Servicemember's group makes it clear: It's time for Obama to lead on DADT

[freddie mertz]

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010

SLDN makes it clear: It's time for Obama to lead on DADT
Posted by Joe Sudbay (DC) at 8:29 AM

Whether Don't Ask, Don't Tell gets repealed this year depends on what Barack Obama does over the next few weeks. Yes, on this one, the ball is in Obama's court. He makes the call.

Servicemember Legal Defense Network took the gloves off this week. The organization is sending a powerful message to the President, asking him to "Lead the Way":

"Last October, President Obama declared, "I will end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" The year before on the campaign trail he repeatedly said "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a bad law and should go. Now he needs to match his words with action.

In a few short weeks, the president will be submitting his administration's defense budget to Congress. This is where "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" originally became law and, 17 years later, it is the logical place to end the ban. By proposing to repeal the law in his defense bill, President Obama will make it clear to Congress and to the American people that we can eliminate this wrong in 2010. Without his leadership, however, it will be tough to get rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this year. "

In an open letter to Obama, appearing as an ad in Roll Call today, SLDN's Executive Director, Aubrey Sarvis, states:

"If you urge Congress and the American people to join you, we can win this battle. But if you do not include repeal in your defense budget, it will be tough to win repeal this year. You have yet to say to Congress, Let’s finally end this embarrassing and archaic law and here’s how we do it.

The time is now. Not next year or the second term. To delay another year is to stand aside and okay the daily firing of service members merely because they are gay. Patriotic gays and lesbians are fighting and dying for our country in two wars, just like their straight comrades-in-arms."

It looks like SLDN has had enough of the speeches and promises. Unlike many DC-based organizations, SLDN is focused on its critically important organizational mission. Now, that might mean no more White House invitations, but what's more important: Finally ending DADT; or getting invited to another cocktail party? No doubt, this campaign is going to irritate people at the White House. Jim Messina, the Deputy Chief of Staff who oversees gay issues, will probably blow a gasket and start screaming at someone. The "No Drama" Obama thing doesn't apply when top staffers at the White House yell at progressive groups and others who expect Obama to keep his promises. Conservatives and Blue Dogs never get that kind of treatment from the White House, only the President's friends and allies who helped elect him in the first place.

(more)...

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/01/sldn-makes-it-clear-its-time-for-obama.html

[freddie mertz]

1. Looks like we have a few DADT supporters here.

What a surprise!

[damonm]

2. I cannot believe this - this has been UNRECCED?

Did I wake up in Freeperland?

[freddie mertz]

3. Some folks here have a problem with "Th' Gays" in the military, I guess.

Pretty sick.

[QC]

6. Quite a few people here have a problem with The Gays in general.

This is nothing new, but DU has become considerably more hostile to us in the past couple of years.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions about that.

[freddie mertz]

8. I've seen a few horrible things in my time here.

Why would homophobia or opposition to equal rights find any welcome in a Dem-progressive forum?

[whistler162]

15. Why not you threadjacked it!

[shadesofgray]

4. K&R. Obama's failure on this is inexcusable.

[phleshdef]

5. Its been in the plans to include the repeal as part of this years defense bill for awhile now.

[freddie mertz]

7. Which is why activists are stepping up NOW.

I hope we get this into the bill.

[ieoeja]

9. I still think he'll wait until Gates is replaced as Sec of Def. And that will be next year. (nt)

[freddie mertz]

10. Which may be too late, after the elections of 2010.

Seats will be lost in House, the 60 in the Senate will be gone (will we miss it?).

[ieoeja]

11. I imagine it is their belief that DADT/DOMA activity will ensure those losses.

And given the recent string of electoral defeats on same-gender marriage, that belief might be accurate.

While it would be historically unusual for the president's party to gain seats in a midterm election, it did happen in W's first and Clinton's second terms. And the Republic Party is in a shambles:

- their leadership making gaffe after gaffe,
- a substantial percentage of their "base" saying they would support a third (Tea) party,
- this same "base" making the entire party look wild-eyed and crazy, and
- a large number of retirements have eliminated their incumbent advantages.


I doubt anyone in the political arena who is not being paid to talk on TV and therefore "keep things interesting" believe the Republics have much chance to take more Dem seats than visa-versa. If true, then we have a better chance of knocking down DADT/DOMA after the election with a larger majority in the Senate.

If the 2011 majority is enough for easy passage, then it makes the repeals look like they have that much more broad appeal. And possibly puts a stake through the heart of the anti-Gay movement.

[CBR]

12. I am fairly certain it is happening this year. nt

[freddie mertz]

13. So it seems. Let us hope so.

A minute longer is much too long.

[CBR]

14. I am with you. This should be done ASAP. nt

[whistler162]

16. Yup... Emperor Obama has failed again!