Obama & Democratic Party Split

Rep. Alcee Hastings got 76 Democrats and Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to sign a letter urging President Barack Obama to halt the discharge of gay and lesbian military personal under "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

The United States of America prides itself on having the finest military in the world because of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of our brave servicemen and women. And yet, under 10 U.S.C. § 654 (Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces), better known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the talents and contributions of our openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members continue to be ignored simply because of who they are. Every day, we lose approximately two service members to this misguided, unjust, and flat-out discriminatory policy. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not only an injustice to them, but a disservice to the U.S. military and our country as a whole.

I don't expect Obama to change "Don't Ask Don't Tell." It is fascinating watching America go through a cultural shift. Sen. Chris Dodd has come out in favor of gay marriage.

I believe that effective leaders must be able and willing to grow and change over their service. I certainly have during mine - and so has the world. Thirty-five years ago, who could have imagined that we'd have an African-American President of the United States?

My young daughters are growing up in a different reality than I did. Our family knows many same-sex couples - our neighbors in Connecticut, members of my staff, parents of their schoolmates. Some are now married because the Connecticut Supreme Court and our state legislature have made same-sex marriage legal in our state.

But to my daughters, these couples are married simply because they love each other and want to build a life together. That's what we've taught them. The things that make those families different from their own pale in comparison to the commitments that bind those couples together.

And, really, that's what marriage should be. It's about rights and responsibilities and, most of all, love.

The Democratic Party is moving to the Left of Obama on LGBT issue. Part of the reason is Obama reneging on his promise to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and his support for the DOMA. I'm sure that is not what the President had in mind.