Barney Frank: Obama's Refusal to Call for Repeal of DADT This Year 'Is a Problem'
Congressman Barney Frank was in Los Angeles over the weekend and Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV had the chance to sit down with him and discuss pending LGBT rights legislation, specifically ENDA and 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.
Frank expressed frustration over Obama's lack of support on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell':
“I’m frustrated. I’m disappointed with the administration, in part. There have been some good things. Admiral Mullen saying what he said was spectacular. And enforcing it the way it was originally supposed to – even though I didn’t like it – discharges can be cut by over 90 percent.
But there will be a vote in the House. Rep. Patrick Murphy is going to offer his amendment. I think we’ll pass it in the House and then in the Senate – I’m told by some of the Senate leadership that they don’t think they have the votes to repeal it. People ought to talk to Sen. Carl Levin, he’s the key guy who’s our great ally.”
He added:
“[Obama's] not being for it will give people an excuse to not vote for it. Thing is – we’ve done hate crimes. We do ENDA. It’s a big agenda all at once. At this point – the President’s refusal to call for repeal this year is a problem.”
Why is it a problem? Democrats could lose many seats in the upcoming November elections, putting all pending LGBT legislation at risk. I'd say it's a problem for the Human Rights Campaign as well, who have the President's ear and have been insisting all year that there's a "clear path" to repeal.
On ENDA, Frank urged people to lobby their congressmen: "Sending in your own individual letter is the best or your own email or go in to see them. Sending the same copy of a letter – it’s better than nothing. Signing a petition is least important because it doesn’t indicate that much activity."
Gee, ya think, Barney?!
Posted by: Shane | Apr 13, 2010 8:34:58 AM
I know the President has been quiet since the SOTU address, but I still really believe that he will step up and get the Senate votes to pass it once it leaves the House. Surely, Obama is smart enough to know that you don't say things like "end DADT by the end of the year" in the SOTU and then not follow through ...
Posted by: Rodney | Apr 13, 2010 8:37:28 AM
wait, didn't Obama say that DADT would be repealed this year?? Oh yeah, that's right, he's a lying sack of shit. He'll just get his goons like Frank and Solmonese to take the blowback and make up excuses for him. And Rodney, I hate to break it to you but there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny either. Sorry 'bout that sweetie.
Posted by: gaylib | Apr 13, 2010 9:02:24 AM
Yet another example of how Obama's promises of "fierce advocacy" were nothing more than a "fierce fraud." The repeal of DADT is stalled because Obama and the majority of the Dems want it to be stalled. Their re-election is all that matters to them. It's the same old story, they talk about "Change" and how our issues matter, but after they get our votes the throw our rights under the bus without even a fight. Just delay, delay, delay, and promise that they will get to us later.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Wayne | Apr 13, 2010 9:06:12 AM
Yup... and unless they move on some more of our issues it is going to be a very cold election cycle for them. VERY cold.
Posted by: Darren | Apr 13, 2010 9:22:57 AM
That's alright, Gaylib. I knew I would get some blowback from my fellow commentators when I made that statement.
Posted by: Rodney | Apr 13, 2010 9:36:37 AM
Well, at least this is a better picture of Barney Frank than that mug shot. Superficial, I know, but I look at this site first thing in the morning, so every little bit helps.
Posted by: HW In SoCal | Apr 13, 2010 10:03:09 AM
Dear Senator Frank: This is really not a problem for me anymore. You see if the Democrats and the Obama administration can't find the strength to stand up for me and end DADT, then I won't find the strength to give money or vote for a Democrat. Now who has got the problem?
Posted by: Joystick | Apr 13, 2010 10:33:46 AM
what caused the wake up call by barney frank? wasn't he the one you said we had to have patience with obama because he so much on his plate. is the reason the very good possiblity that the repuklicans will control the next session of congress? also what happened to hrc's on track for repeal and their photo-ops with our fierce ally. time for another coctail party
Posted by: walter | Apr 13, 2010 10:43:51 AM
If it's good for LGBT folks, Barney Franks against it.
He opposed the effective, original form of ENDA and accepted every rightwing Democrat and Republican amendment offered to gut it.
In the process he exposed himself as a virulent transphobic bigot, doing the dirty work usually reserved for the christer right. He's still at it.
When marriages were authorized in San Francisco he opposed them.
Then the March in Washington became an anti-Obama and anti-Democrat rally demanding passage of our agenda he bitterly opposed it. When the Hate Crimes Bill passed soon after he refused to connect the dots between passage and the MoW.
His lobbying approach, his dependence on hustlers like Obama to keep their campaign promises and his strategy of working through the two bigot parties are strategies for losers.
We'll begin to win when we're independent of Barney Frank and political hustlers like him. We'll begin to win when mass actions become more common, more militant and when our agenda reflects the needs of working class GLBT folks.
A Republican is a rightwing jackass with a theocrat attached at the hip. A Democrat is a Republican in 'progressive' drag.
With Democrats like these who needs Republicans.
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Apr 13, 2010 11:09:34 AM
Obama, Pelosi, and Reid are a part of the problem, but the biggest problem is the gay community's lack of passion, strategy, wisdom, zeal, and commitment to its issues. If this were gun rights advocates, they would have shut down D.C. by now. If it were the religious right during a Republican administration, they would have threatened to stay home en masse in November many times over by now. If it were Blacks, they would have had emergency meetings and rallies at every black church and meeting hall by now. Gays and bisexuals are so pitiful when it comes to political and social action. Sad.
Posted by: Jake | Apr 13, 2010 11:53:44 AM
"Then the March in Washington became an anti-Obama and anti-Democrat rally demanding passage of our agenda he bitterly opposed it."
Uh, excuse me, but, if you're talking about the NEM you are absurdly off base. It was NOT anti anything except complacency. I was on the executive board and would prefer the truth be told.
I can say that Senator Reid is not the problem. He personally told Dan Choi and I that he was working on it and within weeks news started coming out about this whole issue. I was recently in the Senator's office checking up on where things stood and he is firmly on our side.
I would also like to point out that I did not go in with $550 million dollars, so, the myth that only Gay Inc has access, is just that, a myth.
No matter who is at fault, the ultimate responsibility lies with our LGBT "Leadership" over the last few years. They have been co-opted by the system and like House Negroes are afraid they'll have to go back into the fields if they upset Massa. Screw them. Get involved locally. Call your local rep and demand a meeting. Join your local Stonewall Dems and help LGBT candidates get elected (that aint never gonna happen with the Party of Can't). Just fucking do something!
Btw, I have to agree that if the POTUS and the Dems don't get it together soon, I'll be busy in 2012. At least on the national front.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Apr 13, 2010 1:36:18 PM
This legislation was never in the cards.
Way back in March of 2009 when the health care debate got underway, Pelosi accidentally revealed after a meeting with the President that repealing DADT was not -repeat NOT - a priority for this Congress. The message either flew over the heads of the "leadership" at HRC or they were too busy with the cocktail parties to notice. The Democrats decided very early on that they'd only do hate crimes in this Congress.
Posted by: John | Apr 13, 2010 1:51:48 PM
The process of repealing DADT has already begun. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has stated that he thinks the law should be repealed. That would not have happened without a President in the White House who supported repeal. Did you guys think it would happen over night? Also, him using an executive order to halt discharges and allow gays to serve openly would have been the wrong thing to do both politically and policy wise. It would become a wedge issue and legislators who might have voted for repeal might not in the face of losing their congressional seats. That's politics! The military leadership needs to be on board, and the congress needs to be on board.
Executive Order=Half Measure
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Apr 13, 2010 2:40:35 PM
Hey Barney, what's a smart guy in bayonne? Lost.
DADT will not be repealed anytime soon. Third party is not throwing your vote away, and we can no longer be cowed by the threat of republican victory.
Posted by: TANK | Apr 13, 2010 5:57:17 PM
You hit on one great point in this article that other blogs did not on this story - HRC is going to be in some deep trouble if DADT isn't repealed this year. Joe and David Smith have royally screwed up by being completely ignorant and soft on this issue. No one is buying the new PR campaign HRC is putting on to try to cover up their failures on DADT.
Posted by: Bill | Apr 13, 2010 7:50:52 PM
But Rodney, didn't Obama also say GITMO would close by the end of his first year?
Posted by: NYSmike | Apr 13, 2010 10:02:45 PM