Obama needs to LEAD on ending DADT

[ruggerson]

Yes, it's a statute, passed by both houses of Congress in 1993, so it needs to be repealed by Congress.

But since when, in Washington, does a President sit back and wait for Congress to act instead of pushing them, if he wants to accomplish something?

There are lots of things that need congressional approval, starting with the budget, the bank bailouts, healthcare reform, tax reform - the Obama administration has weighed in on all these things forcefully - and ALL NEED CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.

Why the double standard for ending Don't Ask Don't Tell? Why, suddenly is this something he has to wait for Congress to do?

He could propose a law repealing the policy, and put the entire heft of his administration behind it, if he so chose.

Those of you saying it's entirely up to Congress are being intellectually dishonest and trying to shift the burden away from the President.

We elected this man to lead.

Let's push him to do just that and stop this travesty that 80% of the country wants stopped.

[msongs]

1. there ya go bashing Obama again. basher! basher! basher! basher! :-) nt

[AtomicKitten]

2. from the horse's mouth:

[ruggerson]

3. that's a nice letter

but it's a letter.

It's not Obama at a news conference announcing that his administration is suggesting a specific piece of legislation to go up to the Hill to repeal the law.

It's not sending Rahm and others up there to make sure it gets done.

[polichick]

4. True, I love the letter but why the delay??

[polichick]

19. I'm going to answer my own question: the delay must have to do with...

...political timing ~ not giving the other side anything to distract attention from economy/healthcare/energy/education.

So maybe we'll get to this in the fall??

[AtomicKitten]

6. He promises to fulfill his commitment.

He was handed a flaming pile of shit when he took office and has much on his plate. Patience.

[polmaven]

14. Thank you...

He has not exactly been sitting around with his feet up on his desk enjoying the scenery since he was inaugurated.

You and I do not always agree, but on this we are consistently on the same page. Good grief, how many of him do they think there are?

[Crooked Moon]

16. heh

[polmaven]

20. Oh! Well, then....In THAT case..

IMPEACH - NOW!!!!!

:hi:

[Captain Hilts]

10. Talk's cheap. nt

[tridim]

11. This isn't BushCo, this is the Obama administration.

Talk is most certainly NOT cheap, unless of course you can demonstrate a trend that disputes this.

[high density]

17. Who cares who does it if it gets done?

Obama has made his intentions clear. Now give him a little while to implement it.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

21. And it's not stopping that woman from being discharged.

[MADem]

5. You have to get rid of DOMA first.

Otherwise, you end up discriminating against gay servicemembers if you simply repeal DADT without taking care of DOMA.

See, DOMA doesn't recognize gay marriage at a federal level. However, married servicemembers are entitled to benefits for their families that single servicemembers don't receive. Gay servicemembers who are married would not be entitled to those benefits for their families--it would be a "separate but unequal" term of service.

Obama is going to let the states lead on this issue. He's not going to "lead." His campaign statements have made that pretty clear.

The battleground is the states. One by one, the states need to certify marriage equality, and then the federal government will follow suit. Like it or not, that does look to be the way this scenario is playing out.

Please don't shoot the messenger, thanks.

[ruggerson]

7. You don't have to get rid of DOMA first

that's completely irrelevant.

[MADem]

8. Did you read my post? Yes, you do have to get rid of DOMA first.

And I explained why. Let me go further:

Failure to get rid of DOMA would guarantee a lawsuit by the first gay servicemember whose spouse was denied medical care, dental care, an ID card, base housing and access to MWR facilities because DOMA does not recognize gay marriage at the federal level. That lawsuit would wind its way through the courts, and eventually end up before the Supremes.

Do you really want this Supreme Court, as it is presently constituted, ruling on the constitutionality of DOMA, and creating precedent?

You HAVE to get rid of DOMA first. Best way to do that is to have Congress give it the old heave-ho. Once you do, then gay servicemembers, serving in the military, are free to marry and receive benefits like every other servicemember.

It's not irrelevant at all--it's KEY.

[Dawgs]

9. How do you know he's not working on this?

I think you'll be surprised.

[butterfly77]

12. Yes, when he gets ready...

I am so damn tired of people saying he needs to do this or that he can't do every damn thing in the first months or the first year...

[Thrill]

13. Why can't members of Congress do their job?

Its the President's job to sign legislation. They know his position on it. Its their job to pass it.

I'll blame President Obama for it, if it passes Congress and he either vetos or stalls in signing it. Until then, its on Pelosi and Reid

[Pisces]

15. When will DU learn Obama's moves. He waits for the right public outrage to pass his agenda.

He is on our side. He will repeal DADT and uphold his promises. Timing is everything with Obama. Why does DU have to be slapped over and over again with Obama's leadership before we accuse him of backing down on campaign promises.

States passing Same Sex legislation and public outrage for DADT removal works into the timing for Obama to force the Senate to vote with him. Sometime you only get one chance at things and you better pick the right time to make your move. Give Obama some breathing room and keep up the noise level to the Congress!!! We need to work in concert with Obama.

[SpartanDem]

18. I agree, he should lead

but does everything have to be done the first year? Doesn't the President have some discretion on when he'd like to take up a certain issue. Even people like Barney Frank have said it probably won't be taken up until 2010 with everything Congress has on it plate this year.