Transcript of Q and A with the President about DADT and Same-sex marriage: 10/27/10

[Duncan Grant]

President Obama met with 5 political bloggers yesterday in a private meeting held at the White House. The group included Joe Sudbay of AMERICAblog, John Amato of Crooks & Liars, Oliver Willis of OliverWillis.com, Barbara Morrill of DailyKos, and Duncan Black (aka Atrios) of Eschaton. Full details are available at AMERICAblog.

Q: I was glad to hear that you and your staff appreciate constructive feedback.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, that's something we enjoy. (Laughter.)

Q: We've been more than willing to offer that. We've certainly been more than willing to offer than from AMERICAblog, particularly on issues related to the LGBT community, which, you know, there is a certain amount of disillusionment and disappointment in our community right now.

And one of the things I’d like to ask you -- and I think it’s a simple yes or no question too -- is do you think that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is unconstitutional?

THE PRESIDENT: It's not a simple yes or no question, because I'm not sitting on the Supreme Court. And I've got to be careful, as President of the United States, to make sure that when I'm making pronouncements about laws that Congress passed I don't do so just off the top of my head.

I think that -- but here's what I can say. I think "don't ask, don't tell" is wrong. I think it doesn't serve our national security, which is why I want it overturned. I think that the best way to overturn it is for Congress to act. In theory, we should be able to get 60 votes out of the Senate. The House has already passed it. And I've gotten the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to say that they think this policy needs to be overturned -- something that's unprecedented.

And so my hope and expectation is, is that we get this law passed. It is not just harmful to the brave men and women who are serving, and in some cases have been discharged unjustly, but it doesn't serve our interests -- and I speak as Commander-in-Chief on that issue.

Let me go to the larger issue, though, Joe, about disillusionment and disappointment. I guess my attitude is that we have been as vocal, as supportive of the LGBT community as any President in history. I've appointed more openly gay people to more positions in this government than any President in history. We have moved forward on a whole range of issues that were directly under my control, including, for example, hospital visitation.

On "don't ask, don't tell," I have been as systematic and methodical in trying to move that agenda forward as I could be given my legal constraints, given that Congress had explicitly passed a law designed to tie my hands on the issue.

And so, I'll be honest with you, I don't think that the disillusionment is justified.

A fascinating read, to say the least. How's that coffee smelling?

[LonePirate]

1. And I thought Bush lived in a bubble oblivious to the outside world. O seems to be in one, too.

[davidinalameda]

2. what legal constraints???????

the damn court ruled that it was unconstitutional and you decided to go ahead and appeal the fucking decision

it seems to me that the court removed any legal restraints you might have had

[ThomCat]

3. People keep posting that quote as if it somehow Proves

that Obama did everything possible and we queers are just whining. It doesn't help that Stewart let him get away with that answer without any push-back.

He absolutely did NOT do everything within his power that he could have done. He was not under any legal constraints. He has not been the "fierce advocate" he promised. And this answer he gave was more of the same, just pretty words that don't mean anything.

It sucks that Jon Stewart let him get away with it. :(