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Obama to call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal, adviser says

Polynikes

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Obama to call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal, adviser says - CNN.com


President Obama will ask Congress Wednesday night to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars gays and lesbians from openly serving in, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod told CNN.

The request will be included in the president's State of the Union address, Axelrod said.

The issue has been a source of contention for heavy hitters on both sides of the issue, who are lining up for a fight.

In a message to Pentagon leadership, Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it's time to repeal the law.

"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Shalikashvili. His letter was sent out Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who supports repealing the policy
 
GREAT. :2wave:
 
Good for him. It's about time.
 
Awesome! Slowly but surely America is joining the rest of us in the 21st century! :D
 
Should have done this a while ago, but still, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
 
About freaking time.
 
People aren't ready for this yet. It will backfire on him.
 
I'm sure some thought that society wasn't "ready" for civil rights. Sometimes, you just have to shake the tree. I have enough faith in the military members to know they will adapt just fine. Like so many other things, eventually this will fall into the "what was the big deal" catagory.
 
hahahaha

Obama: The gift that keeps on giving
 
This should be interesting.

I've heard arguments from both sides of this issue which make good points.

Overall, however, I don't think it'll be much of a problem, if they do repeal it.

Time will tell, I suppose.
 
Yeah, it's good news and yada yada. But this better not be a stupid gimmick to throw progressives a bone, right after Obama sticks it to them on health care. (I'm quite cynical about this SOTU. I'm expecting a craven, pathetic address.)
 
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Yeah, it's good news and yada yada. But this better not be a stupid gimmick to throw progressives a bone, right after he sticks it to them on health care. (I'm quite cynical about this SOTU. I'm expecting a craven, pathetic address.)

You are absolutely correct. This is a gimmick to throw liberals a bone.

He puts the burden on an already timid Congress looking at everything Obama has been touching turning radioactive and gives them yet another non popular social change which they will never pass.
 
Obama to call for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal, adviser says - CNN.com


President Obama will ask Congress Wednesday night to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars gays and lesbians from openly serving in, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod told CNN.

The request will be included in the president's State of the Union address, Axelrod said.

The issue has been a source of contention for heavy hitters on both sides of the issue, who are lining up for a fight.

In a message to Pentagon leadership, Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it's time to repeal the law.

"As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military," said Shalikashvili. His letter was sent out Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who supports repealing the policy

Why is Obama asking Congress, wasn't this started by a Clinton Executive Order? Why not get rid of that Exective Order and put out a new one?
 
Why is Obama asking Congress, wasn't this started by a Clinton Executive Order? Why not get rid of that Exective Order and put out a new one?

Obama's argument on this has been, and I would assume still is, that if congress does it, it would take congress to undo it, if he does it with an executive order, the next president can undo it just as easily.
 
Why is Obama asking Congress, wasn't this started by a Clinton Executive Order? Why not get rid of that Exective Order and put out a new one?

That's what I thought too, but now I'm questioning my memory on it.

On the surface it would seem that the President (as CIC) should simply be able to change it.
 
Obama's argument on this has been, and I would assume still is, that if congress does it, it would take congress to undo it, if he does it with an executive order, the next president can undo it just as easily.

Ah. Okay well that makes sense. Well not really, but it makes as much sense as anything in DC.
 
Ah. Okay well that makes sense. Well not really, but it makes as much sense as anything in DC.

It's not a great argument, though I do understand it. He could have, and should have removed it with an executive order, and asked congress to remove it more permanently.
 
Why is Obama asking Congress, wasn't this started by a Clinton Executive Order? Why not get rid of that Exective Order and put out a new one?

Thats exactly right. Obama is a coward trying to throw it back on Congress when he could do it himself. He's trying to get red meat for liberals but throw the responsibility of actually doing something on someone else.

So typical of Obama.

And only megaprogman and Kandahar sniffed it out for what it is. The rest of the liberals on page 1 were too busy praising it without actually thinking about it.
 
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Thats exactly right. Obama is a coward trying to throw it back on Congress when he could do it himself. He's trying to get red meat for liberals but throw the responsibility of actually doing something on someone else.

So typical of Obama.

And only megaprogman and Kandahar sniffed it out for what it is. The rest of the liberals on page 1 were too busy praising it without actually thinking about it.

I don't know about all of that. I think Don't ask don't tell is a stupid policy. Obama should just get rid of it. Once it's gone it's unlikely another President would bring it back.
 
The biggest problem I have with this is that it will add up to a bunch more equal oppertunity and anti harrassment briefs that I have to go to instead of being out training. Anyone who has been in the Army in the last 15 years knows exactly what I am talking about. Civilians would never belive how much time is wasted in the Army doing this crap.
 
I don't know about all of that. I think Don't ask don't tell is a stupid policy. Obama should just get rid of it. Once it's gone it's unlikely another President would bring it back.

But that's the whole point. He can do that. Instead he's dumping responsibility on Congress so he can get the praise from sucker liberals (not yourself because you were wary as well) while sharing no responsibility for actually doing something about it.

True liberals who believe this policy should be removed should be angry that he is trying to shirk responsibility yet again while trying to get points for suggesting the idea in the first place.
 
I don't know about all of that. I think Don't ask don't tell is a stupid policy. Obama should just get rid of it. Once it's gone it's unlikely another President would bring it back.

Obama is overly stuck on this whole "bi-partisanship" nonsense, that may be why he's going to Congress. As if the GOP cares one whit for bi-partisanship.
 
But that's the whole point. He can do that. Instead he's dumping responsibility on Congress so he can get the praise from sucker liberals (not yourself because you were wary as well) while sharing no responsibility for actually doing something about it.

True liberals who believe this policy should be removed should be angry that he is trying to shirk responsibility yet again while trying to get points for suggesting the idea in the first place.

Yeah I think I agree. If the President REALLY wants to get rid of this policy he should just do it. He has the power and authority. No excuses, no waiting game, no blame game. Just do it.
 
Obama is overly stuck on this whole "bi-partisanship" nonsense, that may be why he's going to Congress. As if the GOP cares one whit for bi-partisanship.

Oh yes. When Bush was in office you liberals were so accommodating

How is fantasy land doing? :rofl
 
Yeah I think I agree. If the President REALLY wants to get rid of this policy he should just do it. He has the power and authority. No excuses, no waiting game, no blame game. Just do it.

I may not agree with you on some issues but I applaud your thinking. You want action from the politicians you voted for, not empty promises.
 
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