Gay reps ask Obama to extend veto threat to DADT

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.keennewsservice.com/2011/06/07/gay-reps-ask-obama-to-extend-veto-threat-to-dadt/

The U.S. House’s four openly gay members have asked President Obama to issue a veto threat against a defense spending bill that includes a measure to delay repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

They sent the letter a week after the White House issued a statement threatening to veto the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over several provisions. Although the White House statement “strongly objected” to three amendments that sought to delay repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), it did not threaten veto over those provisions.

The Republican-dominated House approved the bill May 26 with a number of the provisions to which the White House objected, including the three DADT amendments.

The Democratic-dominated Senate is not expected to approve the DADT amendments in its version of the bill. But a House-Senate conference committee will eventually need to agree on a final version of the bill.

In their June 3 letter to the president, Reps. Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, and David Cicilline said “it would be the best course for you to reaffirm your strong support” for repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers “by making it explicit that you would veto a bill …which undermined the decision” to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Why would he do that?

He wanted the boost with the gay community. He got it. Why would he actually do anything to actually see the policy end?

He could stop-loss every gay in the military right now, but won't; discharges are STILL happening. He could issue his declaration that the policy is ready to be lifted but won't. He could appoint a CJCS who actually issue HIS declaration that the policy is ready, but is not.

If it isn't lifted before Gates and Mullen are gone, it never will be.