DADT vote could happen next month...

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON — The White House is facing a budding revolt over its carefully crafted strategy for repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military that would have pushed the decision past the November election.

Democrats in the House and Senate — including two key lawmakers from Colorado — say they are unwilling to wait for completion of a 10-month Pentagon study on repeal of the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell" and are instead moving to include immediate repeal in the defense reauthorization bill, scheduled for mark-up next month.

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., among the Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee backing the move, said the committee was "within a vote or two" of including repeal in the must- pass legislation. He met with three discharged members of the military Tuesday, using their stories to highlight the need for repeal this year.

Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat and one of three openly gay members of Congress, holds a key position on the Rules Committee that he is willing to use to insert a similar provision in the House version of the spending bill, he said Tuesday.

Congressional aides said both approaches are likely to face opposition from the White House, which in February laid a timetable built around an extensive Pentagon study that won't be completed until Dec. 1, pushing a final move on the contentious issue past what's expected to be Democrats' toughest election cycle in years.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14925042

[Bluebear]

1. "Congressional aides said both approaches are likely to face opposition from the White House"

. . .

[sharp_stick]

7. Really?

Which aides would those be? I'd really like to know, something about these "sources" that love to yap to the press but don't have the stones to stand up just makes me kind of queasy.

[Bluebear]

9. Gee, I don't know. Why not call the White House and make sure it's not the case?

[sharp_stick]

11. Why

when I can trust some gutless "source"?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[ruggerson]

16. Maybe you should trust the sources because they've formally signed on to the repeal bill(s)

and Obama hasn't.

Servicemember's Legal Defense Network has been asking Obama for months to endorse the specific repeal bills.

So far, nada.

[Bluebear]

18. It's all the media's fault.

:silly:

[Bluebear]

22. .

[Bluebear]

23. .

[katandmoon]

2. Good. If it were up to Obama I don't think DADT would ever be repealed.

[LonePirate]

3. How is Udall "only" within 1 or 2 votes since Dems hold a 2-3 seat majority on the committee?

What bigots are masquerading as Dems on the committee?

I'm sure Pelosi and Reid can muster up the votes for it and Obama surely won't veto the bill, will he?

[Bluebear]

5. "Congressional aides said both approaches are likely to face opposition from the White House"

[Bluebear]

20. .

[HillbillyBob]

4. Why do we have to have a taxpayer funded study ?

When a 5 yr old would know that excluding someone who is different.

[Bluebear]

6. Because it pushes the decision past the elections. Again.

[tnlefty]

8. "We've had this discussion long enough."

True enough Sen. Udall, the policy stinks and it is way past time for repeal.

[Bluebear]

12. 'But the most significant factor may be how far the White House is willing to go opposing the idea"

Indeed.

[sharp_stick]

13. Or not n/t

[tnlefty]

17. I know and I wonder who might think opposing it would be

a swell idea. Just get it done.

Personal note: my recovering repub mother had no idea 6-7 yrs. ago that even in civilian life gays didn't have protections from being fired for being gay. She's over 70 and she was shocked and disgusted when it really sank in. DADT really got under her skin. She's not the only person her age, and the younger kids don't have this hangup...so how many voters who may not be gay but are supportive of GLBT rights are they willing to tick off along with the GLBT community?

I suppose the calculation of political risk doesn't make sense to me and the rightwing nutters will howl at the very mention of it.:shrug:

[Bluebear]

19. The best to Mom and congrats on her recovery :))

[ruggerson]

10. Right the fuck on! Roll it right on through.

[NJmaverick]

21. K&R