Obama to call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal, adviser says

[Lyric]

Source: CNN.com

Washington (CNN) -- 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.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/obama.gays.military/index.html?hpt=T1

---

How much weight does a SOTU request carry? I'm not sure just how hopeful I should feel yet.

[redwitch]

1. It's about damn time!

I have no idea if mentioning it in the SOTU is enough.

[joeybee12]

2. I've got a bad feeling about this...especially after the HCR debacle...n/t

[Mithreal]

32. who wouldn't

[Lebam in LA]

3. CNN Breaking News

Source: CNN Email Alert

Obama to seek repeal of military "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in State of the Union speech tonight, top official says

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/obama.gays.military/index.html?hpt=T1

[MannyGoldstein]

4. He Already Said That During His Campaign

Lucy... football...

[dave29]

5. Now he is saying it directly to Congress as President of the United States

learn to accept progress as a good thing, no matter how small it may seem to you at the moment.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. He Also Says He Never Ran On The Public Option

It's a believability thing, not just a slow progress thing.

[nosmokes]

10. Right. This time when I sodomize you I'll use lube and you'll like it.

Or not.

[itsrobert]

6. Yup, he said a lot in his campaign

and?

[shadowknows69]

34. Bingo.

[timeforpeace]

8. This is all it takes to placate the left. The right gets a spending freeze.

[bluestateguy]

9. That's good

but at this point I'm hoping for more than just a supportive statement.

[swag]

11. Never mind

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- 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.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/obama.gays.military/index.html?hpt=T1

[jefferson_dem]

12. Good!

n/t

[Arkana]

13. Good, but when? Do we have a time frame?

[Jennicut]

16. Hearings in Febuary.

[ShortnFiery]

14. He's calling for *HEARINGS* not directly to repeal DADT.

BTW how many duplicate threads of this topic do we need? :crazy:

[swag]

18. Sorry. I searched LBN.

Go ahead and alert on it.

[jaxx]

20. So that the next time a goper is in office they can put it right back?

It has to go through the congress to be permanent.

[coffeenap]

15. Oh, Mr. President, please just do it yourself--tonight.

Please?

[Parche]

17. a long time coming....

:hi:

[Laf.La.Dem.]

19. Republicans on board

I think about 20 Republicans have already signed up to co-sponsor :rofl:

[marshall]

27. Sure--as long as nothing new replaces it

Simply repealing DADT will revert us to the even more egregious policy of not allowing gays or lesbians at all.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. He Already Did This During The Campaign

Lucy... football...

[Tx4obama]

22. It's done deal

Congress announced over a month ago that hearings will be held in February and the repeal of DADT will be in the Defense Budget Bill.

[marshall]

23. Hopefully it will be paired with a request to allow gay and lesbian soldiers to serve openly

Because if it's just repealed we go back to what we had before, which was not allowing any gays or lesbians to serve.

[Libertas1776]

24. ...and in the mean time

maybe make an executive order preventing anyone being discharged if they are outed.

[we can do it]

25. OK To Die Fighting For Oil - Not OK To Marry

wtf is wrong with this place

[Iggo]

26. Again?

[TheWatcher]

37. At this rate, he will "call for it" about as many times as we have killed Al Qaeda "#2's"

In the words of Dead Can Dance:

"I Don't Believe You Anymore....."

[sabbat hunter]

28. Obama to call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal, adviser says

Source: cnn.com

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.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/obama.gays.military/index.html

---

Huzzah!!

About damn time!!

[Jamastiene]

29. I hope he means it this time and I hope

Congress can manage to get something done this time.

[msongs]

30. bipartisanly of course lol nt

[Mithreal]

31. We will be promised the world this SOTU

[JerseygirlCT]

33. I think it would carry a lot more weight if he also said that

he'd instructed the armed services not to prosecute these cases anymore.

Even from a purely practical POV, don't we have greater need of skilled people in the service than a need to stomp on gay people?

[Mithreal]

35. Seems that way despite all the excuses

I like this picture, posting in case anyone missed it.



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/how-the-forces-finally-learnt-to-take-pride-1762057.html

[Crowman1979]

36. I'll believe it when I see it.

[defendandprotect]

38. "Back to the Future" . . . ??? Repeal it NOW . . . !!! NOW -- !!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

39. Three minutes ago, he did just that.

I never thought I would live to see the day.