Ending Don't Ask Don't Tell is NOT controversial - 80% of Americans support lifting the ban

[ruggerson]

The polling on DADT has remained remarkably steady on this.

80% of the country supports letting gay and lesbian citizens serve their country withoug having to lie about who they are.

This is something our new administration can start working on immediately, along with a host of other economic, global and heathcare related issues that need priority attention.

It is rare that 80% of the country is in agreement on an issue.

Any media talking head, or anyone else for that matter, who tries to portray ending DADT as a "controversial" issue is telling an out and out falsehood.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/23/post-prop-8-public-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-unchanged/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/07/18/ST2008071802580.html

[LostinVA]

1. As do many active and retired military leaders

This, as well as ENDA, are both things that could quickly and quite easily be passed.

[Laughing Mirror]

2. So what's the reason for putting this off until 2010?

The Depression?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. There is no real reason

None.

[MADem]

7. The DOMA sticky wicket.

See post six. They're intertwined, DOMA and DADT. You have to unload DOMA in order to not make service by gays in the military not discriminatory.

[IndianaGreen]

10. They are the Vichy Democrats after all. Wait until they all cheer Obama's pardon of Bush and Cheney

Coming attractions, the Bush pardon!

[Shiver]

4. Did he say that it HAD to be put off,

or that it MIGHT have to be put off? Or is it another thing, like Guantanamo, where he said that it would be done BY 2010?

[LostinVA]

5. Roll Call reported it would be put off for at least 2 years

[MADem]

6. They have to unload DOMA as well.

Impossible to allow an openly gay person to serve and at the same time not permit him or her to have the very same benefits as his or her heterosexual military counterpart. That's flat-out discriminatory.

And the only way the military, a branch of the FEDERAL government, could recognize a marriage (or a "gay" civil union) is to get rid of DOMA--there's specific language in there saying that marriage is a male-female thing, and any arrangement between same sex couples, be it marriage, civil union or some other iteration, is NOT to be regarded as anything resembling marriage by the federal government.

Without the lifting of DOMA, gay servicemembers won't be allowed to get military marriage benefits (base housing, pay at what used to be called the "with dependents" rate, family separation allowance, etc., because DOMA prohibits it.

You crack that DADT egg, and you're making some serious omlette at the federal level with regard to human rights for our gay friends and relatives.

See, that's where the actual "controversy" comes from. It's not that people who do the fucking work in the military, who actually SERVE, don't think DADT should be overturned. Most do. Most don't give a shit one way or another. There are always a few gripers, but you'll find them anywhere, about anything.

It's the fat fundies, sitting on their asses at home watching tee vee, who love them some DOMA and don't want to see THAT go by the wayside, that are griping.

Don't shoot the messenger, here. I just call it as I see it.

It's just not a question of "simply" getting rid of DADT since DOMA came along.

[biopowertoday]

8. Its the Pelosi/Reid Off the Table Mentality at work.

[jumptheshadow]

9. "Conduct Unbecoming"

By the late Randy Shilts. I thoroughly recommend this book, which is about the treatment of gays and lesbians in the military. Not only is it well-written, but it is one of the most compelling arguments for gay activism.

[Solon]

11. Because some Dems don't have the balls to stand up to the Blue Dogs Coalition...

who are the Dems most likely to not vote for a repeal. They don't want an inter-party fight with some of their own members.

[IndianaGreen]

12. I think many of the Blue Dogs favor repeal of DADT

Pelosi/Reid are afraid of their own shadows.

[Solon]

13. They might be now, but they were one of the big pushers for it back in the 1990s...

The key is whether enough of them favor a repeal enough for it to pass. Pelosi/Reid are afraid of their own shadows, that's a given, they are moral cowards after all, as they have proven time and again. Perhaps, if the President-Elect has any spine, he could push for it, regardless of Pelosi's and Reid's cowardice.

[dickthegrouch]

14. And every armed ally has Gay personnel

The British Navy and Air Force have large contingents of active duty personnel in the London Gay Pride March. I wish I could sponsor some of them to come over to NY, WDC or SF parades.

There have always been gay people in the armed forces, just as there have always been gay parents (although perhaps not in gay relationships at the time).

My favorite shirt during the election campaign said
"Heterosexuals, allow us to marry each other, so we can stop marrying you"

[Captain Hilts]

15. Tighter handgun control also has a lot of support. It's about lobbying power. nt