Here's a question for you, personally, about Don't Ask Don't Tell

[Stinky The Clown]

This is not about what Obama should do. This is about what *you* would do.

Let's assume you're president for the day. Your daily agenda has been set and you're limited to only those items on your preset agenda.

There are three items:

1. "Meet with House Democratic Leadership."
2. "Meet with Senate Democratic Leadership."
3. "DADT"

You meet with both Leadership Committees. On the specific topic of DADT, both indicate they haven't got the votes to pass DADT. The House is a mere two votes shy. The Senate is worse, at 5 votes shy.

It is now in your court.

It seems your choices are narrowed to two:

Kick this can down the road (ignore it for now)

or

Sign an executive order to end it and then go back to seek legislative concurrence.

What woudl **you** do?

[bigscott]

1. it is my understanding

that you cannot "executive order" a law to end. However, BHO can "executive order" the enforcement of DADT to stop

[donco6]

2. Sign an order detailing the priority of rules enforcement.

Placing DADT at the bottom.

[napi21]

3. I'd ask the leadership in both house to keep trying. I HATED IT

when Shrub did the "ignore the law" crap when he was in the WH, and just because it's something I agree with this time, I don't want Obama to do that either!!!!

[TheWraith]

4. An executive order CANNOT overturn an existing law. Period.

There's some debate about whether it would be possible to administratively suspend enforcement of it, however that is NOT a repeal, and there isn't even any guarantee that it would be legal.

[rateyes]

5. I would sign an executive order stating my belief that the law is unconstitutional

under the equal protection clause, and order that it not be enforced and that all those let go under the policy be given the right to reenter the military if they chose to do so, and if not, that they be given honorable discharges and the full benefits that all vets receive, and make the homophobes take me to court over it.

[Mari333]

6. another gay serviceman kicked out under DADT

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x314461

[Captain Hilts]

7. That's what Executive Orders are for. It takes just a few minutes. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

8. First thing would be to lead

I'd have already made my point of view very clear, which Obama has not done. So this is like when some friend in a rotten relationship with a substance problems asks what you'd do in his position. I'd not be in that position, for I'd already have made so many different decisions that I'd not be stuck like that.
There is no way I would allow anyone to lose benefits or have a negative mark on their record, and If I could not stop that, man oh man would the nation hear me speak on the subject of needing to translate Arabic. I'd be saying I do not wish to see an American city burn because some people could not bear the idea of a gay person translating for us. Yes I would. I'd point out specifically the pre 9-11 backlog in translations and read what was in that intel, that we could not tranlate until it was 3,000 times too late. I would have Lt Choi read some of that early Sept 2001 intel in Arabic and then in Enlish, on TV, standing next to me.

I'd ask America to tell Congress to keep us safe by allowing those who wish to serve to do so.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I think you mean the Congress doesn't have the votes to Repeal DADT. DADT's the law now.

[trayfoot]

10. Executive Order - Then Continue to Try to Get Congressional Action.