Obama believes women should register for the draft

Source: www.post-gazette.com...

Even as the U.S. confronts two long wars, neither Sen. John McCain nor Sen. Barack Obama believes the country should take the politically perilous step of reviving the military draft.

But the two presidential candidates disagree on a key foundation of any future draft: Mr. Obama supports a requirement for both men and women to register with the Selective Service, while Mr. McCain doesn't think women should have to register.

Also, Mr. Obama would consider officially opening combat positions to women. Mr. McCain would not.

"Women are already serving in combat [in Iraq and Afghanistan] and the current policy should be updated to reflect realities on the ground," said Wendy Morigi, Mr. Obama's national security spokeswoman. "Barack Obama would consult with military commanders to review the constraints that remain."

According to his campaign, Mr. McCain supports the current Department of Defense restrictions on women in combat units, including armor, field artillery and special forces.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter revived the Selective Service system, which compiles a list of nearly all men in the U.S. between 18 and 25 in case a crisis forces the government to undertake a massive expansion of the military.

Both Congress and the Supreme Court have exempted women from registration because of the combat rules.

This could be a really touchy subject.

Men and women are equals, no?

But could women perform the same combat duties as a man?

I don't see any reason why they couldn't. There are already women in the military, so why not draft them and keep the current rules and regulations? The combat rules could still be kept in place. Maybe draft at a certain ratio of men to women, to ensure that all non-combat jobs won't be taken over completely by women so as not to misplace the men that are already performing non-combat duties?

I don't know, thinking by typing. I honestly would like to hear a woman's point of view on that, followed with how that falls in place with men and women being equals.

I am greatly against any form of a draft and I would be one of the first to split if it ever came to that but I do think it is only fair to have women sign up for it if men have to. Equal rights mean equal rights

Originally posted by ImaNutter
This could be a really touchy subject.

Men and women are equals, no?

But could women perform the same combat duties as a man?

Hmm yes men and women are equal but "different"

With training women can be as good as men with a gun, and being a soldier is all about guns really, if they are lucky they won't have to have close combat fighting because that's where a woman is different, they can't fight as good as men. Also most womens mind are different than men, a man can more easily do these kind of things by nature. And most women don't care about joining. It's not their "style" if you know what I mean. But you come accross some unique women from time to time that can do this job easily.

So it's up to the women if they feel they can do it or not. Freewill.
(but most women are not interested and cut out for this kind of thing, there are many unique women who are, that's why they join. But the military is huge, wisest choice for a woman is to join a part of the military that interests them most, most likely not shooting people)





[edit on 13-10-2008 by _Phoenix_]

What he fails to understand, is, that this militia captilistic dog eat dog world does not even interest most women. Its the massive overstepping of authority from mere servants of the people that I find offensive, not just his though. I'm not making an anti Obama comment. Just that people and especially women, overall, should start to be a lot more vocal and united in their opposition to all the numerous plans and funding directions any government wishes to enact, because they are your servants, nothing more.

I'll be second in line when they force women to register for the draft..
As long as Obama's WIFE is 1st in line

If women wanted to be equal (which they are) then they should sign up for the draft. Combat is not like it once was, where it all began at the front line and worked back. There are many other jobs they can do.

Isn't it sexist not making it mandatory for women not being draft eligible? We are equal and so should our duties...

Ok, so I just called five of my friends who happen to be of the female gender and.....

They all believe in equal rights, they are all strictly opposed to a draft, but they think if there was a draft that they should have to sign up because of equal rights...

Don't shoot the messenger

Originally posted by _Phoenix_
With training women can be as good as men with a gun, and military is all about guns really, if they are lucky they won't have to have close combat fighting because that's where a woman is different, they can't fight as good as men.

Since women on frontlines are a relatively new phenonmenon, I don't think there is enough empirical data to support your point of view.

But even if that were true, there are plenty of jobs in the military that don't involve hand-to-hand combat. President Nixon made a career in the military doing LOGISTICS, for gossake (and was decorated). Never saw combat. And logistics is of supreme importance for the army.

I'm to lazy to re-check my facts, but historically women made good bomber pilots.

So in any case, I respectfully submit that your agrument doesn't go too far.

Women don't want to be men, to be equal. Many women, whose eyes are wide open and who are true to their feminine wisdom, want to work for an idealistic world of equality that reaches every single unified region on earth, so every single child lives equally with all the others. Women are equal as they are, as women, with their different ideas for society. Not only are they working to change or join this patriarchal one , but they don't support it in any way, and will continue to undermine it in every way possible until the right pie ine the sky, idealist, good world emerges for everyone of 6 billion people on earth.
If Canada ever gets a draft for men, this woman will ensure that not one of her sons is registered. I don't care, and have never ever given my power away to the politicians who are merely servants, currently committing mutany.

[edit on 13-10-2008 by mystiq]

[edit on 13-10-2008 by mystiq]

I agree. Firstly, it might stop some pro-war 'internet harpies' shrieking for various countries to be bombed back to the stone-age if there was a chance they'd have to actually be on the arena themselves.

Secondly, as this is about an American draft, then I think it's only right that, if women are allowed to bear arms under the constitution, then they should also register for the draft. If they're considered able enough to have a gun to take on the government if it came down to it, then surely they're able enough to actually fight another country?

Women have been in the frontline for many years, including WW2. I agree that there should be no barriers to women wanting to join frontline Infantry Regiments if that is what they want to do, nor should they be excluded from SF units.

My only but on this subject is that they have to reach the same basic standards as the men currently do including SF or elite forces.

If they can carry a 100lb pack, do the 'Fan Dance', carry a fellow soldier on their back and live like a soldier in the sticks with no home comforts for weeks on end, then let them join.

Men and their dog eat dog patriarchal ideas don't have any right to talk about what is equality for women, who are opposed the very unequal society men have shoved down our throat for ages. My equality will never be measured by submitting to male domination, or militia which is the ugliest crap on the planet.

Originally posted by Wotan
If they can carry a 100lb pack, do the 'Fan Dance', carry a fellow soldier on their back

As a matter of historic reference, female medical staff performed valiantly on the battlefields of WWII, in Russia, where they had to tend to, and sometimes indeed carry, wounded soldiers under enemy fire.


[edit on 13-10-2008 by buddhasystem]

Originally posted by buddhasystem

Since women on frontlines are a relatively new phenonmenon, I don't think there is enough empirical data to support your point of view.

But even if that were true, there are plenty of jobs in the military that don't involve hand-to-hand combat. President Nixon made a career in the military doing LOGISTICS, for gossake (and was decorated). Never saw combat. And logistics is of supreme importance for the army.

I'm to lazy to re-check my facts, but historically women made good bomber pilots.

So in any case, I respectfully submit that your agrument doesn't go too far.

LOL it's pretty obvious women can't fight as good as men, it's natural.

Women are not men, they are different, but equal.

I also already mentioned that women can do other things in the military. Did you read my post properly?

So your post is kind of confusing me


[edit on 13-10-2008 by _Phoenix_]

Originally posted by _Phoenix_
Women are not men

That's really enlightening, thank you Phoenix.
I learned something today.

My opinion is this...during a great crisis where a draft has to be enacted, dont you think it would be wiser to have most of the men, who are 18-25 and NOT in college, go to fight the war, while the women stay in the country, raise their children if they have any, and most importantly, TAKE OVER THE WORK THAT THE MEN HAVE LEFT BEHIND??

Thats what happen in WWI and WWII, the men went to fight, and the women went to work in the factories, making tanks, planes, ships, guns, ammo, clothing, shoes, parachutes, everything to run a war. You people dont see that. Women have contributed, but they dont have to be in the military to do so!

Yes, there are women in our military, but none, as far as i know of (army), are in a combat MOS. Yes they carry guns, as a field medic would, but they arent usually allowed to go on raids, or to go clear houses or buildings.

Yes, women are equal to men in all respects, but they have more usefulness to war in takin up mens places in the workplace than on the battlefield.

So in my opinion, it would be a waste of resources to have women in the draft.

Also, what happens when the father and the mother of a family gets drafted, what about their young children?? Have any of you thought of that?? Its very unlikely, close to impossible, to have both men and women on the draft. There are too many things to think about, besides, I would never allow my wife to be drafted. Over my dead body, I would go before her, and i'm already enlisting.

Originally posted by _Phoenix_
With training women can be as good as men with a gun,

...men who have the same training. Right? Men aren't inherently good with guns. Women aren't inherently bad with them. ALL people would need training.

hippy2012, I'm with your friends. If men have to register for the draft, then women should, too. Combat rules need to be looked at again. As has been said, we do things differently these days in war.

Star for you, too Wotan! (Wotan is the name of my dog's sire. )

Great discussion!

Yay for Obama on the equal rights!

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by _Phoenix_
With training women can be as good as men with a gun,

...men who have the same training. Right? Men aren't inherently good with guns. Women aren't inherently bad with them. ALL people would need training.

Well yeah that was my point....

[edit on 13-10-2008 by _Phoenix_]

It comes down to this ...... If a woman WANTS to join the Infantry, Marines or Special Forces, then dont stop her from joining ......... as long as she can do the training required without it having to be 'womanised' so she could pass.

Take the UK for example, I believe there has been a woman that has passed the Royal Marines ''All Arms Commando Course'', a feat that a lot of men fail. As far as I know, to date, no woman has passed the Parachute Regiments ''P Company'', though a few have tried.

Both of the above courses remain the same standard as for men.