White House Talks DADT Repeal With Lieberman

[bluestateguy]

This article seems to suggest that Joe Lieberman will be the Senate point man on repealing DADT, which has been consistently against for 16 years. There is an argument to be made for this; Lieberman would be hard for the Right to just dismiss out of hand as a liberal anti-military weenie.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/White_House_Talks_DADT_Repeal_With_Lieberman/

Shortly after President Barack Obama pledged Saturday to end “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the Administration’s highest-ranking LGBT official said the White House is speaking with certain senators about strategies for repealing the policy -- specifically Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“On ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ this administration is talking directly to the Hill -- we are in direct discussions with Senator Lieberman,” John Berry, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, told The Advocate.

A spokesman for Senator Lieberman confirmed that the senator had been speaking to the White House about the bill. “Senator Lieberman has had discussions with representatives of the Administration and others on the best way to reverse this policy, which he has opposed since it was first proposed in 1993,” said Marshall Wittmann, Lieberman’s press secretary. Wittmann gave no further information on the senator’s plans regarding the legislation.

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[BrklynLiberal]

1. LIEberman tryng to regain his superhero cape?

LOLOLOL

Pls do not let that man become the hero in this situation....

[ecstatic]

4. Not a hero, just the tool necessary to get the more conservative

senators on board.

[MiniMe]

2. Yes, but WHY was he against it

Because he didn't think gays should be in the military, or because he thought it was OK, and they should go farther than DADT?

[katandmoon]

3. Good old Senator "let rape victims go to another hospital for the morning after pill" Lieberman

[ProSense]

5. Sank like a lead balloon. n/t

[Neecy]

6. If Lieberman spearheads this and gets it passed

You're goddamn right he'll be a hero. I don't give a damn who it is, this needs to get done.

[Toasterlad]

7. Obama Could Suspend DADT Right Now Until Congress Repeals It

He is a liar.

[ProSense]

8. "He is a liar." No, he

can't.

[Toasterlad]

9. Yes, He CAN.

Your disregard for the service of gay military personnel is noted. However, given the constant whining by this administration about how they can't get anything done because they're fighting two wars, I'd say that EVERY servicemember is "essential". I would further say that claiming to want to end an immoral, illogical, and bigoted policy, and NOT ending it when it's within your power to do so makes you a big fucking liar.

Just who is going to argue with Obama if he declares gay servicemembers essential?

I dearly wish all you people bending over backwards to excuse bigotry could suffer that bigotry every single fucking day of your lives. It's people like you who are keeping me from my rights.

[MiniMe]

10. He can do it by Presidential Order, but then the next President could undo it

I think President Obama wants to do it right by having legislation passed that would repeal DADT. I totally agree that the rules on gay military personnel are ridiculous and outdated, but I want it done so the next repuke President can't undo it. I also believe that right now, healthcare is the priority. That is my personal opinion, and it may or may not be the same as your opinion. I want everybody covered by healthcare, every single person should be covered, no matter what, no pre-existing conditions.

[FreeState]

13. Both cand be done - it's not an either or situation n/t

[Mari333]

11. [phone]

[ProSense]

12. Saying so doesn't make it fact. He can't repeal laws simply because you want him to. n/t

[Toasterlad]

14. There's a Difference Between Repeal and Suspension, Numbnuts.

Maybe you don't understand that, so you could be excused for your support of bigotry. Obama, on the other hand, is a smart man. He KNOWS the difference. And he still won't act.

[sweetloukillbot]

16. But if he puts a temporary suspension bandage on the problem....

What impetus does Congress have to act swiftly?
The assumption is that Congress will do this soon, so Obama should use the stop-loss suspension now. But if he does, then there is nothing getting Congress to act on the bill. Gays aren't being discharged, so why should we hurry up and get this passed? And if it doesn't get dealt with, then the next Republican can undo it with a penstroke.
I'm not saying that will happen, and frankly I don't understand why they can't do more than one thing at a time, but I really don't think the president should take the law into his own hands on this. We complained loudly when Bush ignored laws, yet we encourage Obama to adopt a regal presidential style.

[Toasterlad]

17. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8698025&mesg_id=8699362

[Toasterlad]

15. Dupe