Another Sign of Forward Motion on DADT Repeal?
Maybe gay rights advocates aren’t among the ten least powerful people in Washington. Though I don’t think we should remove them from that list until we see a timeline for the introduction of, debate on and congressional vote for repealing the Clinton-era Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy.
Still, there is another sign (following its efforts to recruit Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman spearhead repeal efforts in the Senate) that the Administration may be working toward fulfilling the president’s campaign promise. Over at Politico, Ben Smith reports that the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has hailed the “appointment of retired Marine General Clifford Stanley as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.”
Smith reports that SLDN spokesman Kevin Nix welcomes the move:
There were indications of seriousness of purpose on DADT repeal today by this White House with its intent to nominate an Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Dr. Stanley is likely to be the President’s key Pentagon player in the DADT debate and will be critical for the President in getting military uniform buy-in. Historically, the position of Under Secretary of Defense provides oversight of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
According to Smith, it would be Stanley’s job to implement — or repeal — DADT. This definitely seems like a step in the right direction, so let’s hope the President makes a public statement indicating he has made repeal a priority.
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In my opinion you won’t see the executive order repealing DADT until just before the 2010 elections.
It’s kinda like the 250 buck bone Obama is throwing to social security recipients.
I’m just sayin’
Comment by JebnTex — October 16, 2009 @ 12:57 pm - October 16, 2009
Obama cannot repeal the ban by executive order since it is codified into US law. He may be able to suspend discharges under the policy but Congress will need to act on repeal. I remain skeptical that this isn’t just a bone tossed out and not really serious.
Comment by John — October 16, 2009 @ 1:46 pm - October 16, 2009
#1: “In my opinion you won’t see the executive order repealing DADT until just before the 2010 elections.”
Oh, JebnTex, you sweet, little innocent thing you. That would only ensure that Democrats get the gay votes which are already in the bag even if DADT is NOT repealed by the 2010 elections. Liberals don’t do ANYTHING without squeezing every drop of political mileage they can possibly get out of it. And in 2010, they will not want to talk about their abysmal record for the four years they will have controlled Congress and the two years they will have had the White House. So, they will manufacture an 11th hour push to repeal DADT, ensure that it goes down in defeat, and then blame “those evil Republicans that want to put gays on a deserted island and nuke them.” That way, they get the gays to the polls AND the heterosexual liberal-leaning, fence-sitters who might have stayed home until they were reminded how much they hate those evil, right-wing, Bible-thumping, conservative Republicans.
THAT’S the Chicago way.
Comment by Sean A — October 16, 2009 @ 4:23 pm - October 16, 2009