Jonathan Alter: A Promise Kept

[babylonsister]

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/05/25/a-promise-kept.aspx

A Promise Kept
Jonathan Alter


The struggle over gays in the military offers an important lesson about Washington: When public opinion moves, politicians follow, even on the most seemingly toxic issues. And with the proper patient and, yes, political approach, "do overs" are possible.

As the finishing touches are being put on a major revision of "don't ask, don't tell," it's not yet time for opponents of the 17-year-old discriminatory policy to rejoice; the Pentagon hasn't completed its review. But the signs are good that DADT will be effectively dead soon.

Give some credit to the Obama White House, which angered many gay-rights activists by putting the issue on the back burner last year. As I try to explain in The Promise, Obama and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel applied a policy of "no distractions" in 2009 amid the debate over health-care reform. They also didn't want to roil relations with the Pentagon while policy toward Afghanistan was under review.

Remembering how the debate over gays in the military consumed valuable time and political capital at the beginning of the Clinton administration in 1993, the White House tried to stay focused on what was front and center.

But critics were wrong to think Obama had forgotten about his promise to end DADT. As a meeting on Af-Pak broke up last year, he told Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he wanted them to focus on the issue at the beginning of 2010, which they did. Mullen's historic testimony in support of revision in January (Gates was less enthusiastic) made a change in policy inevitable.

snip//

The DADT issue will come up in isolated races this year but polls are clear that most of the country has moved on from tired debates over sexual orientation. Now the politicians are preparing to put it behind them too.

[uponit7771]

1. FUCK FACTS!!!!!! /sarcasm

[Enrique]

2. keep the pressure on

take the pressure off, DADT will go right back to the back burner.

[zipplewrath]

3. Um, a little willing ignorance here?

"Emanuel's deputy, Jim Messina, has had a consistent message for gay-rights groups assembled in his office: a change in policy is going to happen but it will be done with the military's cooperation, not over its objections. This seems to be the most workable response possible."

And yet what's happening here is that the military is getting pushed, hard, by Congress, without the White House's help. If it was up to the WH, it STILL wouldn't be happening yet, and may not be.

Quite honestly, it's a tad soon to be doing ANY victory laps here. We haven't seen the legislation, and we haven't seen the DoD plans.

[babylonsister]

4. And woe will be you when it actually passes. But I'm sure you'll

find a substitute to complain about, cause that's what you do! :fistbump:

But just for discussion, since this involves the military, don't you think their cooperation might come in handy? I do.

[impik]

5. Yea, they'll find something new to complaint about.

[zipplewrath]

6. Cooperation or opposition?

My biggest concern is that they'll do this "half way". There is more than just repealing the law. There are the natural consequences of repealing the law that need to be addressed. And no, I don't trust the DoD to "do the right thing". Congress needs to mandate it.

As long as what passes is truly reform, I'll be fine. But if this is another HCR "we have to pass it because it's a win", yes I'll be pissed.