Gates: No change soon on `don't ask, don't tell'

[ruggerson]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAYS_MILITARY?SITE=MALOW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Don't expect any change soon to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy about gays in the military.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says both he and President Barack Obama have "a lot on our plates right now." As Gates puts it, "let's push that one down the road a little bit."

The White House has said Obama has begun consulting with Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on how to lift the ban. Gates says that dialogue has not really progressed very far at this point in the administration.

The Pentagon policy was put in place after President Bill Clinton tried to lift the ban on gay service members in 1993.

(more)

[Exilednight]

1. I'm going to be very disappointed if this doesn't get done before the end of the first .............

term. I criticized Clinton for putting the don't ask, don't tell policy in place in the first place.

This policy has actually done more harm than good.

[DURHAM D]

2. Too bad -

This is a poorly written article - "lift the ban" and "lift the ban" used two different ways. This construct helps perpetuate the myth that its all Clinton's fault and implies that prior to DADT gays were serving openly in the military.

The level of ignorance around this policy is staggering - esp. in the gay and progressive community.

[pscot]

3. The way to lift the ban is to lift it

The job of the military is to salute and carry out orders.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Down the road could be a the next few months.

I think that is a reasonable time, if that is what is being talked about.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and undoing it should not come at the expense
of all there is to do.

Lifting the ban should be done ASAP, but ASAP means doing it without the lift
becoming a distraction, which we already know is exactly what our news media
is looking for; a distraction.

[lamp_shade]

5. I agree Frenchie. We know this is one of the huge number of very important issues

that Obama's had to put on a back burner for now, but at the rate he's going, I'm confident he'll get to them all within a reasonable amount of time.

[CBR]

7. I agree as well...

although I do hope he repeals DADT!!!

[ruggerson]

9. Let's hope

it's the only "controversial" issue that is supported by 80% of the voters. The only people who seem to find this "controversial" are the media and politicians.

[petronius]

6. Can't the ban be lifted with an executive order? It seems like this would be a perfect

time to do it - get an intern to tabulate all the talent and experience that has been lost when gay/lesbian service-members were kicked out, and point out that the ongoing wars require all the skilled people available to us. :patriot:

RWers might threaten to leave the military, but I can't imagine that patriotic, pro-service Americans would put bigotry ahead of winning the war on terror... semi-:sarcasm:

[dsc]

8. No it can't

Sodomy is against the military code of justice and DADT is federal law.

[dflprincess]

10. I'm sure Truman had a lot on his plate when he desegregated the military

and I'm sure there were many people who told him the time was not right.

[Nye Bevan]

11. Disgraceful

Along with the gay marriage bans this is our modern version of the Fugitive Slave Laws.

[Egnever]

12. Is this a surprise?