Barney Frank: Obama "not being supportive" on DADT repeal

[Bluebear]

From Metro Weekly, a local DC gay paper, we have further confirmation that the President is not on our side on Don't Ask, Don't Tell - he's "not being supportive" in terms of lifting the ban this year. Barney Frank confirms it:

Following up on what he previously referred to as the "ambiguous" nature of the White House's support for a repeal this year, Rep. Frank said, "They're ducking. Basically, yeah, they're not being supportive, and they're letting Gates be the spokesman, which is a great mistake."

Joe and I have been saying this for months. Now it's a fact. Joe Solmonese at the Human Rights Campaign has been saying for almost a year that the White House is being supportive, that they have a plan, that DADT will be repealed this year. Now we know the truth. So what is HRC going to do about it? We have a serious problem here, folks. If Barney is calling out the President on gay issues, something he was always loathe to do, then things are bad.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/03/barney-says-white-house-is-ducking-dadt.html

[stopbush]

1. I'm afraid the WH is going to put any controversial issues on the back burner

until after the Nov midterms. They want to hold even or gain seats in both Houses, and they don't want to hand the RW any issues that they can run on. Unfortunately, DADT falls into that category.

It's politics.

[Bluebear]

2. "It's politics." - It's disgraceful.

Of course, after the midterms, then there is 2012 to consider, so it would be best to postpone any action until after then. Lather, rinse, repeat.

[QC]

4. It's also typical. n/t

[Bluebear]

10. "Sorry."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8026963&mesg_id=8027103

[Touchdown]

54. Don't worry. It'll finally be politically feasible when we colonize Titan.

Forget Mars. There will still be "controversy".:eyes:

[Tesha]

94. For modern Democrats. it's never quite time to take on anything controversial.

The best you can ever hope for from them is a bail-out of
some corporate sector or other.

Tesha

[bullwinkle428]

6. Yes, because Health Care Reform wasn't the LEAST BIT controversial!!!

:rofl:

[Tesha]

95. They didn't do anything that's really controversial...

...such as Single Payer or even a robust public option.

Tesha

[racaulk]

11. More than 70% of Americans support gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

It's a shame that an issue with such broad support is considered "controversial" just because of how loud and determined those in the minority are. I fully believe that a swift and decisive DADT repeal in Congress would be a boon to Dems in the midterm elections, especially considering the fatigue that much of the electorate is feeling for the Dems over HCR.

I know what you're saying, but it still sucks that real lives and livelihoods have to hang in the balance due to beltway politics.

:grr:

[mitchtv]

20. politics? they don't want my 40 year Democrat vote

why should I contribute to their bigotry? "we're not Repukes" just won't do it anymore with me

[liberal_at_heart]

70. +1

[ruggerson]

33. This ISN"T CONTROVERSIAL

80% of the fucking country supports getting rid of the ban

[tnlefty]

43. People also wanted at least a public option, but that wasn't

happening either. However an executive order slamming women was produced from that...join me under the bus?

What is happening with DADT is disgusting and needed to stop a long time ago.

[laughingliberal]

44. +1 nt

[liberal_at_heart]

71. exactly, anything they don't want to deal with they consider controversial

The public option was not controversial. The majority of America wanted a public option. The White House claimed it was controversial so they wouldn't have to put it in the bill. The repeal of DADT is not controversial either, but they don't want to deal with it so they claim it is controversial.

[tnlefty]

89. I'm going back to watch more of 'Coming Out Under Fire'

on LinkTV...I have no words... some of the men and women in this documentary are much older than I, and that's saying a lot, and there were no problems in their units, thus far in my viewing.

It would be just as easy to sign an Executive Order to stop the discharges as it was to throw my woman self under the bus. Then the legislative process could begin to repeal DADT, no harm no foul.

[Hekate]

46. Horrors! Health care/insurance reform was so easy and non-controversial!

You know better than that. Start the phones and e-mails again, get Move On and the rest on the job. You know what we have to do!

Hekate

[bvar22]

69. The "really" hard (controversila) part of HCR was...

...HOW to transfer $One Trillion Dollars of Public Money to the private pockets of the Health Insurance Industry...AND still make the voters believe that "they" were fighting FOR "The People".

The year long Kabuki Theater seems to have accomplished that judging by the Victory Parades still circling DU.

[Unvanguard]

62. The Republicans can't run against repealing DADT. Nobody but their own fanatic supporters

will buy it. The public is decidedly not on their side.

[Skittles]

3. I REALLY hope Barney is not surprised, just disgusted

[Tippy]

5. I beleive the President is right to let Gates do the foot work

We still have to deal with regulating WS and the BANKS...This is a must to as are JOBS....Obama has his base behind him I really feel it's in the Countrys best interest to work on these at this time...besides he is still selling Health Care..

[Bluebear]

8. Well, as long as YOUR priorities and "beleifs" are met, everything is AOK

And let a Republican "do the footwork".

[Tippy]

13. I aproved what Gates is doing....It seems at least to me he is moving in the right direction...

[Bluebear]

21. Let us know what rights of yours we can bargain away, k?

[Chulanowa]

18. Gay people don't need jobs or health care, then? I didn't know this

I suppose you folks don't have any mortgages either?

Sounds kinda nice. Where do I sign?

[joeybee12]

31. Gee, smartass, I thought being in the military meant you had a job...

..that you wanted to keep, which is what this is all about. Sorry to bother you with such trivialities.

[ruggerson]

35. basic human rights are kind of the launching point

but then you knew that already

[Chulanowa]

64. I agree

But the unfortunate fact is, the 45 million Americans without health care and the 14 million without employment - also basic human rights, and including quite a few GLBT persons, I'm certain - will take priority over some thousand-odd gay men and women in the service. I know it doesn't warm anyone's heart to say as much, but that's how it works. We can argue over whether it's fair or not, but it won't be much of an argument.

But then, you knew that already.

[Laughing Mirror]

65. thousand-odd gay men and women?

There's an estimated 65,000 gay service members. DADT has resulted in about 13,500 who have been thrown out.

For your information.

[Chulanowa]

66. Thanks for the information

I wasn't certain, and didn't want to say something like "a few" - I knew it was in the "thousands" range, just uncertain how far up. Thanks.

[readmoreoften]

73. A THOUSAND-ODD GAY MEN & WOMEN? ARE YOU INSANE OR JUST IGNORANT?

LGBTs are roughly 10% of any population. Get over it. There are more LGBTs in the US than Jews and Latinos, and almost as many LGBTs as African-Americans. Unfortunately, many are closeted.

If you don't support LGBT workers (and soldiers are workers) than you don't support workers.

[QC]

86. It doesn't have to be just one or the other, you know. n/t

[Touchdown]

57. What good are jobs and HC if gay people can't have them?

DADT is job discrimination, and health care for that matter. Private industry? We still have ENDA languishing on it's death bed. Mortgages? Equal housing doesn't apply to us. Our houses can be taken away in half of the states in this country right now... and we will STIll probably owe the rest of the mortgage.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. Yup. Because that's what a "Fierce Advocate" would do...

Fucking NOT.

[kctim]

7. Perhaps

something would get done if more people were concerned about repealing DADT, but they aren't. Sorry.

President Obama is a smart man and he knows his political points are with the economy, the war and health care.

[Bluebear]

9. Are you concerned about it?

[kctim]

15. Concerned?

No. I served under DADT and I don't believe it has any impact on our readiness, so I see nothing wrong with President Obama working on getting the economy going strong, concentrating on the wars and promoting his health care plan.

That doesn't mean I think he should ignore the issue, I hope he fixes it, but I am not concerned about our readiness one bit if he doesn't get around to it right this second.

[Bluebear]

19. How about the soldiers LOSING THEIR JOBS, does that concern you? Whatever, dude.

[kctim]

23. Of course it does

and if you would read with logic rather than emotion, you would have understood that.

Face the facts man.
The readiness of our military is not affected if DADT is not immediately repealed, but millions of Americans are affected if the economy doesn't improve.
So, a few soldiers losing their jobs because they can't wait to come out?
OR
Millions of unemployed Americans barely making it?

IF President Obama can work on both, great, but I am not going to lose any sleep if he can only tackle the economy for now.

[Bluebear]

27. readiness of our military readiness of our military readiness of our military. I got you.

[Cid_B]

52. Depends what priority politicians and military leaders want to follow...

Social standards and the like...

or

What will make the military a stronger fighting force (DADT can go either way for that argument)

In any case, one can be primarily concerned with the first but shouldn't ignore the second or one can give two shits about social standards and only worry about what will make the military more able to complete its given missions.

[Starry Messenger]

28. Your lack of concern is noted. n/t

[joeybee12]

32. Tens of thousands is not a few...

...yeesh, talk about not concealing it too well, buddy.

[harkadog]

24. So our military "readiness" is the only issue?

If that is ok then we are good to go? With that logic we could toss women out of the military also since having an all male military would not affect our readiness.

[kctim]

25. Actually

tossing women out of our military would have a HUGE affect on the readiness of our military.

[harkadog]

39. If it was done tomorrow morning. Sure.

Over time it would have no effect. The military, particularly combat operations, has been all male for most of its history and hasn't had any problems.

[Tippy]

14. I think many are concerned...I want to see DADT repealed

[kctim]

17. Many of us do

but our militarys readiness is not affected if it is not, so the political reality is that President Obama might not want another political thorn to deal with when the people are more worried the economy, the wars and health care, than there are over DADT.

[Tippy]

37. That was the point I was trying to make I guess said it poorly

I do believe things need to calm down some...Since Gates seems quit willing to talk about the issue and many other officers arn't It might be better way.

[Touchdown]

55. Well, perhaps this smart President can lick my gay ass!

Why the games? Why doesn't the Prez and the country just be honest? They hate us, and want us DEAD!

[Lorien]

59. Oh please. I'm straight and I'm concerned about it-and ANY human rights violation

you don't ask a person to give their lives for their Country but demand that they deny who they are!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. I am absolutely shocked!

Just in case: :sarcasm:

[Starry Messenger]

22. Fierce.

Never want to hear that word uttered by a campaigning politician ever again in this context.

[xchrom]

26. Gay people should start a big insurance company. Nt

[Lorien]

60. "GLBT Inc."

Then you might finally be a "person" worth caring about.

:-(

[Stinky The Clown]

29. There is simply no way this is "okay"

For how much longer are we going to kick our brothers and sisters down the road?

Next week.

Next month.

Next year.

Maybe next administration?

[Bluebear]

30. See upthread.

Some folks are just fine and dandy with it, Mr. Clown. :(

[Stinky The Clown]

40. I continue to be amazed at some of the shit I read around here these days

I'm not all that thrilled with some of Obama's policies and actions, but his diehard supporters are nauseating. As long as it is him who is doing something its all good. Never mind if, when Idiot Son did pretty much the same damned thing, they were all fired up with outrage.

The way from there to here is littered with abandoned principles. It is astounding.

But hey ..... I'm a hater. I was called one today by a very prolific poster. Yep, that's me. The real mccoy.

[tnlefty]

49. ...

:hug: It's difficult for me to read some of this crap, too.

[Bluebear]

93. Hugs back to you, lefty

:loveya:

[Touchdown]

56. Next Millennium, obviously.

:eyes:

[kestrel91316]

34. Obama should take advantage of the fact that RWers are about maxxed out in the

anger department, so he can't make things any worse by pushing for the repeal of DADT right now.

[Bluebear]

36. Absolutely. Repeal DADT & enact immigration reform now.

What do we have to lose except for a few right winger's blood pressure gages?

[whistler162]

38. HEY BARNEY... where is the BILL!!!!!!

[Smashcut]

42. Lieberman introduced the bill already.

Where is OBAMA supporting the bill?

[Bluebear]

45. It's been introduced.

[Smashcut]

41. Amazing how EAGER a lot of "Democrats" on this thread are to show how much they don't care

about GLBT rights.

[BlueIris]

51. Now, now...human rights don't matter

as long as a Democrat's perceived popularity is on the line.

[Hekate]

47. You know what has to be done: same as health care. Fire up the phones and emails...

... If Barney Frank is calling out the President on gay issues, you know Barney is doing the right thing. Is he telling everyone to sit down in the road? Or is he giving us all the heads-up to call our congresscritters and demand to know when they are going to move on this issue?

Hekate

[ruggerson]

48. This thread is horrifying, but not surprising

I"m sure some of these keyboard homohphobes would become suddenly silent if faced with real life, flesh and blood gay soldiers.

[Bluebear]

53. You got that right, my brother.

[Forkboy]

58. Barney is disruptive to the system.

[Bluebear]

85. +

[Unvanguard]

61. Sounds to me like they cut a deal with the military leadership.

Reached this "year-long review" compromise, and now won't actively back legislative efforts to pre-empt it--presumably to avoid the political consequences of military opposition.

That's probably an overly cautious strategy at this point, with strong public support and some movement in Congress. Making a fight out of this is more likely to help Obama than hurt him.

Edit: The Metro Weekly article, for those interested.

[saracat]

63. Well, I am not surprised. Just as I am sure FOCA will never make it to

a vote let alone be "signed" as the president promised.These things just aren't politically expedient to the Admin.

[johnaries]

67. "Supportive" is a very subjective term.

I am not dissing Barney Franks in any way, shape, form, or fashion. I love Barney! But, unfortunately, like the rest of us he is only human. I believe that his position and "human condition" does give him an advantage and I would posit that he is more objective than the average person, but nevertheless he is only human and therefore still prone to subjective perceptions.

In many cases (I'm not saying this is true with Barney, but it is true with many DUers) "not supportive" means "Whah! He doesn't agree with me 100%!" In some other cases, it may mean "Whah! He doesn't agree with my main points!" In some other cases it may mean "Whah! He's listening to the other side just as much as he's listening to me, when they are obviously wrong!"

If you follow Obama's leadership style beginning from his time at Harvard, he is not a "take sides" kind of leader. Like his idol Lincoln, he believes that both "sides" have legitimate concerns and contributions and that ONLY by listening carefully to both sides can you come to a reasonable and effective solution.

He is not an old school "x-style" manager like Bush was. He is a modern "y-style" leader, which is more in keeping with the democratic process.

Or, as the Tao Te Ching (aka Dao De Jing) says:

“The best leaders are those their people hardly know exist.
The next best is a leader who is loved and praised.
Next comes the one who is feared.
The worst one is the leader that is despised.

If you don't trust the people,
they will become untrustworthy.

The best leaders value their words, and use them sparingly.
When they has accomplished their task,
the people say, "Amazing!
We did it, all by ourselves!"

"Amazing!
We did it, all by ourselves!"

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what it takes for true progress. And that is what Obama is trying to help us find the way and the will to do.

There should be no difference based on sexual orientation - in the military or in civilian life. But "WE" have to achieve it. WE have to demand that Congress recognizes this as a fundamental right.

But Obama can't do it for us. All we can ask is that he help lead us to the best way to see it accomplished. That he can lead us to DO IT BY OURSELVES.

[Prism]

68. The second paragraph is where you started to go horribly wrong

And since that's the most civil portion of my response to the egg you just laid, I'll leave it at that.

[Bluebear]

75. "Whah! He doesn't agree with me 100%!" -Yeah, that's what we are saying. Fool.

[Hippo_Tron]

72. The big problem, IMO, is waiting until the next Congress

Right now the votes are there and the Pentagon is as supportive as they will ever be. I think that the President is worried about making members from conservative districts take another tough vote before the election. But sometimes you need to put short term gains in perspective and realize that getting things done will help you politically in the long run. The votes might not be there in the next congress and this is the moment to get it done.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

74. "The votes might not be there in the next congress and this is the moment to get it done."

YES!

[Lord Helmet]

76. The complaint is that it's not being done fast enough.

You can't claim he doesn't support a repeal of DADT when he is the one that put overturning the ban in motion.

[Bluebear]

77. Obama CAN'T put it in motion!!!11 He is not a legislator!!!111

As to the "not fast enough" defense, whatever.

[Lord Helmet]

78. The process was stalled until he urged Congress to repeal the law in his 1/27 SOUA.

The process stalled until President Obama urged Congress to repeal the law in his Jan. 27 State of the Union address ... The Pentagon is moving ahead on the assumption that Congress will overturn the ban on gays serving openly.

link: http://www.startribune.com/nation/89213547.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

[Bluebear]

79. OK so Barney Frank is lying here. Thanks for weighing in.

[Lord Helmet]

81. That's your conclusion. Mine is that he's frustrated with the slow progress.

[Bluebear]

82. 'they're not being supportive, and they're letting Gates be the spokesman'

That's the quote. So spin it any way you want to. Later.

[Divine Discontent]

80. we're going to lose seats in the election, that's a given, so how will waiting beyond the fall do

any good? If the president screws this up it's bye bye from upwards of half (estimate) of the Gay supporters.

[leftygolfer]

83. i trust our President to do the right thing

How many of you said he wouldn't move on Healthcare?

[Bluebear]

84. "The right thing" is what, then, Brittany?

[leftygolfer]

87. He'll repeal it like he said he would and who the hell is Brittany?

or is that some type of anti-gay joke you like to tell

[Bluebear]

88. 'or is that some type of anti-gay joke you like to tell' - ROFL. Don't be foolish.

[mitchtv]

90. don't let it br carried over one more election

no one's fooling anybody.

[wishlist]

91. I think it is wise of Obama to let Repub Gates and military brass be the advocates

I don't think it would serve any good purpose for Obama to act as a lightning rod on this issue. I think his strategy of letting Gates and the Generals lead is a much better strategy. It is hard for the opposition to drum up hysteria when the Joint Chiefs and Repub Gates are the ones moving this along.

[FreeState]

92. If DADT isnt overturned and EDNA isnt enacted Im not voting in 2010 period

Im sick of being triangulated by my own damn party.