Should Congress and the White House Push For DADT Repeal Now or After the 2010 Midterms?

[ruggerson]

Should Congress and the White House push for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell early in 2010?

or

Should they wait until after the 2010 midterm elections, to avoid handing the Republicans a wedge issue?

[baldguy]

1. It was a stupid idea to begin with; repeal is long overdue.

[Jamastiene]

2. It is now or never.

If they do not do it now, the opportunity to do it again might not come for a long time.

[doc03]

3. It depends on how many seats you would

like to lose this year.

[msongs]

4. WE would like equal rights for all Americans? how 'bout you? nt

[doc03]

5. I am just being realistic, even though I support it

it will just result in another wedge issue this fall.

[Starry Messenger]

6. They should do it now.

The Republicans have so many wedges anyway, it's a non-argument.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. They should do it last year

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Time is now IMHO

We're not going to have as favorable of a Congress in 2011 and, anyway, what's the holdup? I would argue, too, that the issue is really not as potent for the Repubs as it was back in 1993-1994- when pretty much any *issue* seemed to be good for them, politically. The fundies will continue to argue for it (there would be a full ban if they were in charge), of course, but, frankly, there don't seem to really be a lot of people left (more importantly, military brass) willing to defend DADT. The best strategy would be to tuck it into the 2011 Defense Reauthorization Bill (as it has been rumored that the Dems are doing) so that it will be harder for members to vote against it and if the Repubs want to vote against it, then, well, the Dems can simply put them on the spot and accuse them of not supporting the troops if they won't vote for the funding. The irony of watching the Repubs vote AGAINST troop funding because of DADT- after they vociferously accused Dems of not supporting the troops because we wanted a timetable for Iraq withdrawal included with additional war funding- would simply be delicious. ;)