Is The White House Stalling DADT Repeal In The Senate?

[Bluebear]

By now, you know what's standing in the way of Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal in the United States Senate, the last obstacle before it can be signed by the president and the military's ban on openly gay service members is finally scrapped.

Or at least you think you do.

Sources on the Hill are telling me a big reason DADT repeal isn't moving faster comes right from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Despite President Obama's public support for repeal, with DADT stacked up against the START nuclear arms reduction treaty that Obama carefully brokered with the Russians earlier this year, the White House is putting its legislative push behind START.

At this point, with more than the 60 votes secured to invoke cloture on a repeal bill in the Senate, obstacles to repealing DADT legislatively are a simple combination of time and priorities. Time is short in the lame duck session, and DADT repeal is just one of many items the Senate would like to address before it adjourns. Where repeal slots into the remaining legislative calendar, and how much time is left in that calendar when it does pop up, will make the difference between repealing the ban and keeping the status quo.

No one questions that Obama wants to see DADT end, or that he wants to see it end this year. The concern is over the priorities: Obama, it seems, wants START to come first. And with the White House pushing START (in daily phone calls from top White House officials, according to one source on the Hill), Obama could end up standing in the way of DADT getting done.

"The White House has been crystal clear that their number one priority in this lame duck session is START," said one Senior Democratic aide.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/is-the-white-house-stalling-dadt-repeal-in-the-senate.php

[hlthe2b]

1. Reid is going to bring it up regardless Sat. but ....

while I understand the sensitivities, I have to play a bit of devil's advocate on this.... From the admin's POV, their entire foreign policy, from the standpoint of credibility and, yes, "power" hinges on getting this Nuclear treaty through. Otherwise, it sends a very strong signal to Russia and elsewhere that Obama admin is literally powerless to the opposition party and weakens us incredibly for future negotiations. While I don't quite see why a month or so delay makes so much difference, they apparently believe it does, since the treaty has been held up for some time already.

So, while I can understand the tendency to want to assume the worst about Obama admin and their dedication to DADT, I think on this round, it is a bit more complicated. :shrug:

[Angry Dragon]

2. He will trade one for the other

[EFerrari]

3. I tend to think that Lieberman will get it done.

But I can't figure out what's in it for him.

[tammywammy]

4. I think we should all know the answer to that question is no. n/t

[Radical Activist]

6. Clearly. Obama and OFA share some portion of the credit for this victory.

Obama and OFA mobilized their list of supporters to keep the pressure up on the Senate. He managed to get it done with minimal opposition from top military leaders. And he kept his pledge to get it done this year.

[CatWoman]

5. email I just got from the president:

Midori --

Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.

Gay and lesbian service members -- brave Americans who enable our freedoms -- will no longer have to hide who they are.

The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.

This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.

Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.

This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.

Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.

Will you join me in thanking them by adding your name to Organizing for America's letter?

I will make sure these messages are delivered -- you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.

As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.

But this victory is also personal.

I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.

But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me -- many I will never meet, and can never thank.

I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.

But the rightness of our cause does not guarantee success, and today, celebration of this historic step forward is tempered by the defeat of another -- the DREAM Act. I am incredibly disappointed that a minority of senators refused to move forward on this important, commonsense reform that most Americans understand is the right thing for our country. On this issue, our work must continue.

Today, I'm proud that we took these fights on.

Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:

http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed

Thank you,

Barack

[SidDithers]

7. Kick...

:rofl:

Sid

[Karenina]

8. One brickbat down.

"Obama could end up standing in the way of DADT getting done."

Another will surely be found in short order...

[cali]

9. nope.

[Egnever]

10. Or at least you think you do.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: