Comments on: Reason for DADT comment: pressure, not encouragement

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:16:33 +0000

werda,

I’ve revised the commentary. I hesitate to equate individual cases with organizational cases. Although I’m not an attorney, I believe that the results of such cases are not the same.

While a case on an individual can be narrowly decided and diverted to merits other than those central to DADT, organizational cases tend to address all servicepeople (sorry if that is a bit of a simplistic description).

You are right that the Obama administration does not want to publicly defend DADT in either type of case. Indeed, both cases would embarrass the President.

However, I suspect that they fear the PR from Log Cabin more than they do from the low-profile Witt (who seems not to want to try this in the court of public opinion).

By: werdna

werdna — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:23:33 +0000

Speaking of updated info, isn’t this sentence from your post in need of a correction: “Although the Times does not note it, the only lawsuit against DADT which is currently advancing is Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America”?

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:03:56 +0000

The Obama Administration was greatly embarrassed in the Smelt case. But that case was remitted back to refiling. Other than Log Cabin and Witt, I’m not sure that there are any others that are active but would certainly welcome any updated info.

By: George Bingham

George Bingham — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:48:48 +0000

Joey, I don’t think gays are being “pushy”, I think (some) gays are being ANGRY! Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older, as it certainly bothers me more now than it did when I was young. I think that a lot of the gay & lesbian kids I see growing up today having an easier time (in general) coming out to friends and family is a good and encouraging thing, but I also see so many very damaging instances of hate – of violence (that I personally experienced for the first time in my 40′s)- of religious persecution – Yes, I mean “persecution” because that’s what it is! I’m tired of it and I want it to stop! I want to see a generation grow up in a society where it truly is not an issue anymore – and I’m running out of time to achieve that! So, I personally will “push” all I can for marriage rights, military service rights, against prejudice and religious persecution! If you think I’m going overboard, ask yourself how you feel about it when you’re approaching 50!

By: werdna

werdna — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:33:45 +0000

The case Seth is referring to is Witt v. US Dept. of the Air Force and it’s scheduled for a hearing in Washington state in September of this year: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/409816_witt02.html

And indeed, the existence of this suit, in addition to the LCR suit, is probably why the Times used the plural “cases”.

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:21:48 +0000

With respect, I think your premise is mistaken.

The litigation pressure is likely coming from Witte and the post-Witte cases percolating in the district court in the Ninth Circuit. Witte was brought (and is currently being litigated) by the ACLU, not Log Cabin.

By: Richard Rush

Richard Rush — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:23:31 +0000

Speaking of DADT: Given that apparently 10,000 gays have been discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, I’m wondering what the number might have been over the same period if we still had Do Ask Do Tell. Would the number discharged likely have been much different? Does anyone know the rate of discharge under the old policy?

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:35:49 +0000

The article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/politics/01military.html

By: Timothy (TRiG)

Timothy (TRiG) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:06:42 +0000

Concern troll? I thought that term was used only on Pharyngula. It’s a good one, though.

(Incidentally, I met PZ Myers last night.)

TRiG.

By: Priya Lynn

Priya Lynn — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:11:44 +0000

Yes, no response from Joey, I think he was full of it.