Repealing DADT: in the words of Capt. Picard, "Make it so"

[Hugabear]

I cannot understand what all the hand-wringing is all about. There have been plenty of high-ranking generals and officers who have come forward in support of the repeal. Other countries - including Israel and Russia - allow homosexuals to openly serve in their military. Seems like the same arguments that some are trying to make in support of DADT are the same ones that were made regarding desegregation a long time ago.

Just do it already!

[TheWraith]

1. Well yeah, obviously. It's not like they have any new arguments.

The catch is that the Senate is, by it's nature, a highly regressive and reactionary body. That's where the bottleneck in the government is.

[Hugabear]

2. Obama is Commander-in-Chief. Can't he just eliminate it by himself?

Just wondering

[TheWraith]

3. Not quite. Unlike segregation of military units, which was simply DOD policy...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is actually statutory law. That means it was passed by Congress, and can only be changed by Congress. (Note I say "changed" not "repealed," since the previous policy was an outright ban on gays in the military.) The Congress needs to pass a bill which essentially nullifies the previous one, which said that people with homosexual tendencies weren't fit for military service, and establish a new set of qualifications for service.

The argument has been made that Obama has the authority to suspend enforcement, however there's two issues with that. One is that suspending but not eliminating it might remove the impetus for Congress to actually do the hard work of repealing it; then, the next Republican president simply reinstates the policy, leaving us back at square one. The law itself HAS to be changed.

The other argument against that is that this would, on some level, amount to the Commander-in-Chief issuing an order to disregard US law. A minor administrative law, yes, but allowing presidents to countermand laws is still an ethically dubious area.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. The White House could actually WRITE legislation repealing DADT, and submit it to both houses.

Imagine the implications. With majorities in both houses, it either passes, or we know IMMEDIATELY which Democrats are not REALLY on the side of progressives and need to be voted out ASAP. It could be the start of a completely new direction.

Would that the repeal of DADT were really on PBO's agenda.

[TheWraith]

5. There's already legislation introduced in both houses.

But don't let me interrupt your ill-informed Obama-bashing.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Point me to it.

And maybe you could explain to me why the President, during his SOTU speech, would give DADT one sentence (really no more than lip service in retrospect but I was very excited about it at the time) and NOT mention the fact that the White House had ALREADY written the legislation and was merely waiting for it to be voted on.

Thanks in advance.

[TheWraith]

7. The White House DIDN'T "write the legislation."

Congress has to do something, after all.

HR 1283, Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009: To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1283

My Senator (Gillibrand) and Ted Kennedy (and later Kennedy's office, before it disbanded) were working on the Senate equivalent. I'm not sure if it's gone far enough to have a Senate bill number.

[Touchdown]

8. Irony alert!

Quotong Captain Picard when The Enterprise has not seen one gay crew member in any of the 5 series.

So much for Television's standard bearer of diversity.