White House Commits To Repealing DADT “This Fall”

Jim Burroway

September 10th, 2010

I think this is the first time the White House has given a timetable for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:

The Justice Department is studying the decision, including the question of its scope and immediate effect and we expect them to announce their next steps after that review is completed.  The President remains committed to legislative repeal of DADT, and he will continue to work with lawmakers to achieve that goal this fall.  And he will continue to work closely with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on an ongoing study of how to best implement the repeal. [Emphasis mine]

That is an official statement from White House spokesperson Shin Inouye as provided to the Washington Blade. Until now, the White House had been deferring to the Pentagon to set the pacing and means for repealing DADT, and they’ve been very cool to the idea of repealing it through the Defense Authorization Bill that has already passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. Now for the first time, the White House is putting itself ahead of Pentagon brass — as it should be in our system of government where the military is under civilian control as our founding fathers intended.

LGBT advocates have been vocal in their disappointment in the administration’s abandonment of leadership, and that is contributing to the “enthusiasm gap” among Democratic voters going into the midterms in November. Yesterday’s ruling declaring DADT unconstitutional just adds to the pressure on the administration, as everyone waits for word from the Justice Department on whether they will appeal the decision. With this latest statement, can Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who is facing a tough re-election battle back home, avoid bringing the Defense Appropriations Bill up for a vote in September?

SteC

September 10th, 2010

IANAL, so please forgive my ignorance, but if the district court has declared DADT unconstitutional, then, baring any sort of appeal, why is a legislative repeal necessary?

Ben in Oakland

September 10th, 2010

You really don’t want the activist judge label attached. more authority if it is repealed by congress. Even more authority if they issue an apology, which they will not.

But the coincidence with the decision is just a little too pat. If the handwriting is on the wall, time to pull out your reading glasses.

MJC

September 10th, 2010

They’re still freaking STUDYING the issue? Enough—please.

Jim Burroway

September 10th, 2010

SteC,

There is considerable dispute over whether a decision at the Distric Court level is binding on the Federal government everywhere.

L. Junius Brutus

September 10th, 2010

I’d rather have ENDA than DADT repeal. It will help immeasurably more people. But it looks like transgender activists and gay radicals living already protected in places like San Francisco and New York City have sabotaged us once again – to the detriment of the gay men living in Mississippi and other areas. Thanks guys, for blowing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pass ENDA.

Timothy Kincaid

September 10th, 2010

Brutus,

Many Americans are already protected from job discrimination by state or local law. Additionally, many many more work for companies with non-discrimination policies.

Even more work for an employer who has no policy but who would not likely fire someone for being gay.

I think in raw numbers, the total number of gay people impacted by DADT (which is literally every single gay military person) is significantly larger than those who actually are directly impacted in the private sphere.

And besides, I can stomach private discrimination much more easily than institutionalized government-mandated forced discrimination. I have a choice not to give custom to companies that discriminate; I don’t have a choice about paying taxes.

gordo

September 10th, 2010

While ENDA is important, DADT (and DOMA) are both federally mandated discrimination. They have to go down.

John in the Bay Area

September 10th, 2010

ENDA and the repeal of DADT and DOMA are all important, and even if President Obama and this Democratic Congress are only able to pass one of them, we should be clear that we are extremely disappointed with the unbelievably poor, weak performance of this Democratic House and Senate. We should also be clear that the complete lack of leadership on the part of the White House has been astounding.

Such poor performance, despite controlling the House and Senate by large margins as well as the White House, should make every gay and lesbian Americans very sceptical that these same people if returned to their same offices would be any more likely to keep their commitments.

On a larger note, the disappointment felt by gay and lesbian Americans is felt by so many other Americans who had such high hopes for this Congress on so many issues. Corruption and self interest stopped them from doing anything other than their pathetically watered down Health Care, which will need significant fixes in the future.

pepa

September 11th, 2010

Why the need to remind us that NObama is committed to appeal? Does that mean that he was not committed before (evidenced by the lack of leadership by the white house)?

pepa

September 11th, 2010

BTW I think DOMA is more important to repeal, but that is out the window with this liar and fraud of a president. Second is DADT repeal, thirdly immigration equality, and lastly equating all the taxes and readjusting hate crimes to only apply to interstate murder or murder en mass. ENDA is not important and should not be considered. It is a wash.

Zoe Brain

September 11th, 2010

@pepa – given that 40% of TS people never ever get a job offer after transition…. I think they’d disagree there.

Now that a court has ruled DADT unconstitutional, it gives the DNC plenty of cover to drop the issue before November as “too controversial” and moot anyway. Even if the judgement is appealed, and vacated early in 2011.

A quote from “Yes, Minister”:

Sir Richard: Standard Foreign Office response in a time of crisis. In Stage One we say that nothing is going to happen.
Sir Humphrey: Stage Two, we say something may be going to happen but we should do nothing about it.
Sir Richard: Stage Three, we say that maybe we should do something about it, but there’s nothing we can do.
Sir Humphrey: Stage Four, we say maybe there is something we could have done, but it’s too late now.

First, they said that ENDA would pass in 2009.

Now they say that it’s delayed, but still scheduled for 2010 so no need to take action. It’s still a “Top Priority”.

Soon, they’ll say that the Senate recesses in October, so nothing can be done at the moment, even though they want to.

Then they’ll say that in hindsight they should have passed it earlier, but now the Republicans have too many seats in the house since November, it’s too late.

This was obviously the game plan in November, 2009.

Yes, Minister was first aired 25 years ago.

Tommy

September 11th, 2010

The Democratic Party failed their base on every level, a mistake which is going to cost them dearly this upcoming election. I have no doubt they will not pass a DADT repeal, just like they failed to pass ENDA.

customartist

September 11th, 2010

Committment – Schommittment!

National Legislators, who are beholding to their constituents, will never pass Gay-positive laws. Gays will always be a small minority, and not important for elections.

This will have to be won in the courts; one of the reasons for Bush firing so many of the liberal judges,…remember?

Then legislators can ‘blame’ the courts. This is the way they have seen it all along. Obama is no better nor worse than the Republicans. I’ll still vote democratic for a p[lethora of other reasons.

While DOMA and ENDA are validly important, Gays are financially opressed as a group because of the Feds failure to recognize Marriages od Gays (which comes with a boatload of monetary advantages, which affords political power).

Elimination of the ban will be the single greater issue to overcome in the overall advancement of Gays in the USA. Marriage equality is important for all Gays, even for those who do not wish to marry themselves.

Mark F.

September 11th, 2010

Well, Congress must pass some military authorization bill this year with or without DADT repeal. Are there 40 votes to block a bill with DADT repeal?

ENDA seems dead, especially any legislation with transgender people included.

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