Democrats eye compromise on gays in military

[cal04]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37322000/ns/politics-white_house/

Plan would roll back existing law, but delay implementation of new policy

A proposal to step up the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military but still allow the Pentagon time — perhaps even years — to implement new policies was being discussed Monday by administration officials and gay rights activists.

The White House had hoped lawmakers would delay action until Pentagon officials had completed their study so fellow Democrats would not face criticism that they moved too quickly or too far ahead of public opinion in this election year. Instead, administration officials now expect Congress to move ahead this week even though advocates on both sides say it's not clear there are enough votes to lift the 1993 ban.

Under the proposal emerging from talks at the White House, Congress would remove the Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" law even as the Pentagon continues an ongoing review of the system. Implementation of policy for gays serving openly would still require the approval of President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. How long implementation might take was not known.



Congress, White House closer to deal on 'Don’t ask, don’t tell' repeal
http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/defense-homeland-security/99545-congress-white-house-edge-closer-to-deal-on-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal

No deal, just repeal

[Arkana]

1. I'm really sick of the military dragging its feet on this.

And it's one of the things I really take issue with the administration over.

It's popular, it'd be easy to do, and it has the wonderful added benefit of actually being the right thing to do. So DO it. Screw the military. Truman didn't wait for them to "study" desegregating the armed forces. He just did it and the fucking military got over it.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Oh swell, another DLC "compromise"

Given the track record of "health care reform" and "financial regulation reform", their idea of "compromise" on DADT would probably consist of appointing Fred Phelps as the new Defense Secretary. :eyes:

[Swamp Rat]

3. Sorry gay folks. You'll just have to wait for equal rights.

[marshall]

4. I thought Don't Ask Don't Tell WAS the compromise...

I suppose they could restrict gays from combat areas the same way they restrict women--then the poor straight men wouldn't have to worry about love in the fox hole.

[damntexdem]

5. Hmm, compromise. What? Gays can stay in the military if they become bisexual?

Well, it makes as much sense as passing the law now and dragging the feet on its implementation.

[dgibby]

6. What a crock!

All they have to do is repeal the ban. They don't need a study, they don't need a plan. If they changed this today, there wouldn't even be a hiccough in the Military. This is outrageous!

[kenfrequed]

9. Well...

Actually it might take congress to change UCMJ, however the president could easily sign an executive order stopping all investigations and prosecutions towards people suspected of or admitting to legal homosexual relations.

Congress could then play catch up later on.

Hell, he could have done this a year ago if they were worried that this would be spun into an election year concern. (which is a BS argument in my book.)

[Captain Hilts]

7. WHAT's to compromise about?!?!?!

[Brickbat]

8. This is bullshit.

The compromise bit, not the OP.

Between this and EFCA, I've had it.

[Catherina]

10. My goldfish was a fiercer advocate n/t

[Lyric]

11. That would have the net effect of barring ALL gay people--even closeted ones--from service.

DADT says that officers can't interrogate or demand answers about sexual orientation. Getting rid of it without implementing new legislation at the same time would basically roll things back to how they were BEFORE DADT...which means homosexuals would be barred from service PERIOD and officers could immediately start "asking" rather than waiting for someone to "tell".

This is NOT a compromise. It's a capitulation that makes things WORSE, not better.

[Better Today]

12. No deal, just repeal.... Exactly correct.

[foxfeet]

13. Gays eye yet another sell-out from this administration.

Sadly, I'm not one bit surprised.

[Occulus]

14. Wait a second.

"Implementation of policy for gays serving openly would still require the approval of President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen."

Aren't these individuals beneath Obama in the chain of command?