(04/24/10) "A Deal on DADT?" (by Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate)

[Spang]

The Advocate has learned that concurrent meetings took place Monday morning at the White House and on Capitol Hill that could help clear the way for “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal to be attached to the Department of Defense authorization bill later this week.

LGBT groups met with officials at the White House while legislative affairs representatives from the White House and the Department of Defense met with the House and Senate leadership offices on Capitol Hill along with those of Rep. Patrick Murphy and Sens. Carl Levin and Joseph Lieberman.

A White House aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the White House meeting. "Our understanding is that Congress is determined to act this week and we are learning more about their proposal now," said the aide.

A Democratic leadership aide called the development "promising" but said discussions are ongoing. The House Democratic leadership is expected to meet about the proposal later this afternoon.

According to one person familiar with the White House meeting, the proposal that is being considered would repeal the current statute this year, but implementation of repeal would not take place until after completion of the Pentagon’s working group study in December. Further, repeal would require certification from President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mike Mullen that the new law will not have a negative impact on readiness, recruitment, retention and other key factors that affect the military.

The language would not include a nondiscrimination policy but rather will return authority for open service by gays and lesbians back to the Pentagon.

A Statement of Administration Policy is expected to be released this week, potentially as early as tomorrow.

One repeal advocate welcomed news of the agreement.

“Every single one of the groups around that table agreed that this is an amazing step forward,” said the person, who was close to the discussions at the White House and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The news came at the outset of a week that will be make or break for repeal, with critical votes scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday on the National Defense Authorization Act on the House floor and within the Senate Armed Services Committee. Rep. Murphy is expected to offer a repeal measure as an attachment to the NDAA on the House floor and Sen. Levin has made no secret of the fact that he will move forward with an attachment in committee if he has the votes.

Murphy has long said he has the 217 votes necessary for repeal in the House and Hill insiders have said for weeks that Levin is one to two votes away from the 15 needed to attach the measure in committee.

The Source (http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/24/Deal_on_DADT/)

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White House Seeks To Speed Up 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal

WASHINGTON — The White House is talking with gay rights activists, lawmakers and Pentagon officials about a push to hasten the repeal of a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

The group was meeting Monday at the White House to discuss a faster pace to end the Clinton-era ban on openly gay service members. Lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation this week that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy this year – sooner than expected – although implementation would have to await a Defense Department review.

If Congress approves the repeal, it would still take several years before gays and lesbians could serve openly while the Pentagon writes a policy based on its review.

The Source (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/24/white-house-seeks-to-spee_n_587548.html?ref=twitter)

[Spang]

White House Endorses DADT Vote This Week

The ban on open military service by lesbian and gay Americans is on a path to repeal this week with the White House, Pentagon leaders and Congress outlining a process that includes votes in the House and Senate as early as Thursday. Legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be considered as amendments to the National Defense Authorization bill – the same vehicle by which the law was enacted 17 years ago. The Obama administration endorsed the approach today in a letter to Congressional leaders from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag.

Said HRC President Joe Solmonese:

“We are on the brink of historic action to both strengthen our military and respect the service of lesbian and gay troops. Today’s announcement paves the path to fulfill the President’s call to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year and puts us one step closer to removing this stain from the laws of our nation. Without a repeal vote by Congress this year, the Pentagon’s hands are tied and the armed forces will be forced to continue adhering to the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law. A solution has emerged: Congress needs to vote to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ now.”

The proposal would allow Congress to vote to repeal the current DADT law now with implementation to follow upon completion of the Pentagon Working Group study due December 1, 2010. The President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs would need to certify that implementation policies and regulations are prepared and that they are consistent with standards for readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting and retention. The plan therefore addresses concerns expressed by the Pentagon that the implementation study process be respected.

The leadership of Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Penn. along with the White House, has been critical to setting the stage for these votes.

The Source (http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2010/05/white-house-endorses-dadt-vote-this-week/)

[Laura Cereta]

This week? Wow, that's awesome!

[Spang]

DADT is Done...Almost

All it took was 17 years—six and a half of them under Democratic control—but Congress now appears poised to end "Don't Ask Don't Tell," a Clinton-era political compromise that mostly succeeded in forcing gay service members to compromise themselves. The New York Times reports the House and Senate have agreed on language for legislation that would abolish the ban on gays in the service; the Senate language will likely be advanced on the floor by Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), a guy who hasn't always been popular with liberals and Democrats. But this will certainly help his reputation in those circles. Lieberman, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), and Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), sent the White House a letter today (PDF) notifying them that legislation was imminent. Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, promptly replied (PDF) with an "OK."

Advocates for gay and lesbian service members expressed excitement—but not too much. "The White House announcement is a dramatic breakthrough in dismantling 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement. "The path forward crafted by the President, Department of Defense officials, and repeal leaders on Capitol Hill respects the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service and allows for a vote this week. President Obama's support and Secretary Gates' buy-in should insure a winning vote, but we are not there yet. The votes still need to be worked and counted."

The votes, indeed, will be an interesting question. Republican senators have the power to filibuster, but they probably won't; passage of the Senate version will give them something to rail against. Things may be more interesting on the House side, where Democrats, especially moderates, are treading carefully going into an election cycle. Thus far, they've tried to localize their elections and avoid association with President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, or the Dems' national-level issues. That will be much harder after a "yes" vote for repeal.

And even if the votes are there, the policy is unlikely to change before year's end; all policies have agreed to let Defense Secretary Robert Gates' Pentagon inquiry panel complete its work—studying how the change would affect the military and how best to prepare for it.

Perhaps the brass could speed things up by simply visiting their Canadian, or British, or Israeli, counterparts—all forces where straights and gays are integrated, and readiness isn't affected.

There'll be much more to write about this in the coming days; expect MoJo to be on it. There'll be me, as well as our human rights reporter, Mac McClelland, who's currently up to her ankles (literally) in Gulf Coast crude. In the meantime, if you have specific questions about DADT and the military you'd like us to tackle, feel free to contact me with them here.

The Source (http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/05/dadt-done-almost-repeal-gay-lesbian-military-service?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Motherjones%2Fmojoblog+%28Mot herJones.com+|+MoJoBlog%29)

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Obama endorses 'don't ask, don't tell' compromise in Congress

President Obama has endorsed to a "don't ask, don't tell" compromise between lawmakers and the Defense Department, the White House announced Monday, an agreement that may sidestep a key obstacle to repealing the military's policy banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces.

The compromise was finalized in meetings Monday at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers will now, within days, take a series of votes on amendments that repeal the Clinton-era policy, with a provision ensuring that any change would not take effect until after the Pentagon completes a study about the impact on troops. That study is due to Congress on Dec. 1.

In a letter to lawmakers pushing for a legislative repeal, White House budget director Peter Orszag wrote Monday that Obama's administration "supports the proposed amendment."

"Such an approach recognizes the critical need to allow our military and their families the full opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process through a thorough understanding of their concerns, insights and suggestions," Orszag wrote.

While gay rights advocates hailed the move as a "dramatic breakthrough," it remained uncertain whether the deal would secure enough votes to pass both houses of Congress. Republicans have vowed to maintain "don't ask, don't tell," while conservative Democrats have said they would oppose a repeal unless military leaders made clear that they approved of such a change.

Even if the compromise language passes, a legislative repeal would go into effect only after Obama certifies that the change does not harm the nation's military readiness.

In a statement, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said the announcement "paves the path to fulfill the President's call to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' this year and puts us one step closer to removing this stain from the laws of our nation."

The White House had initially hoped that Congress would wait until after completion of the Pentagon study before bringing up a repeal, but senior lawmakers made clear that they intended to push ahead on the issue, with or without administration support. Now the highly controversial social issue will return to the national conversation even as fall reelection campaigns begin to gear up.

Some Democrats, particularly in the House, wanted to wait for the completion of the Pentagon's study, while other, more liberal Democrats had been pushing for an immediate repeal. The compromise is designed to satisfy both concerns.

"We can live with this, and we're asking enthusiastically members to support and vote for it," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

The Source (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/24/AR2010052403681.html?hpid=topnews)

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White House, Congress reach deal on repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'

Washington (CNN) -- Congressional Democrats reached an agreement Monday with the White House and possibly the Pentagon on a key legislative step toward repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars openly gay soldiers from the military.

In a letter to President Obama obtained by CNN, three congressional sponsors of legislation to repeal the policy outlined the proposed agreement that would set contingencies based on completion of a military review of the matter already under way and subsequent final approval from the president and military leaders.

Specifically, the proposed agreement calls for repeal to become final only after completion of the military review expected by the end of 2010, followed by a review certification from Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

"We have developed a legislative proposal for consideration by the House and Senate that puts a process in place to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' once the working group has completed its review and you, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that repeal can be achieved consistent with the military's standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention," said the letter sent Monday night that was signed by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan; Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut; and Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pennsylvania.

The Obama administration endorsed the proposal in a letter sent to the congressmen Tuesday from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, who wrote that the agreement "meets the concerns raised by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

Congressional Democratic sources said they hoped Gates himself would explicitly support the compromise language because that could determine whether the measure will pass. Several Democrats in the Senate and House have said they are reluctant to support any legislation that doesn't have complete backing of the Pentagon.

There was no formal comment from the Pentagon on a possible agreement.

"Given that Congress insists on addressing this issue this week, we are trying to gain a better understanding of the legislative proposals they will be considering," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said in a statement.

Initial votes on the measure in the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House could occur as soon as Thursday, sources said.

Joe Solmonese, president of the civil rights organization Human Rights Campaign, praised the agreement.

"We are on the brink of historic action to both strengthen our military and respect the service of lesbian and gay troops," he said in a statement Monday. "Today's announcement paves the path to fulfill the president's call to end 'don't ask, don't tell' this year and puts us one step closer to removing this stain from the laws of our nation."

The agreement emerged from a meeting Monday at the White House involving administration officials, gay rights groups and Pentagon officials, the sources said. There were also talks on Capitol Hill involving White House lawyers, Pentagon officials and staff from the offices of influential House and Senate Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the sources added.

Gates has said he supports repealing the policy, but also has launched an extensive review of how to make the change. The review won't be finished until the end of the year.

Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently said he would push for a measure now to repeal the law. Gates opposed the idea, saying in a letter to the House Armed Services Committee chairman that he "strongly opposed" any changes before completion of the military review.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Republican on defense issues, also indicated his support for the military review before any possible repeal.

"I think most members really would like to hear from our commanders and men and women in uniform and get their input on a decision like this," said Graham, a member of the Armed Services Committee.

A senior U.S. military official with direct knowledge of the review process said that the Joint Chiefs of Staff remain committed to taking the time to get views from troops.

That process is well under way, the official said, noting that a survey will go out shortly to about 70,000 troops and families to solicit their views. In addition, the official said, town hall meetings already have been held around the country and more are expected, while a website provides a place for troops to write in their views.

The official noted that military commanders have been telling the troops for weeks that the review process was intended to ensure their views were incorporated in contingency planning in the event that Congress changes the law.

According to the official, changing the process now before completing the review could be harmful because some troops believe the whole repeal initiative is an effort to appease supporters of repeal.

The military needs until the end of 2010 to figure out how to implement the repeal in terms of housing, medical and marriage benefits, as well as issues involving the reinstatement of gay soldiers previously discharged under the policy, the official said.

The Obama administration letter indicated the agreement would address those issues, saying its approach "recognizes the critical need to allow our military and their families the full opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process through a thorough understanding of their concerns, insights and suggestions."

A major problem might be determining how to reconcile the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" with federal law that defines marriage as between a man a woman, the official added.

Supporters of repealing the policy have been pressuring congressional Democrats to act now, fearing the party will lose its House or Senate majority in November's mid-term election and be unable to pass the measure then.

A senior administration official said Monday it was the understanding at the White House that "Congress is determined to act this week."

The Source (http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/25/congress.military.dadt/index.html)

[Spang]

Committee Amendment Proposed by Mr. Lieberman
At the appropriate place in title V, insert the following:

SEC. [ARM10802]. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A REPEAL OF 10 U.S.C. § 654.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—On March 2, 2010, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum directing the Comprehensive Review on the Implementation of a Repeal of 10 U.S.C. § 654 (section 654 of title 10, United States Code).
(2) OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF REVIEW.—The Terms of Reference accompanying the Secretary’s memorandum established the following objectives and scope of the ordered review:
(A) Determine any impacts to military readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion, recruiting/retention, and family readiness that may result from repeal of the law and recommend any actions that should be taken in light of such impacts.
(B) Determine leadership, guidance, and training on standards of conduct and new policies.
(C) Determine appropriate changes to existing policies and regulations, including but not limited to issues regarding personnel management, leadership and training, facilities, investigations, and benefits.
(D) Recommend appropriate changes (if any) to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
(E) Monitor and evaluate existing legislative proposals to repeal 10 U.S.C. § 654 and proposals that may be introduced in the Congress during the period of the review.
(F) Assure appropriate ways to monitor the workforce climate and military effectiveness that support successful follow-through on implementation.
(G) Evaluate the issues raised in ongoing litigation involving 10 U.S.C. § 654.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (f) shall take effect only on the date on which
the last of the following occurs:
(1) The Secretary of Defense has received the
report required by the memorandum of the Secretary referred to in subsection (a).
(2) The President transmits to the congressional defense committees a written certification, signed by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stating each of the following:
(A) That the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have considered the recommendations contained in the report and the report’s proposed plan of action.
(B) That the Department of Defense has prepared the necessary policies and regulations to exercise the discretion provided by the amendments made by subsection (f).
(C) That the implementation of necessary policies and regulations pursuant to the discretion provided by the amendments made by subsection (f) is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.

(c) NO IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON CURRENT POLICY.— Section 654 of title 10, United States Code, shall remain in effect until such time that all of the requirements and certifications required by subsection (b) are met. If these requirements and certifications are not met, section 654 of title 10, United States Code, shall remain in effect.

(d) BENEFITS.—Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to
require the furnishing of benefits in violation of section 9 7 of title 1, United States Code (relating to the definitions of “marriage” and “spouse” and referred to as the “Defense of Marriage Act”).

(e) NO PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION.—Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to create a private cause of action.

(f) TREATMENT OF 1993 POLICY.—
(1) TITLE10.—Upon the effective date established by subsection (b), chapter 37 of title 10, 18 United States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking section 654; and (B) in the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, by striking the item relating to section 654.
(2) CONFORMINGAMENDMENT.—Upon the effective date established by subsection (b), section ARM10802 S.L.C. 571 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (10 U.S.C. 654 note) is amended by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d).

The Source (http://washingtonindependent.com/85609/the-text-of-liebermans-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal)

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Scott Brown says he’ll vote against ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal

The Massachusetts senator who succeeded Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Bay State says he'll vote against repealing the Pentagon's longstanding ban on allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military.

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) appears to be bucking the vast majority of residents of his state, 77 percent of whom supported getting rid of the military's anti-gay ban in a recent poll. Even among Brown's own supporters, 62 percent backed nixing the policy, the poll said, as did 67 percent of independents who supported him.

Brown said he will vote against a compromise reached Monday that would sunset the anti-gay law in the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he is a freshman member. The news was first reported by The Boston Globe.

The deal reached between the White House and Congress on Monday would allow Congress to move ahead with overturning the ban on gay servicemembers, pending the completion of a Pentagon study into rescinding the policy. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was appointed by President George W. Bush and kept on by President Obama, has said he wants his department to complete a review of the implications for removing the ban from the Uniform Code of Military Justice before any action is taken.

On Tuesday, Gates said he'd reluctantly accept Congress' decision to vote to overturn the ban pending the Pentagon's complete study.

Gay rights activists say the Pentagon's even studying the issue is insulting.

"I am keeping an open mind, but I do not support moving ahead until I am able to finish my review, the Pentagon completes its study, and we can be assured that a new policy can be implemented without jeopardizing the mission of our military," Brown said in a statement to the Globe.

"For some time now, I have been seeking the opinions and recommendations of service chiefs, commanders in the field, and, most importantly, our junior soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines," he added. "I believe we have a responsibility to the men and women of our armed forces to be thorough in our consideration of this issue and take their opinions seriously."

Brown serves in the National Guard.

The Source (http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0525/scott-brown-vote-dont-tell-repeal/)

[Spang]

Don't Ask About Repeal Anymore

Here's why the White House and the Pentagon so quickly accepted the Don't Ask, Don't Tell compromise: it provides comfort to a political ally and doesn't really change the process or calendar for its repeal.

The compromise that emerged is due directly to lobbying efforts by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the Human Rights Campaign and by members of Congress. The SLDN had been shut out of high-level White House meetings after clashing with Jim Messina, the White House official responsible for the policy. But the two have since re-engaged each other. When it became apparent to the White House that it could add repeal language to the Senate's defense appropriations bill and pass it, it facilitated a compromise. The policy will be formally repealed, first. That will be on the books. Forever. But. The Secretary of Defense will determine WHEN the repeal goes into effect. And lo' and behold, the criteria for determining when it will go into effect will be the same criteria that the Pentagon's working group on DADT had set up as thresholds: no impact on readiness, recruitment, effectiveness, retention, or unit cohesiveness.

It is important for the White House and the Pentagon to build institutional support for the repeal. They plan to do this by commissioning a military-wide study of soldiers' attitudes, holding public and private hearings, and even by re-assigning flag officers who oppose the policy. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, personally favor repeal. But they also believe that gay soldiers would be more easily integrated if the process of integration is seen as legitimate, and if opponents are given the chance to make their case and express their concerns.

Gay rights groups understood this, but they feared that without language on the books, the Pentagon would stall and delay -- forces hostile to gays would prevail in Congress. This "delayed implementation" approach was viewed skeptically by the White House until recently, which believed that it was not politically viable in Congress.

There are at least four congressional hurdles to vault, but repeal advocates believe they've finally got the votes.

However, repeal will become official policy; not if, but when becomes set in stone. Gates, initially hesitant to tinker with the plan, which saw his work being finished in December and repeal early next year, agreed to compromise language.

The Source (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/dont-ask-about-repeal-anymore/57204/)

[foxyladi]

awesome .:thumbsup:

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Obama chides heckler seeking fast repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'

San Francisco, California (CNN) -- An unidentified heckler interrupted President Barack Obama's fundraising speech Tuesday night by calling for the administration to move faster on repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars openly gay and lesbian soldiers from military service.

The unidentified man shouted during Obama's speech, causing the president to pause and chide him.

"Maybe he didn't read the newspapers, because we're working with Congress as we speak to roll back 'don't ask, don't tell,' " Obama said at the event for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California.

An agreement worked out with congressional leaders and the military would have legislators pass a measure calling for repeal of the controversial policy to kick in once the Pentagon completes a review of the matter and Obama and military leaders sign off on how to make the transition work.

Initial congressional votes on the issue could take place as soon as Thursday.

"C'mon, man, I'm dealing with Congress here," Obama said to laughter. "It takes a little bit of time."

The Source (http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/25/obama.heckler/)

[Spang]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/Loompy/FOXNewsDADTPoll.png

The Source (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/25/decide-time-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell/)

[Spang]

Yay! LT Dan Choi is following me!

[Laura Cereta]

That will be on the books. Forever. But. The Secretary of Defense will determine WHEN the repeal goes into effect.


Ugh. That doesn't sound great. I was hoping this would be an historic week for the advancement of gay rights. This sounds pretty watered down.

[Suzan]

LGBT groups met with officials at the White House while legislative affairs representatives from the White House and the Department of Defense met with the House and Senate leadership offices on Capitol Hill along with those of Rep. Patrick Murphy and Sens. Carl Levin and Joseph Lieberman.

I saw Patrick Murphy on Rachel today. He's the co-sponsor with Lieberman and a very impressive guy.

I didn't realize that 75% of the American public is for gays in the military.

[Spang]

I didn't realize that 75% of the American public is for gays in the military.

That number drops significantly when you poll FOXNews.com readers, as demonstrated above.

[Suzan]

Yay! LT Dan Choi is following me!
Which tweet of yours did he respond to?

[Spang]

Which tweet of yours did he respond to?

None.

[Spang]

Exclusive: Lt. Dan Choi Writes for NEWSWEEK on Why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Compromise Is Not Acceptable

From the first day I served and raised my right hand, I committed to the military’s values of integrity and an uncompromising dedication to honor. On Monday, when I learned of the president’s compromised approach to repealing "don’t ask, don’t tell," I felt betrayed. I am not celebrating now. My adherence to those military values is why I see this latest action as contrary to my understanding of leadership.

Seventeen years after the "don’t ask, don’t tell" law was first passed by Congress in 1993, what we have learned is undeniable. The U.S. military’s ban on gay service members is a social experiment in discrimination that has failed more than 14,000 times; 14,000 isn’t just another number, it is an Arabic linguist, a highly trained and skilled infantryman, or another patriotic enlistee who sacrificed themselves for our country’s freedoms.

On Monday, the White House announced compromise legislation to begin the process of repealing the outdated, discriminatory "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. In the 11th hour, after waiting 18 months for the president, my commander in chief, to show real leadership, we were handed a deal that does only half of what was promised. Rather than a full repeal of the ban, the proposal would push repeal off to an unspecified date in the future, and only then if the president, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff mutually agree that the time is right. There is no timetable for action, no promise for full repeal. Under this “compromise,” "don’t ask, don’t tell" could remain the law of the land forever.

I’m not going to lie. This compromise isn’t what I, or any of my fellow advocates, wanted or expected. The compromise does not end the firings. Nor does it restore our integrity. It is the result of a White House that has been AWOL on "don’t ask, don’t tell" repeal for the last year and a half, and now is desperately trying to find a solution—any solution, regardless of how unworkable—to a problem and a promise it would rather just go away. Our “fierce advocate,” as the president promised the gay community he would be, has presented us with a last-minute Hobson’s choice, and it is no cause for celebration.

As the clock continues ticking toward a Thursday vote in Congress, the president is asking the lesbian and gay community to praise this compromise because it’s the best we could possibly get. My question for the president that I ask in this video is simple: under your compromise, when will the discharges end? How long can we ask gay service members to live a lie? How long can we deny existence to their families? How long do we need to study the injustice in order to understand that discrimination is un-American? Poll after poll shows that the American people don’t need another study in order to know what’s right. Nearly 80 percent of Americans, from all walks of life, already understand what the president and the Congress still find so hard to grasp. The people support a full repeal of "don’t ask, don’t tell" now. When will their leaders do the same?

This week, regardless of the outcome in Congress, there will be no cause for celebration. As long as soldiers must compromise their honor, I will not celebrate. I will only celebrate when the service of those gay and lesbian Americans serving in uniform is honored. I will only celebrate on the day that my commander in chief finally shows uncompromising leadership by immediately stopping the unjust firing of able-bodied, patriotic men and women who have chosen to risk their lives for their country.

CHOI is a West Point graduate and an openly gay veteran of the Iraq War.

The Source (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/05/26/exclusive-lt-dan-choi-writes-for-newsweek-on-why-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-compromise-is-not-acceptable.aspx)

[Spang]

Digging Into DADT Details (UPDATED)

With support from Nebraska's Nelson, Senate committee pulls closer to DADT repeal amendment; Webb remains uncommitted

After the White House signaled its approval of a ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' repeal compromise on the evening of May 24, organizations, activists and members of Congress surveyed the new landscape on Tuesday, May 25. Particular attention focused on the Senate Armed Services Committee, where the vote count for repeal only appeared to come together Wednesday morning.

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), who submitted the proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the Rules Committee on Tuesday, said, ''We obviously had a setback two weeks ago,'' referring to the letter from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen opposing repeal this year, ''but we're going forward, and I think, now, we have an agreement that dismantles 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' and shows great leadership'' from President Obama and Gates.

Others were not so charitable about the statement of Gates's support, in which Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that Gates ''continues to believe that ideally the [Pentagon working group] review should be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law.'' That said, Morrell continued, ''with Congress having indicated that is not possible, the secretary can accept the language in the proposed amendment.''

Several questioned the wisdom of the compromise, from former Clinton gay liaison Richard Socarides, to the more than 240 people who said that they were ''attending'' a Facebook event urging Congress to vote ''No'' on the compromise language, to members of Get Equal. Additionally, on Tuesday night, Get Equal co-founder Kip Williams was detained and released for heckling Obama regarding his view that the compromise would move repeal forward too slowly during a California fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

Of particular concern was the requirement that the president, secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all certify the Pentagon working group recommendations before a repeal can take effect, which Socarides stated made the amendment a ''conditional future repeal.''

As Lt. Dan Choi and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas said in a statement issued by Get Equal on Tuesday night, ''Repeal hinges on a subjective study to ensure that our presence in the military won't have a negative impact on the military, there is no date given to end military discharges of LGBT servicemembers, there is no change to the DADT law right now, and there is no guarantee that repeal will happen – whether or not the conditions on the amendment are met.''

Murphy acknowledged their desire for an end to the policy, saying, ''We want to act with a sense of urgency.'' Despite that, however, he did not share their concerns.

''I am very confident that after the results of this study group, they will act quickly to certify repeal,'' Murphy, who has been leading repeal efforts in the House for the past year, said. ''I am very confident that with the testimony of [Gates and Mullen in February] that it has been very clear … that they are in favor of repeal. Hence, 'when' and not 'if.'''

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) echoed Murphy's remarks, telling Metro Weekly bluntly, ''There is no chance that the Pentagon will withhold certification.''

Saying he was ''proud of being part of the group'' working to push for repeal language to be included in this year's NDAA, Frank added, ''People complaining about Congress were wrong.''

Although Murphy and Frank's confidence will not alleviate the certification concerns for everyone – and although it will remain a question into next week and beyond if the amendment moves toward adoption – the more immediate question comes from the Senate, where a majority of the Senate Armed Services Committee's 28 members only expressed support for the amendment this morning, May 26, in the hours before the committee was to consider the NDAA.

Murphy replied ''yes'' when asked if the compromise was necessary for Senate passage of a repeal. And it was clear what he meant when, on Wednesday morning, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced that he would provide a critical ''yes'' vote on the amendment.

In a statement released by Nelson's office, he said, ''I will support the Lieberman compromise because it removes politics from the process.

''It bases implementation of the repeal on the Pentagon's review and a determination by our military leaders that repeal is consistent with military readiness and effectiveness, and that the Pentagon has prepared the necessary regulations to make the changes,'' he continued. ''I spoke to Secretary Gates and he advised that while he preferred waiting until the study is completed, he can live with this compromise.''

On May 25, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) announced opposition, and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) announced support. Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) were reported by various outlets on Wednesday afternoon to be ''leaning yes.'' However, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network announced Wednesday morning that Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) was the ''key senator advocates are actively engaging as of this morning.''

If Akaka ends up supporting the compromise, and the other votes played out as expected, it would leave Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D), who declined to say how he would vote on the amendment, as the only ''no'' vote from the committee's Democrats. He told The Huffington Post on May 25, ''I don't see any reason to preempt that process,'' referring to the Pentagon working group's process.

The Source (http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5229)

[Spang]

Republicans Threaten Filibuster Over ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

Armed Services Republicans threatened Wednesday to filibuster the defense authorization bill if it comes to the floor with Democrat-backed language repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Armed Services ranking member John McCain said Thursday that he would “without a doubt” support a filibuster if the bill goes to the floor with repeal language.

“I’ll do everything in my power,” the Arizona Republican said, citing letters from the four service chiefs urging Congress not to act before a Pentagon review of the policy is complete. “I’m going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military and to fight what is clearly a political agenda.”

With Democrats trying to rally support for compromise language hammered out this week by the White House and Congressional repeal backers — and adoption of that language at this week’s Armed Services markup looking increasingly likely — Republican opponents of repealing the 1993 law are beginning to look ahead to floor debate.

Another Armed Services Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker, also said he would support a filibuster if the repeal language makes it into the version of the bill that goes to the floor, most likely after the Memorial Day recess.

“If it is adopted, I will not sign the conference report, and there will be an attempt to filibuster the bill on the floor,” the Mississippi Republican said of the language, which the Armed Services panel is likely to consider as an amendment Thursday. “It’s a major mistake.”

Wicker described repeal as “a huge shift,” adding, “This bill is not the place for social policy. ... Why is there a need suddenly to accelerate the process, to send a signal to our service members that the assessment is nothing more than eye wash, is beyond me.”

The Source (http://www.rollcall.com/news/46798-1.html)

[Spang]

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 26, 2010

BYRD STATEMENT ON DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL REPEAL COMPROMISE AMENDMENT

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement announcing that he will vote for a compromise amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Byrd worked successfully with interested parties to include some additional language that would give Congress an additional 60 days to thoroughly review the implementation policy once certified:

"I did not want to blindly assent to repealing this law without giving the Congress an opportunity to re-examine the concerns of our Armed Forces and the manner in which they are being addressed."

"Therefore, I worked with the Senate and House Leadership, Senators Lieberman and Levin, Congressman Murphy, the Administration and the Department of Defense to include a provision in the proposed compromise amendment that would delay the repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy for 60 days after receipt of the findings of the Pentagon Review and the determination of the proposed policy and regulation changes."

"This period of time will allow the Congress, along with the American people, to thoroughly review the proposed policy recommendations to ensure that these changes are consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention for our Armed Forces."

"With these changes, I will support the amendment expected to be offered by Senator Lieberman to the Department of Defense Authorization bill."

The Source (http://www.openleft.com/diary/18867/breaking-sen-byrd-to-vote-for-dadt-repeal)

[cindyb]

I feel sorry for the men and women that have been kicked out of the military previously and think something should be done about them.
I'm not sure what but something.

[foxyladi]

will they reinstate the ones that were fired?????????

[Spang]

"Senate armed services passes #DADT repeal 16-12!" - @HRC (HumanRightsCampaign)

[Spang]

These douchebags make me want to vomit...

[Spang]

Senate Panel Votes To End Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Equal rights activists scored a major victory today, as the Senate Armed Services committee voted 16-12 to give the Pentagon the power to overturn Don't Ask, Don't Tell--a policy that bans openly gay people from serving in the military. However, numerous obstacles still remain, including an explicit threat from multiple Republicans that they'll filibuster the legislation when it reaches the Senate floor.

Maine Republican Susan Collins joined 15 Democrats in adopting the repeal plan as an amendment to the 2011 Defense Authorization Act, which should receive a floor vote next month. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) was the lone Democrat to vote 'no' with the Republicans. The House is expected to adopt similar language later tonight or tomorrow.

But key Republicans adamantly oppose the move, and are willing to take extraordinary measures to prevent the repeal from going through.

"I'll do everything in my power [to stop the repeal]," said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who serves as ranking member on the Armed Services Committee yesterday.

McCain was echoed by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who made his promise to obstruct explicit: "If it is adopted, I will not sign the conference report, and there will be an attempt to filibuster the bill on the floor," Wicker said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House all support overturning the ban, though until this week, their plan had been to delay legislative action until after the Pentagon completes a review, analyzing the effects of implementing repeal. But congressional leaders and activists forced their hand, and they agreed to a compromise: Congress will pass a law now, but instead of overturning DADT directly, it will delay repeal until the review is complete and Gates has given the green light.

Some wavering senators, including Webb, cite the Pentagon's reluctance as a rationale for opposing repeal. But by putting the provision in the authorization bill, Democrats gave themselves tremendous leverage--Republicans will have a hard time sustaining a filibuster of crucial national security legislation based on opposition to a policy that's supported at the highest levels of the military.

The Source (http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/senate-panel-votes-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell.php)

[Spang]

The next vote on the House floor will be the amendment to repeal DADT. (C-SPAN 1)

[Spang]

And they're off!

[Spang]

They're still voting but the amendment will pass! One more vote and an Obama signature and DADT will be repealed, as far as I know.

[Spang]

Despite nearly 80% of the American people supporting the repeal of DADT, only five brave Republicans (Djou, Cao, Biggert, Ros-Lehtinen and Ron Paul) voted YEA.

[Suzan]

So it passed? Wow!

The military elite aren't thrilled with that prospect I heard today. They consider it pre-emptive because the review hasn't been completed. Of course the review was all about stalling tactics.

[Spang]

So it passed? Wow!

It passed the House. I guess it has to pass the Senate next, and then the actual defense bill that the amendment is in has to pass, followed by Obama's signature. But maybe there's some other shit that needs to happen, I don't know, I just work here.

[Spang]

May 27, 2010

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I served my country for over thirty years. I enlisted in the army as a private and retired as a Major General. During that time, I saw a great deal of change in the Armed Forces. Racial segregation was ended in the ranks, women were recognized as equals and we moved to an all volunteer force.

My father was a laborer, my mother a domestic worker. I knew that there was no way I was headed for college. As a young Black Man I enlisted in the army long before President Truman desegregated the armed forces.

I served in segregated units (all Black) before being selected for Officers Candidate School. I then attended an integrated Leadership Academy and then Officers Candidate School which was also integrated. After graduation from OCS I was assigned to a combat arms unit for which I had been trained. I was reassigned to a service unit (Graves Registration) that was all Black.

The message was clear: It did not matter that I was qualified to serve in a combat arms unit that happen to be all white. It only mattered that I was Black.

Mr. President, I know what it is like to be thought of as second-class, and I know what it is like to have your hard work dismissed because of who you are or what you look like. I also know what a difference it made to me and others when President Truman eliminated segregation in the Armed Forces and placed qualification ahead of discrimination.

As a retired Army Commander, I also know how disruptive it is to remove a trained skilled member from a unit. In Korea, I had a Sergeant First Class in my unit who was gay. it was no secret. He was in charge of the unit’s communication. He was essential to our performance and our survival and he was dam good at his job. If I had to remove him, our unit’s effectiveness, as well as morale, most certainly would have been harmed.

Military leadership is about being able to constantly adapt to change, and I have seen the Army implement significant change and react to new directives since I enlisted. Perhaps the greatest military change is that we are now an all volunteer force. I cannot believe that we could have made that transition successfully if the services were still segregated or if the roles of women in the ranks had not been greatly expanded.

The services have, for the most part, kept pace with changes in American society as to matters of race and gender. Likewise, they must now keep pace with the changed attitude among the American people, especially younger generations, concerning sexual orientation. If they do not, military service will become a less viable option for more and more young people, and the quality of our forces will suffer. I suggest that the warriors of tomorrow will not want to become a part of an institution that does not respect their peers.

The men and women who volunteer to serve, especially in dangerous times, are the most important resource of our armed services. This includes the lesbian and gay troops who have served – and – are serving honorably. Just like their heterosexual service members, they risk their lives to defend our country. Our country owes it to them, and to all our troops to treat all who serve with respect and gratitude.

Our armed services believe in, and promote, the idea that one person can make a real difference. To commanders on the ground in Iraq, an Arabic linguist can make a difference. To a parent, whose son is bleeding on the battlefield, one lesbian nurse can make a difference.

You, too, Mr. President, can and will make a real difference here. You can make a difference in whether “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed this year, and whether implementation comes shortly thereafter.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Mr. President, do all you can; stand with us and work with us to end this denigration of our American values.

Respectfully,

Major General Vance Coleman
United States Army (Ret.)

The Source (http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/dear-mr-president-to-a-parent-whose-son-is-bleeding-on-the-battlefield-one-lesbian-nurse-can-make-a-difference/discrimination/2010/05/27/11216)

[Spang]

The five Republican congresspeople who voted for the amendment included:

• Rep. Charles Djou (HI)
• Rep. Joseph Cao (LA)
• Rep. Judy Biggert (IL)
• Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL)
• Rep. Ron Paul (TX)

The 26 Democratic congresspeople who opposed the amendment included:

• Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA)
• Rep. Bobby Bright (AL)
• Rep. Travis Childers (MS)
• Rep. Jerry Costello (IL)
• Rep. Mark Critz (PA)
• Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN)
• Rep. Joe Donnelly (IN)
• Rep. Chet Edwards (TX)
• Rep. Bob Etheridge (NC)
• Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL)
• Rep. Jim Marshall (GA)
• Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC)
• Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz (TX)
• Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)
• Rep. Earl Pomeroy (ND)
• Rep. Nick Rahall (NC)
• Rep. Ike Skelton (MO)
• Rep. John Spratt (SC)
• Rep. John Tanner (TN)
• Rep. Gene Taylor (MS)

The Source (http://www.theurbanpolitico.com/2010/05/history-house-votes-to-repeal-ban-on.html)

[foxyladi]

this is one bill I will be happy to see him sign:)

[Spang]

During his State of the Union address, President Obama pledged to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Now, we have a chance to help make good on that promise.

The House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee have already voted in favor of repeal, and debate in the Senate will soon start. But some Republicans have already announced their plans to block the repeal.

We can defeat those who'd stand in the way of history. But we must show our senators that Americans -- in every state -- overwhelmingly support repeal.

Join the President's pledge to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" today.

Click here (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/repealdadt?source=20100525_MS_share) to pledge your support.