'Daily Show' Takes on Army, White House Over Gay Translator's Firing

Posted by Alex Leo, Huffington Post at 10:02 AM on May 15, 2009.

Jon Stewart excoriated President Bush for his policies and President Obama for flip-flopping on the issue.

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A storm is brewing over President Obama's refusal to intercede on the behalf of Dan Choi, an Arabic translator and lieutenant in the U.S. Army who was just dismissed for being gay. Choi went on the "Rachel Maddow Show" last week and said he intends "to fight it tooth and nail," and that this kind of behavior "weakens the military." 54 Arabic translators (and hundreds more servicemen) have been dismissed from the Army due to their sexuality.

Jon Stewart excoriated President Bush for his policies and President Obama for flip-flopping on the issue, saying:

"So it was okay to waterboard a guy 80 times but God forbid the guy who could understand what that prick was saying has a boyfriend? Waterboarding may make a prisoner talk, but it ain't gonna make him talk English."

He then introduced the following segment on the issue, in which John Oliver supported the Army's choice with the "he's gay" defense. He eventually screamed at Stewart saying, "I will not let you Cramer me."

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Dan Choi Is Gay

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Tagged as: video, daily show, jon stewart, john oliver, arab linguist fired from , dan choi, dan choi daily show, dan choi rachel maddow, dont ask dont tell, gay arab linguist, gay arab linguist fired, john oliver dan choi, jon stewart dan choi

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Tombstone of a gay veteran [Report this comment] Posted by: Defenestrator on May 15, 2009 11:03 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Tombstone of a gay veteran [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] What Else do you folks expect? [Report this comment] Posted by: Scott on May 16, 2009 5:27 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] It only took (less then a 100 days) a short time for the "powers that be" in D.C. to get Obama to start HIS flipflopping program. Do you all not know that no one can be president unless you toe the party line. The powers that be in this country, maybe in the international world scene will not let Obama be his own man. HE now belongs to them and IT took less then 100 days!!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: What Else do you folks expect? Posted by: Erin Political Blues [Report this comment] Posted by: When In Doubt on May 16, 2009 6:50 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Usually it takes about six months for a newby Senator or Congressman to find that the ideals campaigned on are unworkable. That works with the Presidency as well. What it boils down in that PRISON, IS who's whore he/she is going to be. That is how THAT system works. To get along...go along Innocence will not survive in that atmosphere. Nor integrity. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Interestingly enough [Report this comment] Posted by: tfinn on May 22, 2009 2:31 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] there are no such stipulations for private contractors, so he could join one (with higher pay) and do the same sort of work. Meaning the military sticks to its discrimination and the private contractors get stronger. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: What Else do you folks expect? Posted by: Erin