Repealin' Appealin'

The Axeman says Obama will call on Congress to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell tonight, and to allow gays to serve in the military.

President Obama will ask Congress Wednesday night to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars gays and lesbians from openly serving in, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod told CNN.

The request will be included in the president's State of the Union address, Axelrod said.

The issue has been a source of contention for heavy hitters on both sides of the issue, who are lining up for a fight.

In a message to Pentagon leadership, Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it's time to repeal the law.

"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Shalikashvili. His letter was sent out Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who supports repealing the policy.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, flatly disagreed with the idea of ending it.

"When it comes to 'don't ask don't tell,' frankly, I think it's worked very well. And we just ought to leave it alone," he said to reporters Wednesday morning.

No Bonehead, it's not working well.  It's not working well at all.  You know who allows openly gay members to serve in the military?  Canada, Britain, Ireland, Germany, Australia, and Israel, not to mention dozens of other countries.  They have yet to implode or to have their military go berserk.  (I mean c'mon, the Israelis do it.  Being gay?  Doesn't get you out of military service there, no sir.)

It's about damn time, too.  Good for Obama.  You back the man on what he's doing that you agree with, and this is just basic human decency.  (Just like Bush, right?)