Advocate: Murphy 'Blindsided' by Gates, Presses On (with DADT repeal)

[racaulk]

In the wake of a letter from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton not to act on legislative repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" this year, Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania told The Advocate it's time to "redouble our efforts" to end the policy during the 111th Congress. Murphy is chief sponsor of the House repeal bill, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which currently has 192 cosponsors.

The Advocate: Given the correspondence between Secretary Gates and Chairman Skelton, is there still a chance for a vote on repeal in the House this year?
Murphy: Yes, I do. That’s my job — to make sure that we repeal this policy. After my three years in Washington, I think when folks tell you to walk away, that’s usually a sign that you’re getting close. So we have to keep working, people need to call their members of Congress, their senators. Obviously, the letter was a setback, but I know we’re on the right side of history here and we’re going to keep fighting till we get this done this year.

Does the letter shift your strategy or you thinking at all, Congressman?
No. I said from the get-go that just because change is hard it doesn’t mean it can’t happen. We have a bipartisan bill to repeal “don’t ask, don’t" tell in the House of Representatives. We have Republican support, we have Colin Powell now on board, we even have Dick Cheney calling for repeal. We need to keep fighting.

Have you had a chance to confer with any of your pro-repeal colleagues? What are people saying about these developments?
I’ve talked to several of my colleagues and shared my disappointment at the fact that I was blindsided by the letter and the news. I’m a former paratrooper and I’m used to overcoming the odds. And when I didn’t have doors on my Humvee when I used to lead convoys up and down ambush alley, I didn’t say, ‘No, it’s too crazy or it’s too dumb.’ I kept doing it even though it was 130-degree heat and even though some of my fellow paratroopers never made it home.

But the fact is, there have been 13,500 American soldiers who were willing to take a bullet for our country to keep us safe, and they were ripped out of their units and then thrown out of our military just because they happened to be gay. And we need to stand up for national security and the American taxpayers that see that we’re wasting $1.3 billion of their tax money to enforce this policy, and change this once and for all.

<---snip--->

Much more at the link: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/03/Murphy_Blindsided_By_Gates_Letter/

[Smashcut]

1. For those who keep parroting "Get mad at Congress, not Obama"

Congress is now working AGAINST the White House to get this repealed.

[ClarkUSA]

2. Good for Rep. Murphy, but unfortunately he doesn't represent the entire Congress.

As for working "AGAINST the White House" I wouldn't say that either. Considering that Rep. Murphy was the only PA congressman who supported and campaigned for Candidate Obama well into 2008, it is not unlikely that the WH is encouraging him to do so behind the scenes. Gates may very well be speaking for the Pentagon leadership, whom he represents as Secretary of Defense. In any case, this development is a sign of a healthy democracy.

[Smashcut]

3. "it is not unlikely that the WH is encouraging him to do so behind the scenes"

You are really reaching. It's almost comical.

Last I checked, there were almost 200 co-sponsors for the bill. So apparently Rep. Murphy speaks for a whole lot of Congress, just not for Messina, Gates, or, one would have to assume, Obama.

Gates is a cabinet member. He speaks for the administration. Carry water all you want but don't talk to people like they're idiots, please.

[ClarkUSA]

5. It won't be the first time the WH encourages a supporter in Congress behind the scenes on an issue.

There may be 200 co-sponsors for the bill but that's nowhere close to half to the 535 seats in Congress, much less the 435 seats in the House. And I do believe that Rep. Murphy is the WH point man on repealing DADT via Congress. As for Gates, he speaks for and with Admiral Mullen and other Pentagon brass on this issue. The WH has made it clear that they'd like DADT repealed but they would also listen to the Pentagon brass as to how to go about it. Rep. Murphy's declaration is certainly not opposed by the WH, as far as I can tell. The WH may very well be open to having Congress force the issue if they have the votes, which does not look possible at the moment.

[Smashcut]

14. The WH isn't helping Rep Murphy GET the votes

by sending signals via Gates, Messina, the congressional liaison etc. that they don't want this done before the election.

THAT is the point. It's not a very difficult one to get, unless you're trying to obscure the truth.

[ClarkUSA]

19. By saying they want DADT repealed via Congress, they did indeed help Rep. Murphy.

In fact, I posit that if the WH had not wanted to repeal DADT, there never would've been a bill. If the WH does not want this to be done before the election, that's their prerogative. If the WH wants Rep. Murphy to take a stand in Congress to see whether he can get more co-sponsors for the bill, that's their prerogative, too. One does not preclude the other.

<<It's not a very difficult one to get, unless you're trying to obscure the truth.>>

Excuse me. I didn't know you were the sole purveyor of "the truth" here at DU.

:sarcasm:

[katandmoon]

4. The only thing going on behind the scenes is the WH using Gates for cover for its heel-dragging

[ClarkUSA]

6. And you know this because you are privy to all that goes on at the WH?

:eyes:

[katandmoon]

7. I think the situation speaks for itself. If Obama wanted action on DADT there'd BE action on DADT.

[ClarkUSA]

8. How so? The presidency is not a dictatorship. We're not talking Hugo Chavez here.

Nor does Pres. Obama have a magic wand that makes anything happen whenever he wants it to.

[katandmoon]

10. So much for the presidential candidate's fierce advocacy of gay rights! Now that he's actually

president, Obama takes his marching orders on DADT from Robert Gates, the former lackey of anti-gay rights Bush.

[ClarkUSA]

12. lol! You haven't answered my question. n/t

[katandmoon]

17. Yes, I did. I agreed with you that Obama is powerless. He's just a figurehead who takes his orders

from his anti-gay underlings. You're absolutely right.

[ClarkUSA]

20. You contradict yourself so glibly. How can anyone take you seriously?

I know I don't. :)

[katandmoon]

45. Awww, I'm just heartbroken.

[Smashcut]

16. Ah, the "powerless president" gambit

Yet upthread you were trying to convince me that Obama is secretly pulling Congress's strings in our favor behind the scenes. Which is it?

[ClarkUSA]

21. That's a false interpretation; President Obama is neither all-powerful nor is he powerless.

<<Yet upthread you were trying to convince me that Obama is secretly pulling Congress's strings in our favor behind the scenes. Which is it?>>

No, I wasn't trying to convince you of that. I said it wasn't an unlikely notion, which is different than asserting it to be "the truth" as you seem to think your opinion is.

[MNBrewer]

23. I disagree...

I believe it to be an UNlikely notion.

[Teka]

9. You really have no clue, do you?

Or you are either for DADT and against equality, or don't really care, as long as Obama looks good.

If Obama gave a shit about gays, this would have been repealed a year ago.

[ClarkUSA]

11. And you have all the answers, I suppose? Why don't you run for President and show us how it's done?

<<Or you are either for DADT and against equality, or don't really care, as long as Obama looks good.>>

I reject your "wid us or agin us" polemic re: this issue.

<<If Obama gave a shit about gays, this would have been repealed a year ago.>>

Uh huh. Care to share how DADT could've been realistically "repealed" via Congress "a year ago"?

[Teka]

18. Easy

Get the bill introduced into the House and Senate. Vote on it. Tell them that it is a priority of the first 100 days.

Get it done.


Instead, we have to "study it for a year", announced coincidentally that the year period is up right after elections.


Freaking cowards, one and all.

[ClarkUSA]

22. It's always "easy" for keyboard Presidents who have zero responsibility. Reality is tougher. n/t

[MNBrewer]

24. what "responsibility" might account for

postponing the elimination of a bias in the law that >70% of the people in the country believe should be removed?

[ClarkUSA]

28. Why don't you ask the Congressman who haven't signed onto Murphy's bill that question?

:shrug:

[MNBrewer]

29. Why don't you make something up?

You've been doing an admirable job so far.

[ClarkUSA]

31. Is that what you call an opinion? You seem to offer plenty of them yourself. n/t

[MNBrewer]

33. I didn't say to pull something out of your ass

at least have some data to back it up, please.

[ClarkUSA]

35. Why should I? This entire thread has been full of 100% subjective opinions, including yours. n/t

[MNBrewer]

36. There's a difference

between opinion and analysis. You've provided one, not the other. I haven't provided any analysis either.

However, somethings ARE as they seem.

[ClarkUSA]

37. No, there isn't. Splitting hairs won't get you anywhere with me. But nice try, anyway. n/t

[ruggerson]

39. You nailed it

"you don't really care as long as Obama looks good"

[ClarkUSA]

50. Wrong. n/t

[tbyg52]

13. OK, fine....

I believe that, it appears to me that, phrase of your choice....

>>The only thing going on behind the scenes is the WH using Gates for cover for its heel-dragging

:eyes:

[MNBrewer]

15. and yet, YOU pretend that you can penetrate

the murky veils that hide the Obama chess game from us? Get real. Obama administration is doing his bidding. What's the purpose of playing both sides of this issue?

[ClarkUSA]

25. When did I do that, dear? I simply offered possible scenarios.

At no time did I say I was speaking for the WH nor did I assert that I knew "the truth" as some on this thread seem to think they know because they know everything that the WH thinks about this issue.

[MNBrewer]

26. Your alternative isn't convincing, however.

Playing both sides against the middle? Really?

[TriMera]

27. What it really boils down to

is that while you're running around this thread, being condescending, we're coming on 14,000 people who have been removed from military service under DADT.

[ClarkUSA]

30. What it really boils down to

is that while folks like you have been insulting and patronizing to me on this thread, President Obama is doing his best to fix Bill Clinton's and Bush II's fuck-ups in the best way he thinks he can achieve them but if you think you can do better, then run for president and get to it!

Since it's so easy, right? :sarcasm:

[TriMera]

32. And that's your opinion...

and you are entitled to it. In my opinion, the least POTUS could do is stop the carnage and he CAN do that, not with a magic wand, but with the stroke of a pen. We could stop ruining lives while we get DADT repealed.

[ClarkUSA]

34. And you're entitled to your opinion, too. n/t

[TriMera]

38. Just reread your comment...

I don't have to run for President in order to understand how politics works and what is possible and what is not. Your "sarcasm" in this thread is insulting to those of us who have been personally touched by this issue. The issue is DADT. Not how good you are at countering anyone who disagrees with you.

[ClarkUSA]

40. You disagree with me. I disagree with you. Got it. n/t

[TriMera]

41. In other words sit down and shut up.

I'm not saying that to you, but it sounded like you were saying it to me. If I misunderstood-my bad.

[ClarkUSA]

43. WTF? You did misunderstand.

Look, I'm not interested in arguing over your false interpretations of what I'm saying because this is an imperfect medium for communication and we could be going at it for hours. I said all I meant to say here before I was attacked by everyone here for having a different POV. I really wish President Clinton hadn't fucked things up so royally for the LGBT community and I really hope DADT and DOMA get repealed under President Obama.

[ruggerson]

42. Our agenda is equal rights and full citizenship

you have made it very clear what yours is.

[ClarkUSA]

44. Spare me the implied insult you conveniently tacked below your subject line.

Childish taunts, however amusing and predictable, are unnecessary.

I'm sorry President Clinton made it impossible for you and the LGBT community to fulfill that "agenda" for the past 18 years.

I hope President Obama will fix his predecessor's fuck-ups someday.

[ruggerson]

46. You're not sorry about anything

I've never seen you take a stand on an LGBT issue here independently of a discussion about Obama.

The only time you pipe in is when the dynamic of a thread somehow puts Obama in a bad light.

I don't find you amusing at all - just transparent.

[ClarkUSA]

47. You're wrong. I have always felt this way and have said so before many times.

You, however, always seem to denigrate my support of Obama so as to imply it motivates all of my replies. Does your dislike of Obama motivate all of your replies?

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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

[ruggerson]

52. Just a random few

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8072131

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8714966

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8607590

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8595061

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8484909

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8455983

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8298829

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8029768

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=65734

[mitchtv]

48. +7

Checkmate

[MNBrewer]

53. so you're straight?

[QC]

54. And he's long been one of the first to arrive

when it's time to tell the queers to sit down and stop whining.

One could easily get ideas....