The Hill: White House issues statement today in support of 'Don't ask' repeal

[flpoljunkie]

White House issues statement in support of 'Don't ask' repeal

By Roxana Tiron - 09/21/10 10:55 AM ET

The White House on Tuesday morning lent its support to congressional efforts to repeal the ban on openly gay people serving in the military.

As the clock is winding down on a key procedural vote in the Senate that could determine the fate of a massive defense policy bill, the White House issued a statement of administration policy in support of a provision in the defense bill that would repeal the ban known as "Don't ask, don't tell."

The Obama administration supports the provision "as it would allow for completion of the comprehensive review, enable the Department of Defense to assess the results of the review, and ensure that the implementation of the repeal is consistent with the standards of military readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting and retention," the Office of Management and Budget wrote in the statement. "Such an approach recognizes the critical need to allow our military and their families the full opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process through a thorough understanding of their concerns, insights and suggestions."

Obama had made a campaign pledge to repeal the Clinton-era law. Under the provision in the 2011 defense authorization bill, the repeal will not be implemented until the Pentagon finishes its review of how it would impact the military. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen must first certify it can be achieved in a manner consistent with the military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruitment and retention.

It is unclear whether the Democratic leadership has the 60 votes necessary to overcome Republican objections over bringing up the defense authorization bill for Senate debate. The test for the Democratic leadership comes at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday when the Senate is scheduled to vote on cutting off debate on the motion to proceed to the defense bill.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/119959-white-house-issues-statement-in-support-of-dont-ask-repeal

[jenmito]

1. GOOD! They did the right thing. n/t

[vaberella]

2. They've been doing the right thing for a while. Wait until the DOMA debate makes the table.n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[xchrom]

4. As they should do. Nt

[LiberalAndProud]

5. Exactly. -nt

[mzmolly]

6. Just last week someone here told me Obama had no intention of repealing

DADT. Huh. ;)

[Bumblebee]

7. Well, he talks the talk -- but his actions do not support it.

It's dead now -- and will be even deader when the Senate reconvenes:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39286687/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

You can blame GOP all you want -- but it's the Dems -- and Obama -- who are responsible for this failure and leaving so many people -- gay and straight alike -- feeling deeply betrayed.

[mzmolly]

8. So Obama is personally responsible for falling ONE vote

short in the Senate? Gotcha!

[Bumblebee]

12. yep, he is.

[mzmolly]

13. Fascinating

logic.

[phleshdef]

17. Wow. Thats such an insane point of view, I don't know exactly how to respond.

[Cha]

23. They want him to be a fucking mind bender..

or is it just another excuse to hate on the President?

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mzmolly]

48. Agreed.

:hi:

[Cha]

55. mzmolly~

:hi:

[mzmolly]

57. :)

Nice to see you. :)

[Cha]

14. No, Pres Obama's actions are for going forward with DADT..

Cha --

There's going to be a showdown on the Senate floor this week -- and we'll have a chance to do away with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" once and for all.

Right now, though, it's not clear we'll have the votes to win.

That's because moments after Sen. Harry Reid announced the vote, Sen. John McCain again threatened to stop the bill at any cost. He said he plans to filibuster not just a vote, but even the procedure to bring it up for debate.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" isn't about politics -- it's about discrimination. And when Republicans defend discrimination of any kind, they need to know that their constituents are watching and ready to respond.

It is up to each of us to let the Republicans who are blocking this vote know that Americans want repeal.

Call Sen. McCain at [phone] now, tell him America supports the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and ask him to stop standing in the way.

As the President has said, we must end this law "because it is the right thing to do." A majority of Americans agree that those who are brave enough to stand up and serve our country deserve to do so openly.

Call Sen. McCain today at [phone] to tell him to end his filibuster threat and get out of the way of change.

Thanks for your help on this critical vote,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

[katandmoon]

20. Is that why Obama's new pick to head the Marines opposes the DADT repeal?

[vaberella]

24. Now you're spamming the thread.

Obviously the bill is going forward for voting...so I guess Obama didn't care what he thought.

[katandmoon]

26. I guess Obama didn't care that his own pick opposes repealing DADT too.

Which pretty much says how unconcerned Obama himself really is with repealing DADT.

[ClarkUSA]

36. Enough with the baseless psycho-babble. Newsflash: "his own pick" has zero say in DADT repeal.

Hillary the Warmonger wanted President Obama to send 80K more troops into Afghanistan and keep them there for ten more years as per her hero Gen. McChrystal's wishes, but President Obama ignored her advice. Do you know why? Because the SoS has ZERO say in how foreign policy/national security is handled. President Obama makes the decisions and directs all policy decisions, despite her many gaffes.

[katandmoon]

31. Can't answer a simple question, I see.

[ClarkUSA]

32. If true, so what? He's not a member of Congress, is he?

Nice try.

[Cha]

22. So many are in denial..it's really quite pathetic.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cha]

10. This is a reality thread concerning DADT.

Not a place for your rw talking points.

[mzmolly]

11. Does the rightwing support repealing DADT?

:eyes:

[Bumblebee]

15. That's supposed to make people feel better if there is no difference in policy

after two years of Obama rule, starting with 60 Dem senators? What sense does it make? People who are dissappointed and feel betrayed are not going to vote for GOP as a result but do you blame them for experiencing an "enthusiasm" deficiency?

[Cha]

16. You can say there's "no difference" between repubs and the Obama Admin but that doesn't make it true

[Bumblebee]

19. That's obviously not what I said. You are not a very discerning reader.

[Cha]

21. Yeah, deny it...whatever. it's not true.

[mzmolly]

47. You consider Lieberman a Democrat?

That's your first mistake.

[LonePirate]

25. His words are hollow until he signs an order halting discharges. He could take action but he refuses

[katandmoon]

27. Exactly. Actions speak louder than words and he's nothing but words and not many at that.

[ClarkUSA]

34. Do you have anything to offer except baseless rhetorical one-liners?

:nopity:

[katandmoon]

40. I don't answer to you, fortunately.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katandmoon]

46. And all you have to offer are personal attacks on me.

[ClarkUSA]

54. lol! Pot calling the kettle black, indeed.

Gee, I wonder whose "personal attacks" got deleted here?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=449925&mesg_id=450437

:)

[ClarkUSA]

52. So you have no evidence? Didn't think so.

:rofl:

[Cha]

29. No, Pres Obama's words are NOT "hollow". He has an excellent

record..whereas interneters with cheap shots only have that going for them.

[katandmoon]

41. Tell it to Lt. Choi, among many others who've been unfairly discharged.

[ClarkUSA]

43. Do you have any evidence about how they feel right at this moment?

I doubt it. Let's not pretend you are suddenly their spokesperson. :eyes:

I doubt that anyone with a shred of unbiased political know-how blames the President for this vote.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cha]

50. There will alway be those who blame the President for

everything and it's really lost any impact it ever had.

[ClarkUSA]

51. "it's really lost any impact it ever had"

Except as a punchline to one of President Obama's jokes. ;)

[Cha]

49. Yes, it's too bad it hasn't been repealed yet but that doesn't mean the President's

word's are "hollow"..not at all.

[flpoljunkie]

30. Perhaps he will, if the R's filibuster the defense authorization cloture vote today

[terrya]

39. Bingo.

Exactly right.

[Sheepshank]

44. So please, explain what actions Obama can take to make you happy with this.

...please base this in reality.

I understand frustration with the process, but working outside of the process would by necessity turn this into some sort of dictatorship. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't fly here in the USA.

[terrya]

28. Nevermind, it's over.

[AngryAmish]

33. About fucking time

[Cha]

35. To anyone who has paid attention the President has supported this

since his campaign..and has been working towards it.

[JuniperLea]

37. Amazing, isn't it?

The level of willful ignorance is baffling.

[ClarkUSA]

38. Some people have made it a habit to minimize or dismiss anything Obama does.

That's obvious.

[CakeGrrl]

53. Well, when one is on record as "despising" Obama, what else is there? n/t

[ClarkUSA]

58. True. One wonders what some are trying to achieve by always tearing down President Obama.

Karl Rove must appreciate their 24/7 circular firing squad efforts. :puke:

I am looking forward to the start of Obama's re-election, when 24/7 bashing directed at our Democratic President will be silenced for 18 months or so:

"Members are expected... to support Democratic candidates for political office."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

What a refreshing CHANGE that will be. ;)

[TNLib]

56. I really hope this happens.

nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. Who could have predicted that this would turn into an Obama bashing thread?

:rofl: