Chmn of Jt Chiefs' office leaks memo to undercut Prez on Don't Ask, Don't Tell:'Now is not the time'

[kpete]

Chmn of Jt Chiefs' office leaks memo to undercut Prez on Don't Ask, Don't Tell: 'Now is not the time'
by John Aravosis (DC) on 1/14/2010 10:13:00 AM
The Chairman of the Joint Chief's office thinks the middle of the presidential election would be a better time for the President to take up the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Seriously.

I love the smell of insubordination in the morning.
http://gay.americablog.com/2010/01/chmn-of-jt-chiefs-office-leaks-memo-to.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. I think people are jumping the gun

In normal times the Don't Ask, Don't Tell argument could be resolved with a bill in congress. But...with the way the republicans are blocking stuff and trying to hold up proceedings on everything, I think the Democrats were correct in throwing everything in to getting the health bill passed, as weak as it is.

Soon as they resolve this, they can start on the Don't Ask situation because we all know it is going to as contentious as they come. They will need to focus. In face any and all bills the congress propose will be denied and block as fast as the come forward by the republicans. I know people have waited a long time, but they should be patient, and make sure that when it does come up they call for the passage.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[donheld]

15. +1

[donco6]

16. Pat, Pat, Pat.

Could you be any more patronizing?

[TheWraith]

18. They're going to attach it to the defense appropriations bill.

Therefore if it doesn't pass, then the Pentagon is going to have to start renting out office space.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Mullen works for Obama, not the other way around. If it were a priority for the president,

then it would happen.

[Unvanguard]

5. Presumably this is in response to plans to make it happen

in the defense appropriations bill this summer.

[TheWraith]

19. Precisely. And yes, while Mullen works for Obama, it's not quite that simple.

The Joint Chiefs all have very large megaphones at their disposal which they can use to try and pressure the President into acting in what they see as the right way, with little fear of consequences, since the POTUS has to avoid antagonizing the military hierarchy by sacking high-ranking officers. Catch is, a lot of those high ranking officers have a strongly right-leaning bent, at least on issues of spending and culture.

So basically this boils down to who can muster the most pressing opinion in Congress and the public circle. That's how Clinton got clotheslined back in 1993, which is why we have DADT in the first place--support broke in favor of the more conservative military leadership. Now public opinion leans strongly the other direction, and that combined with enough support within both the congress and the military leadership to get it done. However, that doesn't mean that some officers might not still disagree either with the repeal itself or the timing for it.

[LiberalFighter]

3. It is not the Joint Chief's job to be involved in politics!!

He should be reprimanded in public.

[Smashcut]

4. This is Obama's chance to show them who's boss.

It is outrageous that they're trying to influence policy in this purely political manner.

[mitchtv]

6. a chance that will be squandered

my guess. Please prove me wrong President Obama

[donco6]

17. A chance he will immediately back down from. n/t

[yowzayowzayowza]

7. Whatta delilberate dink.

Phucem.

eta: I'd be dangerous if I could tipe.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

8. Frankly, I Am Sick Of Being Told...

that "now is not the time". It never seems to be the right time for GLBT Americans. Under Bush I understood. But now, with the "Change President" we are consistantly being told the same old thing. More of the "fierce urgency of whenever."

[David Zephyr]

9. I don't believe it was "leaked". This was orchestrated from the top.

The very top. It gives cover for breaking yet another promise.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[David Zephyr]

13. Stop holding your breath.

Start breathing again. There will be nothing done on behalf of our GLBT community between now and 2012. Already, we've heard from Dems in the House and Senate that they can't tackle ENDA or DADT this year because of the midterms and last year...well, the White House and Congress say their "plates were too full."

Expect nothing. That's why I don't believe this was a "leak". It's all theater.

[dickthegrouch]

12. Ask him "What conditions will make it the right time??"

A master strategic planner, such as himself, has to be able to answer that question. Hold the fool's feet to the fire to get as specific an answer as we possibly can.

Then we work like hell to create those conditions. Yes, I know they can move the goalposts on us at any time, that just makes it more obvious they are stalling.

[Iggo]

14. Oh hell, it's never the time, is it.

It's gonna be messy whenever it happens, so now is as good a time as any.