Would Hillary have

[malaise]

overturned DADT?

:popcorn: :hide:

[RZM]

1. She said that she opposed the policy during the primary campaign

So I think it's likely that she would have. While there's no way to know how different things would be if she were president, she and Obama were so close on so many issues that I find it hard to believe her policies would have been all that different.

[mmonk]

2. Probably.

[Exilednight]

3. Technically, Obama still hasn't done it. Nor does ending DADT mean that gays and lesbians can

openly serve without getting kicked out.

[S_E_Fudd]

4. Huh?

The timestamp on your post says 8:32 AM today...8 hours and 32 minutes after DADT was formally eliminated...so yes, gays can now serve openly, and no they cannot be discharged for being gay...also all ongoing discharge proceedings are terminated as of midnight!

[Exilednight]

5. Read the legislation. There is nothing in there that prevents the military from kicking

someone out who is gay or lesbian. He repealed the DADT legislation as it was put in place by Clinton, but never changed the language to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly.

Discharges may end while Obama is in office, but what happens when he leaves?

[S_E_Fudd]

6. I suppose that is true...

But it is de facto ended...like the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery (it didn't really, but started a process that could not be reversed).

Highly unlikely any future President would attempt to reinstate the policy, or go further and reinstate the policy prior to DADT...even the whack a doodles running now....the chaos in the media that would ensue, the massive amount of litigation that would take place, would I think dissuade any future attempt.

My guess is in a few years, a non discrimination policy will be quietly slipped into a defense authorization act and pass without a whimper...

[polmaven]

7. Yes...absolutely.

Please understand that President Clinton's support for and signature on the DADT bill was a step forward in 1993 from the policy that was in place. The country was not ready 18 years ago to support a repeal of the ban on LGBT service in the military.

DADT at least allowed those who wished to serve to do so without being asked about their sexuality, or without being harassed by the military brass, and dishonorably discharged with simple suspicion.


The country is in a very different place now, and this repeal became possible.