Rachel Maddow - For Now, Military Is No Longer Enforcing DADT

[MannyGoldstein]

Run time: 13:25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH14V5opk40   Posted on YouTube: October 15, 2010 By YouTube Member: SuchIsLifeVideos Views on YouTube: 2240   Posted on DU: October 16, 2010 By DU Member: MannyGoldstein Views on DU: 476

 
Interesting - possible reason why Obama is appealing DADT and DOMA (see Dellinger's interview starting at about 5 minutes).

Note that I'm definitely not defending Obama generally.

[NJmaverick]

1. That pretty much sums up the situation

This is a complex situation that has a lot of people going off with little understanding of exactly what is going on.

[sabrina 1]

4. What it says is that the president is relying on Congress to

do what it has already refused to do, even with a majority of Democrats in the Senate.

What he did not say was that the president can and should put a moratorium on DADT by issuing an Executive Order while Congress is deciding on the issue.

Two Gay Fighter Pilots interviewed by Rachel this week stated that they would like to see the president issue an EO AND not appeal the ruling. After that, as one of them said, it would be very difficult to put the issue 'back in the box'. That is the strategy that anyone serious about ending this law would be using.

This would give Gay Servicemembers two years at least to serve openly without all the confusion now being caused by the President's and Gate's insistence on waiting for Congress which many people believe could take years, especially if Republicans gain any seats in November.

I am shocked by how some progressives are working hard to argue AGAINST an immediate backing of ending DADT by the Democratic WH. If they really believed in the Civil Rights of Gays they would be searching for every possible way to make it happen immediately.

As pointed out by Gay and other servicemembers, if this appeal is successful and the president insists on waiting for Congress, many more Gay Servicemembers will be dismissed.

Everyone agrees, according to a U.S. Commander interviewed in Afghanistan, that DADT is on its way out and, he said, it is a very minor issue for those serving abroad. They probably don't even know about the ruling and are trained to comply with laws so he doesn't anticipate any problems when DADT is repealed.

For now, DADT has been gone for nearly one week and there have been no reported problems in the military. There is simply no acceptable reason not to back up the judge's decision with an Executive Order.

[NJmaverick]

5. The President can't override Congress with an executive order

that's an important fact to appreciate.

[sabrina 1]

6. If you read my post you would see that I never said he could.

I said he could place a moratorium on the dismissals, preserving the careers of Gay Troops while he's waiting for Congress.

He will be president for two more years at least, and together with the judge's ruling, an EO from him would allow Gay Troops to serve openly if they wished, during that time. And if he's reelected, six years.

I explained that in the opinion of the Gay Fighter Pilots, after two years it would be very difficult to 'put the issue back in the box'. I believe that is correct, especially since the Military, according to many who have been interviewed, understands that DADT is 'on its way out'. Why risk even more careers when it is possible to protect them?

[OHdem10]

2. A crawl at Cnn said Military is warning personnel to maintain

silence until the DADT is clear. In other words
Gays should not put themselves in jeopardy until
some decisions are reached.

[TheEuclideanOne]

3. If the tables were turned

Would the Republican's in power say, "We don't want a district judge overturning a congressional decsion?"? Hells no! So, we are waiting on a Senate that has blocked 100% of signficant legistlation to support this? Why won't Obama just hold a special press conference telling us that he is for DADT and save us all some time.

The opportunity costs for this presidency will never be matched!