the president encouraged gay americans to enlist, encouraged the 14,000 plus discharged under don t ask, don t tell to return and spoke specifically to the current generation of gay service members. the last generation to serve in fear. as the first generation to serve openly in our armed forces, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models to all who come after. and i know that you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor just as you have every other mission with which you ve been charged. and you need to look no further than the servicemen and women in this room, distinguished officers like former navy commander zoe dunning. marines, marines like eric alva, one of the first to be in iraq.
today. the president encouraged gay americans to enlist, encouraged the 14,000 plus discharged under don t ask, don t tell to return and spoke specifically to the current generation of gay service members. the last generation to serve in fear. as the first generation to serve openly in our armed forces, you will stand for all those who came before you, and you will serve as role models to all who come after. and i know that you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor just as you have every other mission with which you ve been charged. and you need to look no further than the servicemen and women in this room, distinguished officers like former navy commander zoe dunning.
on wednesday the court hears a big test of the first amendment involving protests of military funerals from a group that believes the war dead in afghanistan are proof that the military s acceptance of gay service members. a father was so upset that he sued and one $5 million in damages against the group that protested. the question is does the first amendment allow those kind of lawsuits. pete williams, thank you. former white house chief of staff rahm emanuel is revving up his run for mayor of chicago, crisscrossing the city, hearing from the people. i m calling this the tell it like it is tour because i want to hear from you in blunt chicago terms what you think about our city. i m going to spend the next few weeks visiting neighborhoods, grocery stobs, l stops, bowling alleys and hot dog stands. he set up shop at an l station this morning, posing for cell phone pictures with