Will LGBT Americans Be The Next Ones To Walk the Plank Just In Time for the Holidays?

[David Zephyr]

Today Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that he now believes that the horrific Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy will still be "around" because the Senate will not be able to repeal it before the end of the year. Say that again?

Does anyone actually believe that the Secretary of Defense would just make such a statement without White House prior knowledge?

Was this comment by Gates the first of many more trial balloons to be sent from the White House by the President's Staff to prepare LGBT Americans for the coming let down?

Is that is how it goes down? With chickenshit pre-scripted statements?

Barack Obama promised HE would end DADT this year.

Well, he has 25 days left.

He will not be able to blame the Senate for this failure. He is the President.

The President could stop the enforcement of the policy immediately without needing it to be repealed. In fact, he could have done it on the day he was sworn in on that Bible standing next to his treasured friend, Rick Warren.

This statement by Gates is just sickening. Have these people no shame?

Change we could believe in?

Twenty-five days to end DADT. If the President can't achieve it with the Senate, then he must keep his word and order the immediate stop of all DADT dismissals.

We will know if Barack Obama is a man of his word or not.

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. LGBT have our own plank. It's like having your own special parking spot. n/m

[David Zephyr]

2. Yeah. We're born on the plank only to be marched off it.

Treacherous.

[Safetykitten]

7. I have a blindfold collection for these festive ocassions,

[BzaDem]

3. He can stop enforcement, and he probably will, but that's not the same as repealing it.

The best he could do is issue a stop-loss order for the duration of time we continue to call up reserves. Once that time expires, he won't be able to issue such stop loss orders. That wouldn't allow anyone to be open.

The Republicans are probably laughing their ass off because they can get people like you to believe that this is Obama's fault. Which means they get their preferred policy, AND people pissed off at Obama, all at once. It's an awesome deal for them, though it's a shame you fall for it.

[David Zephyr]

5. If the policy was not enforced for FOUR years, it could never be re-instituted.

It would be like trying to put the Berlin Wall back.

But, Obama has 25 days to keep his word.

[BzaDem]

18. It's not Obama's problem that you don't understand that the Presiden't isn't a dictator. It's yours.

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. What makes you believe that President Obama will stop enforcing this particular law?

Has he done or said anything to make you believe this? Or are you simply projecting your beliefs onto him?

[Cant trust em]

4. Delete. nt

[LonePirate]

6. The only thing Obama will do for his LGBT supporters is offer them more lies and broken promises.

I wish someone would call him out on his betrayal and bigotry. He has done very little to get DADT repealed and he continues to defend it in court. He has been silent on ENDA. He opposes marraige equality. The Republicans are honest and up front about not supporting LGBT issues. Obama has done little but stab the LGBT community in the back, smiling all the while.

[Kaleva]

8. Unrecced for making a false statement

"Barack Obama promised HE would end DADT this year."

He never said such a thing.

[Bluebear]

10. No, HE is fabulous.

:silly:

[David Zephyr]

11. Yes he did.

.

[Bluebear]

14. "Unrecced for making a false statement"

You get to know who our allies are at least.

[David Zephyr]

17. Oh, yeah.

Don't we ever.

[Kaleva]

19. When and where did he say HE will end DADT by the end of the year?

[Starry Messenger]

15. I guess it depends on your definition of "HE".

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2010/feb/02/dont-ask-dont-tell-promise-now-rated-works/

In his State of the Union address on Jan. 27, 2010, Obama said, "This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."

Six days later, Obama's top Pentagon officials offered the Senate Armed Services Committee details on how Obama's pledge will be carried out.

“The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it,” said Gates. “We have received our orders from the commander in chief and we are moving out accordingly."

[Bluebear]

20. Thank you.

[Starry Messenger]

21. I think it's also on "the list"

You know that one...

[Bluebear]

23. Why certainly. The one they forgot to mention the lesbians who got to Easter Egg roll

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/05/draft-lets-examine-official-list-of.html

[Starry Messenger]

31. Oh yes, there it is, #23

23. Recommitted, in a televised address, to passing ENDA . . . repealing Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell . . . repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act

LOL Okay that one deserves a laugh out loud. Now it's an accomplishment when the President reiterates a promise he hasn't kept, and has made no moves whatsoever towards keeping. Words. Why doesn't he just reiterate the promise 30 more times, then this list could be twice as big!

I expect several long treatises on what "working with" and "recommitting" actually mean in politician speak.

[David Zephyr]

32. Exactly.

Gates began letting the steam out of the sack of shit today. He'd never had said that on his own.

[Starry Messenger]

36. Agreed totally DZ.

This whole thing reeks.

[Kaleva]

27. Compare what President Obama actually said to what the OP claims he said.

What the OP claims he said:
"Barack Obama promised HE would end DADT this year."

What President Obama actually said in the SOTU speech:
"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."

The House, as I understand it, has repealed DADT and the Sec. of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have testified before the Senate in favor of repeal but it's being held up by Senator McCain and some other Republicans. Hell, even Senator Lieberman has called for the Senate to stay in session thru X-Mas if need be to pass the repeal.

[Starry Messenger]

34. The courts ruled DADT unconstitutional

The Obama DOJ appealed and got it re-upheld.

[Kaleva]

38. One court ruled that way.

Last year, a federal appeals court in Boston upheld DADT by dismissing a lawsuit challenging the law and the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of that ruling. Maybe some legal beagle here at DU can tell us which courts ruling trumps the other.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/08/scotus-dadt/

[Starry Messenger]

48. There were several threads on the more recent court ruling.

I'm sure you could search for the links. It was very clear that the DOJ did not need to appeal the recent federal court ruling.

[laconicsax]

37. Psst...

"I will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That's my commitment to you." http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-human-rights-campaign-dinner">President Obama at a HRC dinner.

Just FYI.

[Kaleva]

41. He doesn't say in your link..

that he'll end it by the end of 2010 which the OP claims he did.

[laconicsax]

44. You might try synthesizing information.

He says in January that DADT will be repealed by the end of the year. He then says in October that he'll end DADT.

If he says that he's going to do something he already promised would happen by a certain date, what does that tell you?

[Kaleva]

46. That was Oct. of 2009 and he doesn't give a specific deadline in that speech.

In the SOTU speech, he says:

"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."

He is true to his word and has been and is now working with Congress and the military to finally repeal DADT. But he doesn't say it will be done this year. Maybe it will and maybe it won't happen till next year or the year after that.

[laconicsax]

49. Do you do yoga?

The amount you're stretching to claim that Obama never said anything about repealing DADT this year is impressive.

He said that he would get rid of DADT, he said that he'd be working on it this year, he said that he had a plan to get rid of it during the current lame duck session.

Do I have to spell it out for you?

[Kaleva]

51. Your second sentence doesn't jive with your first sentence.

Your second sentence:

"He said that he would get rid of DADT, he said that he'd be working on it this year, he said that he had a plan to get rid of it during the current lame duck session."

In his speech given in Oct. of 2009, he said he'll get rid of DADT but doesn't give a timeline. In his SOTU speech earlier this year, he stated he'll work with with Congress and the military this year to finally end DADT. He has been doing that. As for what could be done during the lame duck sesssion, here is what he said early in November:

“I will expect that Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen will have something to say about that review. I will look at it very carefully. But that will give us time to act in – potentially during the lame duck session – to change this policy."

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-looks-lame-duck-session-push-throu

Note the key phrase "potentially during the lame duck session ”.

While he is saying that there is a possibility that the Senate will pass a measure to repeal DADT while it's in the lame duck session, that leaves open the possibility that it won't.

President Obama has done more to advance to cause of gays being able to serve openly in the military then any other politician you may care to name.

[Bluebear]

9. It was Gates' fucking "survey" that delayed this until December, so spare the Crocodile tears, Rob.

Asspickle.

Pardon my French.

[David Zephyr]

16. Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

[donco6]

35. Okay, where was the "graphic" warning on that pic?

I need a new keyboard because my spaghetti squash vomit won't come out.

[Skittles]

22. STOP IT PT !!!

ASSPICKLE? YOU'RE KILLING ME! :rofl:

[Bluebear]

24. Hey you!

Personal attack! Moderators!!
:rofl:

XOXOXO

[David Zephyr]

25. Where on earth did you come up with asspickle?

:rofl:

[Bluebear]

29. :)

[Skittles]

26. gawd, what a fucking baby

tells me all I need to know about, you know, them :rofl:

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. Sir Turtle McConnell spoke months ago. The admin is just confirming.

Donnie McClurkin.

[True_Blue]

13. They should have at least thrown in DADT

into the "compromise" for the greedy 2%.

[Volaris]

28. OK I've been reading through this thread...

and been thinking about the extent of the powers of an Executive Order....
I have always been under the impression that an E.O. CANNOT change an existing law, only modify (usually lessen) the impact of that law.
It may not be within the purview of the CiC to do away with DADT, but easing the punishment for the violation of said statute certainly is...say to just a fine or 24 hours incarceration in expectation of Congress actually doing its job and getting it repealed. Something like this would be a demonstration to the GBLT community that he does in fact give a damn about them, put the onus back on Congress to act like a functional branch of government, and act as a show of force to not only the base but to those who would doubt his position and influence as head of the Military Forces of this nation...
If I am mis-informed as to the nature or extent of an Executive Order, please enlighten me=)

[alcibiades_mystery]

30. I'm going to suggest that these very public statements

were actually private signals related to the tax cut negotiations. To put it another way, McConnell's statements on Meet the Press could be seen as an offer on DADT in the private negotiations. Gates provided the counterstatement, essentially responding to McConnell through the vehicle of his speech. Obviously, the White House signed off on his comments. So, it goes something like this:

McConnell (Public): We probably won't get to DADT this year
Private Negotiation Translation: We can put DADT on the table for X, or we can take it off. Your call.

Gates (Public): DADT may be around for a while longer.
Private Translation: DADT isn't that important to us. We're going to hold out on the current offer.

If we think of it in a haggling or horsetrading sense, think of a car dealer (McConnell) saying "We'll throw in the mats for $350," and the buyer (Gates on behalf of the admin) saying "Meh. That seems like a lot." That is, exactly what you should do in negotiations.

In any case, I'm gonna go ahead and bookmark this thread. I think it will be tricky, but we may yet see DADT come up through the DAB.

[Catherina]

33. Don't hold your breath my friend

[David Zephyr]

42. We will know everything on DADT within days now.

We'll see. If it happens, it will be because of Joe Lieberman, not Barack Obama...and that's really sad.

[Greyhound]

39. Come on David;

You're already treading water and those are fins circling around you...

[Dappleganger]

40. We already know the answer to that question based upon past history.

Don't hold your breath my friend. :(

[Imagevision]

43. To Mischelle Obama, "Change we could believe in"?

[donheld]

47. We believe in it, we just can't get there.

[BlueIris]

45. Why wouldn't they be?

This Admin has shown it has zero interest in ending DADT. Zero. Why would that change now?

[TBF]

52. Unfortunately I wouldn't hold my breath on this one. I don't think he is going to help you

out with this. I'd love to be proven wrong.