990's, some 13,000 have been discharged after being outed.
Read the story35 minAre Bailed-out Banks on Wall Street Driving up Gas Prices?
Crude oil inventories are at their highest levels in almost 20 years. Demand has fallen to a ten-year low. So why are gasoline prices going up as Memorial Day approaches? Since mid-January, crude oil prices have gone up more than 70 percent. Since last month, the price of gasoline has risen 28¢ to a national average of $2.33.
Read the story9 min
