Obama team denies it will delay ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal

[davidinalameda]

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=22644

A member of Barack Obama’s transition team is denying media reports that the president-elect has decided to delay efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” until 2010.

An Obama transition team spokesperson, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the decision on how to approach repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military, would be made after more experts have joined the Obama administration.

“These decisions will not be made before the full national security team is in place,” the spokesperson said.

The Washington Times reported last week that two people who have advised Obama’s transition team said the president-elect “will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010” to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, which Congress passed in 1993

[pinto]

1. And, it looks as though more and more senior military brass support a repeal.

:thumbsup:

[mondo joe]

2. I am disinclined to defend Obama, but I think it's the right thing to wait for the

national security team to be in place.

I thought it was a rookie mistake on Bill Clinton's part to get caught up on "gays in the military" too quickly and in such a cavalier way.

[MikeE]

3. And, I agree with the way he is approaching this

I think it is important to be repealed by Congress, not by Executive Order, which is what a lot of people were thinking. If you issue an EO, it is much easier to change than an actual legislative change.

[Lost River Ledger]

4. "Sergeant Leonard Matlovich" buried in Crongressional Cemetery Washington, DC

"When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

[Zuiderelle]

7. Wow, I vaguely remember that. Had to look it up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Matlovich

Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich (1943–1988) was a Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Matlovich was perhaps the best-known gay man in America in the 1970s. His fight to stay in the United States Air Force after coming out of the closet became a cause célèbre around which the gay community rallied. His outspoken manner resulted in articles in The New York Times and a television movie on NBC. His photograph appeared on the cover of the September 8, 1975 issue of Time magazine, making him a symbol for thousands of gay and lesbian service members.<1>

[yardwork]

5. It's obvious that the right wing hopes to cause trouble with this.

The right-wingers are not very bright or imaginative. What's the only bright spot to come out of this past election? Gay people lost more rights and Democrats are mad at each other about it.

What's the first thing that caused Clinton some trouble? Gays in the military. What is the right wing hoping that Obama will run into trouble over? Gays in the military. So the Washington Times tries to start trouble.

This is one issue that will resolve itself. The military is desperate for troops now. They need translators. They need experts. They don't need a stupid fear-based law that prevents them from recruiting and keeping gay people. The military brass will get this repealed. Obama doesn't have to do anything.

[auntsue]

6. don't ask ?

First of all "Don't ask don't tell" was a compromise to the original rule which was "we'll ask, interrogate, snoop, and get people to out you - then you're gone". I agree Clinton should have waited until he got settled in a bit and asserted his authority on other military issues then not allowed any resistance from the military. Now Obama has a chance - other presidents have made changes in the military by executive order (integration etc) I expect Barack to get it togetherr and exercise the necessary leadership !

[qb]

8. Besides just being wrong, booting gays & lesbians out of the military has been VERY expensive.

Especially when the government has put them through million-dollar training programs.