White House Responds to Ruling on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
By Andy Towle
I reached out earlier today to the White House for response to yesterday's ruling declaring "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional, and just received this statement from White House spokesman Shin Inouye:
"The Justice Department is studying the decision, including the question of its scope and immediate effect and we expect them to announce their next steps after that review is completed. The President remains committed to legislative repeal of DADT, and he will continue to work with lawmakers to achieve that goal this fall. And he will continue to work closely with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on an ongoing study of how to best implement the repeal."
Lame, limp, and cowardly, so no surprise that it's from the Obama admin. Instead of welcoming and applauding, the White House plays it safe and hands the Log Cabin Republicans credit for repealing DADT. Why are Democrats such morons?
I'm so over Obama, what an arse.
Posted by: Alex | Sep 10, 2010 4:47:26 PM
"He will continue to work with lawmakers to achieve that goal this fall"
Makes it sound like he's not willing to take this at face value and run with it.
For weather-freaks out there, Fall doesn't officially start until the 23rd...
Posted by: Christopher | Sep 10, 2010 4:48:32 PM
Blah, blah, "study," blah, f*ckin' blah.
Posted by: bobbyjoe | Sep 10, 2010 4:50:41 PM
Obama is committed to legislative repeal, not judicial repeal, so he's going to let this go to Congress where it will fail miserably after the November Republican Reclamation of Congress, which was doubtless the plan all along.
Posted by: Roscoe | Sep 10, 2010 4:54:34 PM
+1 on all of the above. Fierce advocate my ass.
Posted by: PistolPetey | Sep 10, 2010 4:57:54 PM
This is amusing:
"The President remains committed to legislative repeal of DADT, and he will continue to work with lawmakers to achieve that goal this fall."
He'll fight any judicial repeal with the full power of his DOJ in order to keep the issue legislative, and therefore wrapped up in his plan to kill it with the Pentagon bigots having final say on whether or not fags make soldiers feel icky.
Parse, Parse, Parse.
This is just like the Public Option.
Posted by: Gridlock | Sep 10, 2010 5:21:12 PM
Fuck you Obama! I want my vote back.
Posted by: B | Sep 10, 2010 5:26:06 PM
roscoe BS
there is no way repubs take majority of either house. the average in an offseason election just for the hosue is only 25 seats and dems only pulled off better than that 2 times with the worse president ever at the helm motivating people put in the opposition party
Yeah there r tons of tea baggers all up in arms over obama (cause hes black and only repub lite as vs rabid right wing crazy) but they r not even the majority of their own party
reality will see dems loose probably around 25 seats if repubs r very lucky = No new office or leadership role for bohener and maybe loose 3 at most seats in the senate from 59 (counting 2 indies that caucus with dems) dems controlling 56 seats (2 of which indies that caucus with dems)
hell the main stream media and outdated pollsters( gallup does not factor in the majority of younger voters and black voters that dont have land lines and use cell phones....gallup only polls old fart neanderthalls with outdated tech landlines) had hillary beating obama when it was obvious to anyone with 2 brain cells he had already won and priumary math was against her as well as having mcoldster neck and neck with obama when
reality showed something else entirely
dems will retain control of both houses though with fewer numbers
Posted by: reality bites | Sep 10, 2010 5:27:13 PM
too bad Obama isn't actually supporting legislative "Repeal". The compromise that he supported and that is currently languishing in the senate isn't actually "Repeal". It's only legislative permission for the military to change the policy when and if they ever actually feel like it. And, it doesn't define what to change it to since they removed the non-discrimination language from it.
Posted by: Tim | Sep 10, 2010 5:35:18 PM
How much more studying needs to be done?
I know - let's stall the issue until the fall elections, when the Repubs take over - and then we can blame the non-passage on them.
Obama needs to grow a pair. I want my vote back.
Posted by: Steve | Sep 10, 2010 5:38:46 PM
@reality bites:
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/g-o-p-has-2-in-3-chance-of-taking-house-model-forecasts/
Posted by: miguel | Sep 10, 2010 5:41:25 PM
If they don't have a legislative appeal there will be no "legitimacy" in terms of the repeal and it will create a HUGE divide and quite possibly a break in the military ranks. He is being smart by saying he waits for legislative because it is prudent politically to sit this fence.
Is it the right thing? That's another matter entirely.
The military is made up of conservatives, predominantly. Liberals are way, way, way in the minority. Conservative, Bible or Koran reading, apple pie eaters in the majority. They already have a bad taste in their mouth over Rove's "legislating judges" shit and this will not fly. There will be a backlash probably against gays in the military because they are a captive audience for it. :(
It would be NICE if Congress could grow some balls and do the right thing and prevent something awful from happening by just voting in the repeal.
Posted by: Rin | Sep 10, 2010 5:45:48 PM
That's a lie, a judicial reversal is just as effective and permanent.
If the military breaks, too bad. They need to man up.
Posted by: Gridlock | Sep 10, 2010 5:49:03 PM
reality bites? So is that why you live in a fantasy world? Put down the kool aid and walk slowly towards the couch. You need a nap to sleep that shit off...
Posted by: gaylib | Sep 10, 2010 6:01:20 PM
Miguel yes the main stream media is pimping that whole mem cause booga booga scarry scarry repubs going to take congress sells while reality would see people turning off the news "Dems will retain control"
Ill bet ya that my prediction is right. Im still waiting on a bunch of people to pay me for being right on obama beating hillary and eventually winning the general
Posted by: reality bites | Sep 10, 2010 6:04:50 PM
Crumbs from the table of joy.
Posted by: yonkersconquers | Sep 10, 2010 6:22:21 PM
I putting all my faith in the courts. Screw the politicians! Hell, that's what they've been doing to us.
Posted by: Bob | Sep 10, 2010 6:30:20 PM
N word
Posted by: Tom | Sep 10, 2010 7:11:04 PM
Moan about Obama as much as you like. Nothing will change the fact that the alternative is the Republicans.
Newt Gingrich, Bachmann, Sharon Angle, McConnell, Boehner. These people will take us back 25 years given have the chance.
Aside from that if Republicans regain power their economic policies will turn America into a broken Empire, a third world country.
Vote Democrat, they are the best of a bad bunch. Republicans are going to vote in massive numbers, despondency at this point on our part will hand the crazies the power once more, and at that point you can kiss any hopes of Doma, Enda, or anything else ever being repealed.
Posted by: Paul | Sep 10, 2010 7:11:32 PM
Log Cabin Republicans: 1
President Messiah: 0
Democrat-controlled Congress: 0
Sorry kids, you can't get your vote back, but there's a midterm election coming up. Give it a little more thought this time.
Tom, the racial slur is unnecessary.
Posted by: Max | Sep 10, 2010 7:35:00 PM
I'm not saying it is right of Obama, because I am not. However, this isn't the same as asking for gay marriage in your state. If there is a backlash over a court ruling by the Maggie Gallaghers of this world big fucking whoop. She'll stomp her chubby feet and that's the end of it.
If you force something on a bunch of dudes who are trained to kill, who go through bootcamp that is part hazing, part exercise, with dudes who in many cases chose the military over prison and there is a backlash on gays it will get ugly.
I wish Congress would make it a damn law so that there is no room to grumble among the ranks. Sorry, this is probably just a "moms" point of view but I don't want to see anyone get hurt.
Posted by: Rin | Sep 10, 2010 7:48:54 PM
Grumbling in the ranks is permitted. Disobeying orders is not. The first time any straight soldier gets "ugly" about it, they get drummed out of the military. That's how discipline is maintained. That's why the same bigots you seem to be so afraid of are not lynching blacks every day, or raping women left and right, or murdering Jews and Muslims in their sleep in their bunks.
It's beside the point however. The Court has found the law unconstitutional. It's over. No need to "repeal it legislatively" now, because it's moot. Now is Obama a pussy and will he refuse to man up and do the right thing? You betcha he is a pussy.
Posted by: Dagoril | Sep 10, 2010 8:13:24 PM
I'm waiting for chris to sum this up.
Posted by: TANK | Sep 10, 2010 8:16:56 PM
RIN Sorry, this is probably just a "moms" point of view but I don't want to see anyone get hurt.
Honey, people are already getting, hurt, maimed and killed by the homophobes. As long as people are forced into the closet by threats of violence nothing will ever change. Because the haters win.
Posted by: fireblazes | Sep 10, 2010 8:18:21 PM
1. Thank God for the Log Cabin Republicans, for having the balls to fight this battle that has been ongoing for twelve years. It's a historic victory.
2. Shame on Obama and the Democratic Congress for stealing the gay vote, as usual. Shame on gay voters, for not thinking things out, before falling for stereotypical rhetoric (again).
3. The Military leaders are not as bigotted or homophobic as one might think. They are actually very ready to accept an overturning of this ridiculous policy. But as long as they don't have to, they may not. So the Admin. and Congressional lack of support is pathetic.
4.The GOP has made HUGE strides regarding inclusion and acceptance of the GLBT community, our issues, and equality. So stop drinking Kool Aid, and calling them names that are actually more befitting of the Democratic party. They are making historic endorsements of even gay marriage. Thanks to the ardent work of gay Republicans, who never get credit for gradually educating the close minded and conservative, and are the minority within the GLBT community.
Posted by: JB | Sep 10, 2010 9:21:27 PM