About time that a President said something about this age old problem of discrimination in the boy scouts. At what age should a child know that he is gay?

Obama: Scouts should be open to gays and lesbians

 2 hr ago

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In an interview with CBS, President Obama also said he is prepared to order women into combat.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said the Boy Scouts of America should open its membership to gays and lesbians when its national executive board discusses the issue this week.

During a pre-Super Bowl interview on CBS, Obama discussed women in combat roles, concussions in football and the budget deficit.

Obama praised the Scouts as "a great institution" that promotes young people, giving them lifelong leadership training and opportunities. "No one should be barred from that," he said.

The Boy Scouts announced last week it was considering replacing its longstanding ban on gays with a policy to let troop sponsors make their own decision on the issue.

The White House said last summer during the presidential campaign that Obama opposed the Scouts' policy of excluding gays as members.

Gay rights activists praised last week's announcement, while some conservative church groups expressed alarm.

Obama said he would have no hesitation ordering women into combat and explained that, as a practical matter, they're already serving that role.

Obama said women soldiers are already vulnerable to attack and they've been wounded and killed carrying out their jobs. He said they are taking great risks should not be prevented from advancing in their careers.

The order ending the Pentagon's ban on women serving in combat overturns a 1994 rule prohibiting women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units and is expected to open up more than 230,000 combat positions that have been off limits to women.

On the risk of concussions for football players, Obama said everything possible should be done to improve safety — especially for players from youth football leagues through college.

He said he's not as worried about pro football players because they are adults who know the risks and are well compensated.

Obama, who has two daughters, reiterated his position that, if he had a son, he would have to think about whether he would let him play football.

The president, who says he's a big fan, says the game is likely to evolve, and some players and fans may be frustrated. But he's glad there is extensive research under way to learn more about concussions.

On the budget deficit, Obama said the U.S can reduce its budget deficit by closing tax loopholes and making "smart" reductions in spending.

Obama says closing tax loopholes should enable the U.S. to "continue to fund things that can help us grow" without raising tax rates again.

He said he wants the tax system to be "fair and transparent," noting that the average taxpayer can't take advantage of things like offshore tax havens.

Obama also called for further health care reforms, noting the U.S. spends "more than every other country does." He says there's "no doubt we need additional revenue coupled with smart spending reductions."

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