White House: No Comment On National Security Adviser’s Claim That DADT Repeal Will Come “At Right Time”
This one will further frustrate those pushing for a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell…
The White House is refusing to offer comment or clarification on the suggestion yesterday by Obama national security adviser James Jones that Obama may not be able to repeal the ban on gays and the military in the short term because he “has a lot on his desk” and will deal with repeal “at the right time.”
The silence underscores the White House’s lack of urgency on the issue and may anger gay rights leaders already upset with the administration’s footdragging on their issues.
Jones was asked yesterday on CNN whether the moment for repeal has arrived. “The President has an awful lot on his desk,” he answered. “I know this is an issue that he intends to take on at the appropriate time….The Defense Department is doing the things it has to do to prepare, but at the right time, I’m sure the President will take it on.”
A White House spokesman declined comment in response to a request for clarification, which essentially means Jones’ quotes stand.
What makes Jones’ apparent lack of urgency even more telling is that Harry Reid recently sent a letter to Obama explicitly asking for his “recommendations” and his “views” on how to repeal DADT — right now.
“Your leadership in this matter is greatly appreciated and needed at this time,” Reid wrote (emphasis mine). The White House, however, seems to believe now is not “the right time.”
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Reminds me of the “go slow” attitudes during the civil rights struggles. Finally even the most patient victims said “enough.” As in “letter from a Birmingham jail.” “Go slow” is the “sin of omission” and is just as damaging as the actual bigotry.
Well considering the timing of Jones appearance, in the middle of one of the most important assessments of military strategy for Afghanistan, I don’t find his statement surprising. Right now the WH military apparatus is focused on getting this decision right, meanwhile the rest of the world not involved in that process is moving forward on the issue (the article in the military journal and upcoming vote in Maine). I know that no one wants to be told to wait for issues they are passionate about, but this is something that Obama has stated time and again he will address even if it is not as soon as some want. Color me underwhelmed by this statement as it is completely in line with past ones.
Having been a strong supporter of gay rights/justice issues for 40 years, I’d rather have this bigoted blight long since resolved. But it is not the most important issue presently and its proper resolution likely is dependent upon other things being done first. Namely, an institutional diminishment in the forces promoting the bigotry.
Obama is trying to corral ALL 60 Democratic Senators to vote for cloture on health care reform. DADT will be repealed but won’t happen until after health care reform is passed.
Also, Obama is battleling the military over Afghanistan. This isn’t the time to battle with the military over DADT at the same time.
Sherrie: as much as I regret the delay I agree with you.
The bottom line, and Reid should remember this, having been a senator in 93-94, is that there is precedent for failure of HCR if done at the same time as tackling g ays in the military. I have little doubt that the president plans on tackling the issue soon after HCR has passed.
Maybe Obama would like to be dragged by the scruff of his neck to the back of the bus and be called “boy” for a few years.
@Gridlock
Huh?
I can tell you from a grassroots organizational level OFA has been directed to work only Health Care until it passes. Obama has begun working behind the scenes on getting some sort of PO into the final Senate bill. So, Health Care is first and foremost.
I know he directed a Dem rep to begin the work on repealing DADT, I can’t remember his name, but presumably his efforts are moving forward.
We all have issues we want addressed, especially after the last 8 years, and I’m sure there is a priority list on the President’s desk to deal with all of them. He has an unprecedented work load and right out of the gate had to deal with a spiraling economy.
A little patience would be the best attitude.
“Maybe Obama would like to be dragged by the scruff of his neck to the back of the bus and be called “boy” for a few years.”
Whats that supposed to mean?
“Also, Obama is battleling the military over Afghanistan. This isn’t the time to battle with the military over DADT at the same time.”
Sherrie – totally agree. You have to pick your battles and your timing.
Three, four years ago we were fighting to keep the Republicans from trying to amend the constitution to enshrine prejudice.
A delay is a very good problem to have.
So now the Commander in Chief is “battling” the military over which he presides? I feel so confident…
sbj said: “So now the Commander in Chief is “battling” the military over which he presides? I feel so confident…”
Don’t let yourself get caught up in someone’s choice of a particular active verby, sb. God and Satan have been “battling” for a long time now and Cheese Nips still taste delicious nevertheless.
sbj:
Of course you’d say that, so I only answer because it’s an issue that deserves consideration. He’s “battling” with the military because previous administrations have given the military too much power. In Bush’s scandal over retired generals being hired by the Pentagon to go on TV and sell wars, one thing that stood out was that all of these guys retired to big payouts from weapons contractors. These guys have a conflict of interest and that colors their decision making.
It’s also harder to order them around because outfits like Fox fetishized guys like Petraeus to the point where the media expects Presidents to “listen to the commanders on the ground” instead of the other way around.
This is not healthy for our country but it is reality. Of course there’s a battle going on. Did you even notice the struggle it took to scrap the F-22?
@Bernie: Cheese It crackers are far superior…
“So now the Commander in Chief is “battling” the military over which he presides? I feel so confident…”
O please! You want to name ONE PRESIDENT who hasn’t disagreed with the military over something? If the military had their way all the time, they’d spend 6 times more than they do now.
They are our single greatest expense and all president argue with their military. Lincoln fought with his during the entire first two years of the effing civil war.
If you don’t know history, then quit making dumb *** statements about it.
DADT should have been repealed last January (actually how about a decade ago!). There is no excuse. It’s an equal rights issue & can be done by executive order. The military will get over it…and the politicians efforts on this issue are just insulting.
healthnut – where would you rather be on this issue right now – back where we were when Bush and the Republicans were in charge and they wanted to amend the constitution to keep **** and lesbians from ever being full citizens?
Or here, where the rights are recognized and where there is assurance that we’ll get it done when the time is right?
On the other thread we are arguing about the inane idea that the public option is a civil right. In the meantime, with DODT, progressives here seem willing to wait for an obvious civil right. Ridiculous.
“with DODT, progressives here seem willing to wait for an obvious civil right. Ridiculous.”
And you have no idea how it works. The right exists. All anyone is waiting for it the clearance of obstacles to full recognition of an existing right.
And we will have that clearance.
So continues the left’s culture war against America.
Tena, any chance you are the same Tena as the Texas judge who declared the marriage statute unconstitutional last week?
>>>So continues the left’s culture war against America.<<<
STFU terrorist.
Memo to QB:
Right wing bigots are not America.
Love, the world.
QB’s heart’s desire is to torture.
“He’s” just a worthless war criminal wannabe.
I understand you all don’t like to face the inconvenient truth. But isn’t it a truth, nonetheless?
The left has been attacking this aspect of American (more broadly, Western) cultural, moral, and religious heritage for several decades now, yet you typically accuse the right of “culture war.” Objectively speaking, there can’t be any debate that the culture war is being waged by the left. You can damn your opponents as “right wing bigots” as much as you want, but you are nonetheless seeking a radical remaking of society and its mores.
Are you radicals seeking to fundamentally remake society only when that rhetoric is convenient?
QB, you are a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal. Evolve or die as a party.
Huh?
To repeat: Reminds me of the “go slow” attitudes during the civil rights struggles. Finally even the most patient victims said “enough.” As in “letter from a Birmingham jail.” “Go slow” is the “sin of omission” and is just as damaging as the actual bigotry.
As John Aravosis has noted:
As Sully so aptly describes it, “The fierce urgency of whenever.”
After a while you get the message – you’re expendable after you’ve voted and made your campaign contribution.
Those of you heartily endorsing “WAIT” should consider that it is easy to “go slow”.
Obama is a liberal, but he is first and foremost a pragmatist.
There will never come a time during his presidency when it will be pragmatic to repeal DADT.
Jones has never done anything but try to set up Obama so that he can fail to keep this promise without suffering any consequences for that failure.
sbj said: “@Bernie: Cheese It crackers are far superior…”
One needs to go no further in establishing the total bankruptcy of modern conservatives in all things betwixt soup and nuts.
@Tena -
I would like a commander-in-cheif – that sits down and with a stroke of his pen, does away with DADT. I would like a CIC that instead of “battling” with HIS generals – gives them the orders. He’s in charge, he needs to act like it.
I would like a commander-in-cheif – that sits down and with a stroke of his pen, does away with DADT.
Unfortunately the only CIC who can do that is a dictator. DADT is a federal law. It cannot be undone by an executive order.
Sully’s “fierce urgency of whenever” is a wonderful bit of phrasing.
healthnut said: “I would like a CIC that instead of “battling” with HIS generals – gives them the orders. He’s in charge, he needs to act like it.”
That has the ring of Dick Cheney or Bush or the Weekly Standard crowd as regards how a President/leader ought to present himself…decisive, bold, guns blasting and with discussion or compromise as sissy weak-kneed appeasement.
It’s a long ways from the sort of President/leader I have in mind as optimum.
Yesterday, on the “Is Conservatism Brain Dead?” post, Greg was commenting on how many people in the country are becoming unnerved because Obama is “attempting change of dizzying scale and ambition.” Today, he’s a temporazing, overly-cautious do-nothing because he put saving us from another Great Depression, winding down the war in Iraq, getting health care reform and financial market reform done, maybe getting some greenhouse caps of some kind into effect and, oh yeah, just P.S. and btw, undoing eight years of damage that Bush/Cheney did to the entire regulatory apparatus ahead of some other things, including pushing for repeal of DADT.
Sheesh.
@bernie: As far as soup it has to be Progresso, and no one can beat Planters for nuts.
As far as leadership I’d like your opinion about a hypothetical. Obama has made the argument that Afghanistan is fundamental to our defense in that the Taliban must be prevented from a return to power else they again provide a haven for terrorists. It is generally agreed that tens of thousands of potential terrorists received training in that country during Taliban rule and they are now all over the globe. Obama feels that such terrorists continue to constitute a real threat.
Obama is now re-evaluating a strategy that was developed a mere 6 months ago. I assume he is also re-evaluating his goals for the Af-Pak region. Would you question Obama’s leadership if he were to develop new/different goals and change his mind about preventing the return of the Taliban to power?
Prediction:
DADT will not be repealed.
It’s not that simple. There will be BIG conservative backlash against this.
Also, there is a very large population of very bigoted homophobes in the U.S. military that will threaten to create large amounts of violence against ****.
It is my belief that both Obama & Gates are preparing for this and laying the groundwork to account for the uptick in violence & dissent in the military ranks.
But until then, he has to hold-off those calling for its repeal.
But until then, he has to hold-off those calling for its repeal.
There are any number of ways of doing that that don’t include clearly hinting that you plan to renege on the campaign promise altogether.
It’s not that simple.
Who said it was simple? Do you think it was easy to integrate “coloreds”?
Obama didn’t have to promise to work to repeal DADT, did he?
(First line of last comment should be italicized. Don’t know what happened there.)
wow – so I want Obama to actually do something and you put me in the same boat with Cheney?
wow
you folks are just plain weird.
Gee maybe I should check my registration card, hold on. Yep, Democrat – that’s what I had thought. Being the way you insult anyone that dares disagree .. wow – I think you guys are the ones that are acting like Neocons.
We have a bulletproof majority in both houses of Congress & we have the White House. So fricking lead and repeal DADT. Close Gitmo. Get the ecomony on track. Pass healthcare already – this should have been done and over months ago.
We need some leadership – and you know what. Obama, Reid & Pelosi are blowing it. You know what else? You know they are and you sit here and make fun of anyone that points it out & call us rethugs or compare us to Cheney. F you. Enjoy your ride to obscurity – they are blowin it.
He talks the talk, but he doesn’t walk the walk. His ’starpower’ trip to bring the olympics home showed that – what they heck was he thinking? We have 9.8% unemployment & South America has NEVER hosted an Olympics – it was a slam dunk for them. There was no up-side to the trip – yet he went anyway.
Priorities are wayyyyy wrong. Do what matters to people. Pass healthcare, fix the education system, etc etc.
Powerful comment, healthnut. We might disagree but I appreciate the passion and civility.