DADT Repeal: Dems Move Forward With Plans

[SpartanDem]

Congressional negotiators and White House officials are moving forward with plans to add the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell to the upcoming defense authorization bill, Democratic sources tell the Huffington Post.

In Congress, members are being whipped to ensure that the votes will be there for passage, should the legislation be placed in the bill. At this juncture, aides say, the prospects look good. Meanwhile, a source close to the White House says the president has instructed the Defense Department that he believes the repeal of DADT should be placed in the authorization bill.

However, disagreements could emerge when it comes to crafting the actual legislative language, over which Defense Secretary Robert Gates will wield his influence. And at this juncture, few of the offices working on the issue said they were willing to take passage as a fait accompli.

"People have said publicly and privately that this is a good place for repeal to be placed," said one Democratic aide on the Hill. "It would be reasonable to expect that repeal might be in this year's defense authorization... But we aren't assuming anything yet."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/dems-move-forward-with-pl_n_420180.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. Standby for more fake outrage by "teabaggers."

I spent many years on active duty, DADT is just plain fucking stupid.

[DevonRex]

5. I did, too. And yeah, DADT is fucking stupid. We lost many great

linguists because of witch hunts. Any soldier worth his salt wants the BEST people gathering the BEST intelligence. That's what keeps them as safe as they can be in a dangerous situation.

[BOSSHOG]

6. I spent a great deal of time

as a senior NCO dealing with alcoholics, spouse abusers and Sailors who didn't know how to maintain a checking account and various and asundry other knuckleheads. Not one problem with a gay Sailor.

[DevonRex]

8. Oh boy, there were LOTS of problems with the things you mentioned.

And funny, because we were an MI unit and so much time and money went into training, those problems were routinely swept under the rug. They didn't want to lose well trained people, even when they caused so many problems.

But for gay people it was a different story. Once it was discovered, they were gone so fast that we didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to them. They were there one day and gone the next.

Those who managed to stay under the radar were some of the best, most committed soldiers in the unit. And most didn't re-enlist because they knew somebody was always watching.

[NJmaverick]

2. This is certainly welcome news

I hope to hell it passes.

[Cha]

3. Thanks President Obama and Team..

"Meanwhile, a source close to the White House says the president has instructed the Defense Department that he believes the repeal of DADT should be placed in the authorization bill."

[CakeGrrl]

4. Good news!

[ThomCat]

7. This is wonderful!

I am very sure that the loud constant public backlash over this, when it was taken off the Presidential agenda and removed from the white house website's list of goals, has made this a priority and moved this back onto the agenda.

The backlash was so loud that it impacted donations and support from the LGBT community, was reported upon in the straight mainstream media, and even had pundits talking about what a bad mistake this administration was making.

This just goes to show that we can hold their feet to the fire and be heard. Cheerleaders take notice, that is what democratic constituents are supposed to be doing. :)

[SpartanDem]

10. It was never off the agenda

going back to when Obama first office the WH and members of Congress hinted that DADT wouldn't be taken up until this year.

[ThomCat]

11. Right.

:eyes:

We were told that "Maybe in his second term" Obama might get around to proposing the repeal of DADT.

But you saw imaginary hints that he intended to support a bill this year, because you had a crystal ball and knew that congress would take the initiative and push the repeal of DADT with or without him this year.

[SpartanDem]

14. Told by who?

There's no crystal ball or imaginary hints stories going back to within weeks of Obama's election have said that 2010 would likely be the year.

From Nov 21, 2008 just after Obama was elected:

Obama to delay 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal

President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military's decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, two people who have advised the Obama transition team on this issue say.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell



From April '09:

Frank: Democrats Punting on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Until 2010

http://www.rollcall.com/news/34244-1.html?type=printer_friendly

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Thursday that Democratic leaders won’t push to repeal the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy governing gay service in the military until 2010.
“I believe we should and will do ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ next year,” said Frank, a co-chairman of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Equality Caucus. “We haven’t done the preliminary work, the preparatory work. It would be a mistake to bring it up without a lot of lobbying and a lot of conversation.”

Frank, who is one of three openly gay House Members, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “always has been” in support of waiting to move the issue next year. He said Democratic leaders will likely push a free-standing bill in early 2010.

[zipplewrath]

19. this could mean 2011 or 2012

These bills can take forever to actually get signed into law.

[freddie mertz]

9. I hope it's true. Probably the last chance, before 2010 elections. nt.

[tekisui]

12. Hurry! Good news.

[jenmito]

13. Thank you! K&R. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

15. Another reason for us to get the health bill finished....

.... so we can move on to the next thing.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

16. Great news!

K&R!

[Peacetrain]

17. Good News!!!!

[mkultra]

18. This will get burried under HCR if they dont hurry up and finish it