"For 17 years, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has grabbed thousands of gay soldiers by their collars and thrown them out of the military. By this time next year, that policy will be gone. Gay people will be openly serving in the United States Armed Forces. You might be forgiven for disbelieving that prediction, especially given the angry broadsides that gay rights activists are directing at the White House. These activists believe that the administration -- or, specifically, the deputy chief of staff, Jim Messina, is orchestrating a conspiracy to silence those wanting to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell quickly. This conspiracy theory received a boost earlier this week when Lt. Dan Choi, the army linguist who's going to be kicked out of the military because he is gay -- and the de-facto national spokesperson for DADT repeal -- joined five other soldiers chaining themselves in protest to the fence of the White House's North Lawn," writes Marc Ambinder. "Are gay rights priority number one for Obama? No. Clearly not. He never said they would be. Does he have, among his close confidants, any close gay friends? I don't believe so, but I don't know for sure." READ MORE