Barney Frank: Pass DADT repeal bills now

[FreeState]

Frank's expressing what many of us in the GLBT community have been saying for a while.

http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/03/26/barney-frank-pass-dadt-repeal-bills-now/

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has called on Congressional leaders to pass legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” without regard to an ongoing Pentagon study on implementation of a policy change, according to MetroWeekly’s Chris Geidner.

Responding to Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ comments yesterday that he wanted Congress to wait until the study is finished, Frank said, “I’m disappointed in that, and I disagree with that. And I think we should go ahead and do it.”

Geidner’s story makes it clear Frank is frustrated with the White House over a lack of clarity about a legislative timeline. ”They’re ducking. Basically, yeah, they’re not being supportive, and they’re letting Gates be the spokesman, which is a great mistake,” Frank told MetroWeekly.

[donco6]

1. What's this I see? A hint of backbone erupting from Barney!?

Cool. It looks good on him.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. It's about time.

And married and domestic partners should get spousal benefits as well.

[muffin1]

3. Umm-hmm..

Study...right...

What the hell is there to study? Citizens who want to serve their country are being discriminated against, and it needs to end. That's it.

What other conclusion is there? To continue discrimination?

Jesus, this fucking country...

[defendandprotect]

4. You know if Gates is willing to compromise with a delay, the will is there to overturn....

Gates in some right wing footwork, two step backwards ....

[pnwmom]

9. Do you think we have the votes to overcome a filibuster?

It's not an issue that could be taken care of through reconciliation, since it won't lower the budget deficit.

[FreeState]

10. I know we have the votes in the House - not to sure of the Senate - however,

it all depends on how its packaged, if its in the military funding bill it will pass the Senate - if its not we need to start pressuring the blue dogs...

[defendandprotect]

11. Aren't we suggesting the military has put the HOLD on this?

If the military were less right wing -- I think it would all move in the correct

direction.

[FreeState]

12. Except the head of the Military - the Commander in Chief - is not right wing

Frank sees the reality here, congress must push it through and force Obama to sign it, even if the "studies" are not done because the Military, including President Obama, are dragging their feet and making excuses again.

[defendandprotect]

14. Wait . . . evidently Gates thinks he has the power for SLO MO . . on this ...

What gives him that idea . . .

Is it Obama?

Or is it right wing Repug homophobia still governing military?

As long as the military continues to try to block it the Congress will be

intimdiated. They need to hear Military say -- "Let's go!"

Every other nation has done it --

There is VERY SERIOUS right wing control of our military still and it doesn't

only apply to DADT. And we don't want to turn it against Obama. We want to

turn it against itself!

The studies are farce -- not even sure if this was Bush's study or Obama's?

It's foot dragging . . .

But if the military came out and said GO . . . there would be pressure to do that.

We also need to end the separation in our services -- army, navy, marines --

Evidently we can save 28% of our military expense if we do that!

And, other nations have done it!

[mitchtv]

13. it goes in a military expenditures bill

They'll pass it

[defendandprotect]

15. Nice point . . .

I think however the public needs to hear military leadership saying . . .

this is good -- "Let's go!" -- everyone else has done it.

Meanwhile, we don't want to turn right wing military against Obama with this.

We want the military to signal it's time and then let the right wing military

argue with itself!

Neither does Congress want to reinflame the Clinton attacks by right wing military --

I think it's wise ...

I also think this crap should have been overturned 20 years or more ago!

[DevonRex]

5. K&R. It's time to just do it. nt

[Oregone]

6. The right to serve in the military should be UNIVERSALLY available

It should definitely be a right to serve in the military, insofar as you purchase such a right from a private corporation. If you cannot afford the price of the transaction, you may be subsidized by the federal government. If you are gay, the corporations selling the right to serve will only be able to price such a right 3X as high. Purchasing the rights from corporations should only entail you with an actual 60% entitlement to serve, in which case, you will be responsible for securing the other 40% of your right individually.

Honestly, thats one hell of a realistic, pragmatic start, which is progress in my opinion.

[caty]

7. Any tax paying American citizen

should be afforded every right that any American citizen can have. It seems more unconstitutional to deny someone their rights just because......of anything. Some turn a blind eye to religious pedophilia in Mormon compounds, but pitch a fit over gay marriage or being honest about sexuality in the armed services. This country sure has a lot of contradictions.

I know that compared to other countries, we are still a young country - but when will we grow up?

[walldude]

8. "A Pentagon study on implementation of a policy change"

What are you fucking kidding me? My tax dollars are paying for a study to figure out how to stop discriminating racist policy? :puke:

[defendandprotect]

16. K&R --