White House lies, says Obama working to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

[FreeState]

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/05/white-house-lies-says-obama-working-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell.html

Following yesterday's news of yet another dismissal of a gay soldier (decorated Lt. Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, an F-15 fighter pilot and 18-year veteran of the Air Force) under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked about the policy again, this time by Air America's Ana Marie Cox.

Asked Cox: "Is their dismissal a part of his national security strategy, or is their dismissal itself a threat to national security?"

Gibbs then went on to say that Obama is working with the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to "make happen", when in fact a Pentagon spokesman said yesterday that there were no plans to repeal the policy.

Said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell to CBS News: "The secretary has not asked his service chiefs, his service secretaries, his combatant commanders, anything of that sort to, sort of, start to -- to do, you know, polling on that matter."

(Rachel Maddow video report at link)

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Sad - it appears we cant even be told the truth anymore.

[Dawgs]

1. So now we choose to belive the Pentagon spokesman over Obama?

:shrug:

[FreeState]

2. I dont see where Obama is mentioned as the source of any of that

Its comparing White House spokesman Robert Gibbs to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell - where is it saying Obama said anything?

[TwilightZone]

3. What part of the word "immediate" do you not understand?

From the CBS article:

"Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen are "aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Morrell said."

Oh, and the "aware of where the president wants to go on this issue" part is equally clear. The president wants it repealed. Just because he isn't doing so immediately does not mean that it will not be done.

Gibbs says that Obama wants it repealed. The Pentagon says he wants it repealed. What again is the problem? Where's the lie?

[FreeState]

4. What part of "Pentagon: No Plans To Repeal "Don't Ask"" dont you understand?

"Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell today said there are no plans to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits openly gay troops from serving in the military.

President Obama vowed to repeal the controversial 1993 policy during the campaign, but according to Morrell, there have not been serious discussions between the White House and the military about doing so.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen are "aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Morrell said. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5025511.shtml

In the op is says "Gibbs then went on to say that Obama is working with the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to "make happen""

So now do you see the conflicting statements? Wanting and supporting are not the same thing as acting or working on something.

[TwilightZone]

5. Try reading more than the headline.

The article quite clearly contradicts the headline. Surprise, the MSM uses a misleading headline. What a shock.

And, yet, people latch right on to it and don't actually read the content. The Pentagon very clearly stated, right in your own quote, that they understand that Obama wants it repealed, but there are no IMMEDIATE developments.

Could not be any clearer.

Again, how does that make Obama a liar? They've had preliminary discussions. "No immediate developments" does not equate to "not working on it."

We are also not privy to conversations that Obama may be having with members of Congress, etc.

[FreeState]

6. I quoted from the article - not the headline.

What I think your missing is that the pentagon said there are no immediate plans yet the White House said they are currently working on it. You dont see that as contradictory?

[TwilightZone]

7. Nope.

They've had preliminary discussions. Not sure how that doesn't qualify as "working on it".

In addition, do you think that the Pentagon is the only player in this issue?

Seems that the Congress might just have to be involved at some point. Unless you're privy to all conversations that Obama has with members of Congress, claiming that we know for certain that nothing is happening seems a little overreaching.

Building public support for the issue is also important. The letters to servicemen would seem to be a step in that direction. He wouldn't be writing them letters specifically targeting DADT if he didn't plan on doing something about it.

[FreeState]

9. I guess we will have to agree to disagree then n/t

[TwilightZone]

10. If you want to believe the MSM and the Pentagon over Obama...

that's your choice. Have at it.

Your premise is clearly discounted by the very links you used as "proof" of it.

[FreeState]

11. I did not write the blog I linked to - its a very popular gay political blog

but I still dont see what this has to do with Obama saying anything - where does it say that? The article quotes Press Secretaries statements not the President.

[Bluebear]

14. Silly. Straight DUers know more about your silly gay blog what's what.

:silly:

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Absolutely not.

What it says is the White House is working on it, and the Pentagon is resisting, not cooperating. It is the Pentagon that has no plans - and they will have no plans for it until the last possible moment because too many of the high brass jesus freaks oppose it.

[cboy4]

12. Oh please. How in the world can you conclude the White House

is working on it.

That's like buying paint for a house and letting it sit in the garage for month after month, yet claiming you're "working on it."

No, Obama is not working on it. He's shoved it under a stack of papers.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8423852

But never mind. You just keep hating.

[joeybee12]

17. They've had preliminary discussions tjust to say we ain't gonna do anything...

....honestly how stupid does that kool-aid make you???????????????????

[cboy4]

13. More lip service to cover Obama's ass.

I just wish Obama would be honest and say he doesn't have any plans to help gay people so the games stop.

[MineralMan]

15. That's what you wish?

How strange. I wish that the process moves forward and that DADT disappears at Obama's request. I expect that to happen. I don't expect that the entire process will be detailed in the daily newspapers.

Four months. How long has DADT been in force? How long before that were GLBT people in the military summarily dismissed?

Give the man a chance here. DADT is not the only thing on his plate, but it's on there.

[cboy4]

16. How can you be satisfied with a delay? I'm sure you know

gay people are being fired from their careers.

Mortgages, cay payments are all at stake.

Careers are being destroyed.

How can you be so satisfied that Obama is taking forever to -- at the very least -- tell congress to get moving on this?

It's not like congress can't do more than one thing at once.

There's nothing worse than hearing people defend prioritizing issues up against human rights.

Government sanctioned workplace discrimination is a crime here in the year 2009.

[MineralMan]

19. I'm not satisfied. I want the policy ended, too.

And it will be. It has to get through Congress? Well, maybe that's a problem at the current moment. I don't know.

There is going to be resistance from the military, no doubt. Perhaps that's something that would screw up other things with the military at the moment. I don't know.

I was in the USAF back in the mid-60s. I saw many people kicked out with bad conduct discharges for being gay. That was much worse, I promise you.

Yes, it's time for the policy to be gone. And it will be. It may not happen on your schedule, but it will happen.

[Creideiki]

32. Tell you what

You hold your breath.

Don't worry. I know CPR.

After you pass out, another Fierce Defender of the President (TM) can start holding his or her breath until he or she passes out. Rinse. Repeat.

All you have to do is keep doing it until the Fierce Defender of GLBT Rights (TM) gets around to fiercely defending GLBT rights. At the current rate of attention of 1 minute per 120 days, GLBT civil rights should be enacted shortly after we're all dead.

And no, I don't hate Obama. I'm just not stupid enough to not be convinced that he hates us. At this stage in the game, I'd really just as soon we were all forcibly deported to a country that wants us. Then you can live in your little grayscale world.

[snowdays]

35. so far Obama is not leading on this. He does not want contravery

so he is essentially avoiding it or putting it on the back burner.

[LostinVA]

30. If the President wanted it repealed, then he would repeal it

He hasn't repealed it.

[emulatorloo]

20. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell struck me as a smug prickish LIAR

My internal bullshit detector went off when I heard his statements. Think Ari Fleisher but not as handsome ;)

I HOPE Obama admin is working on this. Can't hurt to call the White House

[Dawgs]

21. Looks like the Pentagon was wrong.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8423852

I hope that doesn't hurt your agenda.

[FreeState]

22. What agenda? I posted a news article for one of the most popular GLBT blogs n/t

[FreeState]

23. White House Corrects Pentagon: Somebody, Somewhere Is Discussing Don't Ask Don't Tell

(Note if you dont read the gay blogs please do not assume I have an agenda other than discussion what is going on from a gay prospective - personally I dont believe either side, the both are covering their own asses at this point IMO)

This is from another highly read and very visibly gay political blog.

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http://www.queerty.com/white-house-corrects-pentagon-somebody-somewhere-is-discussing-dont-ask-dont-tell-20090521/

The assault on the Obama administration's lack of action on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell — which the now-sitting president promised to do — continues in earnest. And we're glad to see it. At today's White House press briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs once again got nailed on the discriminatory military policy that Obama refuses to act on. Except it also gave him a chance to clarify, or flip-flop, on where the government stands on repealing the law.

Obama, you see, says he's working with Congress and military officials on killing the law. Except there is no legislation introduced in either the House or the Senate. And? The Pentagon isn't even thinking about it. Gibbs tripped over himself when addressing the issues yesterday. Today, he got a chance to update everyone.

Turns out the Pentagon was not correct — it lied? — on where these conversations stood. Or, ya know, they were telling the truth and now Gibbs is saving face.
To the transcript!

(read the transcript and the rest of the article at the link)

[Toasterlad]

25. UPDATED: Transcript of Preliminary Talks to End DADT

Here is the actual transcript of the preliminary discussion Obama had with key military officials regarding DADT:

Obama: "So, you guys wanna think about how to overturn DADT?"

Military guys: "Yes, sir, we'll think about it."

Obama: "Great. I'm out. Late."

[Mike 03]

24. If he's lying about this, I take back everything good I have said about him.

Simple as that.

I have defended him through thick and thin, but if he is going to chicken out when it comes to GLBT rights, I refuse to support him on these issues.

[donheld]

26. I don't believe you

[FreeState]

27. Who is you? The White House, the Pentagon or the Blog n/t

[donheld]

33. The OP

[LostinVA]

31. Who is this "you" you are calling a liar?

[donheld]

34. The OP

[mitchtv]

28. I saw both Gibbs and the pentagon clone on tv

SOMEONE is not telling the truth (LIES)

[FreeState]

29. Im starting to think both sides are fibbing here

When I originally posted the article I did not post my feeling one way or the other - but now that I have seen both sides (the WH press came after I posted it) Im inclined to think neither side is being 100% truthful here.