Obama's MTV Town Hall: The 'Don't ask, don't tell' question
In his attempt to reach out to young voters, the president faced some stiff opposition
The video: Yesterday afternoon, at a town hall discussion sponsored by and aired live on MTV, BET, and CMT, President Obama took questions from young voters on topics ranging from the Sudan to race relations. (See clip below.) A youthful Howard University professor (who said she voted for Obama based on his "alleged" commitment to equality) asked why he isn't acting faster to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell." The president responded by saying "this policy will end, and it will end on my watch, but I do have an obligation to make sure that I'm following some of the rules. I can't simply ignore laws that are out there. I've got to work to make sure that they are changed."
The reaction: "There is a certain irony in Obama coming out so strongly against DADT," says Glynnis MacNicol at Mediaite, when he's trying to slow the process of dismantling it. Still, he came off well, says Regina Avalos at Gather. Last night may have won him a "few more points back" from supporters who've lost the faith. Regardless, says Chris Richard in The Washington Post, it wasn't as effective as the "mini cultural moment" Bill Clinton achieved answering "boxers or briefs" questions at his own 1994 MTV town hall. Still, in our digitally splintered culture, there's no single MTV generation to rally, and such moments "are harder to come by." Watch Obama in action:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - May 8, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - social media guilt, gag orders, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Boy Scouts changes name to Scouting America
Speed Read The organization is rebranding, citing inclusivity
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US pauses Israel bomb shipment amid Rafah rift
Speed Read The Biden administration has concerns about Israel launching a full-scale assault on Rafah
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published