patience

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Why was patience always being counseled on DADT? Did patience do something? Was there some good effect of it?


The idea of political patience is not to build personal character, it is ostensibly a tactical choice made to achieve a certain result.

DADT will remain in effect until at least 2012 and probably beyond. That is a result.


What was the bad result that impatience threatened to bring about?

[davidinalameda]

1. K&R

I thought and I still do think that the whole patience bullshit was a cover so Obama wouldn't have to overturn DADT

I think people knew that Congress was going to move to the right after the 2010 election and that would give Obama an excuse not to legislatively overturn it

He probably didn't think that the courts would declare it unconstitutional so he could keep on dragging his feet on the issue

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Well, aside from a few homophobes, most military leaders are now behind repeal of DADT

probably more so than would've been supportive had Obama NOT been more patient about repealing DADT, anyway. Repealing DADT too is only the *easy* part. Actually making the necessary changes and creating the right environment within the military ranks for gays and lesbians to serve openly is just as, if not more, important and we need to have our brass mostly behind the changes. I can't say that I'm sure that we will get an actual repeal of DADT in this lame duck session, especially since, as it seems clear, McLame is going to keep filibustering the DFA bill until DADT is removed but maybe the Log Cabin Republicans (and/or his wife) might get on his case enough about it that he folds. Bottom line, though, is that there's not really any way that I see DADT continuing to exist over the long term. It's really not even a question of "if" it's going to repealed so much as it is about "how" and "how soon." If I remember correctly, too, Obama has said that he may have some other options to consider if Congress fails to act, so..................???? :shrug:

[Warren Stupidity]

3. "making the necessary changes and creating the right environment "

The necessary changes are: stop persecuting the gays. Creating the right environment is done by: stop persecuting the gays.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Probably easier said than done in such a particularly non-gay friendly environment as the army

especially after Bush spent his eight years in office fostering (or at least permitting) an even more *evangelical* and homophobic climate within the ranks. :shrug:

I would think that taking things slow would serve to make things safer for gays and lesbians to serve openly once DADT is finally repealed.