Sen. Levin says White House and DOD don't want him to act on DADT this year

[Bluebear]

Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. That's the committee that needs to put DADT repeal in the Defense Authorization bill, if we have any hope of getting repeal this year. Levin now says that the President and the Pentagon want him to wait until the DOD study on implementation is done. That won't be until December or later. That means after the November congressional elections. After Democrats lose significant numbers of seats and possibly control over the House. That means we may not see DADT repealed for another generation.

Oh, and forget about ENDA and DOMA too.

DC Agenda reports:

Among those noticing a lack of support from the Obama administration to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at this time is Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Asked by DC Agenda on Tuesday what the White House and the Pentagon are saying they want from lawmakers on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Levin replied, “Let them complete the analysis.”


http://gay.americablog.com/2010/04/sen-levin-says-white-house-and-dod-dont.html

[ShortnFiery]

1. Lovely. I guess Senator Levin is too low ranking and must "pass the buck."

Our Legislators, with feet of clay. :puke:

[Enrique]

16. where is Levin passing the buck?

????

[Blue-Jay]

37. She doesn't know.

[ShortnFiery]

43. How mature to answer for me. It's passing the buck on both sides because NO ONE will stand up and

say "It's ME. I don't want to have this addressed before the November elections."

But nobody takes TRUE responsibility. That's because our "leaders" have no moral compass. :thumbsdown:

[Blue-Jay]

44. OK.

[ShortnFiery]

45. Thanks much.

It was thoughtful of you to take the time to reply. :hi:

[Enrique]

46. what makes you think Levin agrees with Obama?

it looks to me like they are opposed on this point. He's not saying "it's me" because it's not him. It's Obama, and others.

[Qutzupalotl]

51. She doesn't know.

:hide:

[robinblue]

53. If Levin had guts he would get the bill out of committee and see where

it goes no matter what the WH wants.

[Bluebear]

54. Then people would yap he was "not loyal"

What a pickle.

[robinblue]

55. Better that he be loyal to equal rights vs the WH

[Bluebear]

56. yes indeed!

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Kick and Rec because EVERYONE needs to see this.

And I'll keep it near the top of the page if I have to do it myself.

[muffin1]

11. Here, I'll help you!

:kick:

[Bluebear]

19. +

[golddigger]

3. K&R

[Unvanguard]

4. Yeah, this has been clear for a while. It's a pretty cowardly political strategy.

That has a decent chance of resulting in nothing, especially if it's delayed substantially after the midterms. And it prevents them from making a principled argument about this.

[ruggerson]

5. I'm glad Levin is on the record with this. Now it's out there for everyone to see.

n/t

[muffin1]

6. But, we have a fierce advocate in charge now.

Well, from what I've heard around here, Obama's got a lot on his plate this year. I guess the gays will just have to be patient. You know, until there are no more wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, an energy crisis, a budget deficit, etc, etc.

:evilfrown:

[noamnety]

10. geez, settle down.

He's only been in office 60 days, he can't get everything done at once.

Or at least that's what I was told by other helpful DUers when I made the mistake of stating the obvious over a year ago.

Blast from the bast eerily similar to your post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x109180#109235

[muffin1]

12. It's always nice to be kept in line

by the more enlightened, forward-thinking DUers. One day we'll learn - keep head down, don't rock the boat, and don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Thanks for the reminder! :hi:

[Bluebear]

13. That certainly is a blast from the past.

Although I have a feeling we will be reading it for years to come.

[ProgressIn2008]

7. K&R

[Prism]

8. The President now opposes our community.

How long have we been told to leave the President alone on DADT and instead focus on Congress? How. Many. Times.

So if we're pressuring Congress to repeal it, and he's pressuring Congress to leave it alone, where does that leave us? Are we still supposed to be pressuring Congress, or is that also too much advocacy for the President and his defenders to bear? After all, we are now in diametric opposition to the President's actions. We've been told, on LGBT issues, this is not a terribly acceptable thing.

I'm so confused.

[katandmoon]

9. K&R. Another Obama betrayal.

[Mari333]

14. knr for the contiuance of throwing the people under the bus

and treating their base like shit

[Starry Messenger]

15. Even though I suspected it

it's still kind of cold and horrible seeing it in writing. This is so shameful.

[muffin1]

21. I wish I had seen this coming...

I was the biggest sucker in the world. I didn't even believe that HE believed marriage was between a man and a woman. I thought he was too smart to really believe that crap - that he was just saying it to win, and would conveniently 'change his mind' afterward.

And now he won't even move on repealing DADT...unfucking believable.

[Starry Messenger]

22. I can't really type what I'm thinking right now.

I'll just say I'm not sorry he got protested by Get Equal here this week. I hope it ruined his day.

[ruggerson]

23. I think he's very uncomfortable with gay people

There's no personal empathy.

[Bluebear]

24. We're likeable enough.

:silly:

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. It depends...

can you cook???

[muffin1]

35. And funny.

You know we like our gays to provide comic relief!:D

[QC]

36. We really need to be more like those nice cooking homos on Food Network, though.

If only we could stop biting the hand that feeds us.

[Bluebear]

49. +

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[amborin]

17. so cynical and hypocritical! can this admin keep even one promise?

[LooseWilly]

33. they escalated the war in Afghanistan...

One promise kept... :tinfoilhat:

[QC]

38. He got a puppy!!! n/t

[amborin]

42. LOL

[unhappycamper30]

18. K&R

[greencharlie]

20. bull...

chicken-shits in every cap hill office.

I see... DADT is too controverial so they'll concentrate on things like Cap and Trade and Illegal Immigrants

:sarcasm:

[saracat]

25. Hey, what did you expect? I have been repeatedly told that campaign promises mean nothing.

Evidently NO promises mean anything. Whether it is war, FOCA,(another promise!)or a public option it is all about whatever the PTB consider politically expedient. Some of us are more expendable than others.

[cherokeeprogressive]

30. Win at all costs. Lie if you must. Pander if it gets contributions. An election win is paramount.

I've heard enough. What sickens me is that this is what seems to be the strategy for the future. Get their vote by whatever means possible. Claim that there aren't enough days in a year. After that, claim that there aren't enough days in between the general election and the mid-term. After that claim that some topics are "third rail" and shouldn't be touched until after we win re-election.

I don't think I'll live to see the day when my 18 going on 19 year old daughter can get married or serve her country, no matter who gets my vote either at the local or national level.

[ecstatic]

26. Can't Levin move forward anyway? I thought the branches were separate?

If he's the head, he should move forward anyway... What is he afraid of?

[cherokeeprogressive]

29. Kick

[laughingliberal]

31. I think this is a cynical ploy. They are holding the possibility of the repeal of DADT

out as a carrot to get the LGBT voters and their supporters to turn out and vote in November. And that's the nicest motive I can attribute to the President on this.

[muffin1]

39. I hope Obama doesn't get one cent out of the GLBT community

next go round if he doesn't AT LEAST repeal DADT and ENDA (DOMA would be nice, but come on).

Well, he TOLD the GLBTers he would be a fierce advocate. I guess he forgot to mention the fierce advocacy would be for the OTHER side. Isn't that special?:puke:

[BlueIris]

32. Unbelievable. nt

[LooseWilly]

34. I notice the "progressive" media doesn't mention the heckling over DADT

of Obama. I also notice the "progressive" media isn't mentioning that Obama now seems to be treating repeal of DADT the way his administration treated the "public option"...

Does saying this make me un-French?

:tinfoilhat:

[Solly Mack]

40. ...

2011 comes around and it will be "wait until after the election", "be patient", "can't anger the voters"...and the one that shows just how little people listen to what they say..."can't do anything about it if they aren't re-elected/elected, so have to get them elected/re-elected first...so be quiet until then"...this particular talking point is used every single time there is an election...now, if shutting up and electing or re-electing actually brought the change people were supposed to be quiet about, that talking point wouldn't be repeated over and over and over again...if that talking point had any real meaning other than a blow off, that is

but come 2011 the campaigning for 2012 will begin and civil rights will be labeled just too damaging to consider...now, we'll be assured that they support civil rights, of course...just that it isn't the right time...to wait..to be patient...to look at the big picture (which never seems to include equal rights for all)...and golly, if you still support equal rights for all at this time, you're suddenly the enemy to all things good...

[muffin1]

41. +1,000,000 n/t

[Bluebear]

48. Lather, rinse, repeat

[Solly Mack]

52. Exactly. Same thing over and over again. A set script played out with

each election.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

47. Just as I suspected ---

Kickin' it down the road past the election, then blaming the inability to pass it on the fact we no longer have the seats to do it. :mad:

Utter, cowardly bullshit on the Admonistration's part.

This is nothing but the public option con all over again.

[Political Heretic]

50. Kick.

[Zhade]

57. KICK -- why is this ON PAGE 6???

This shit needs to be front and center.

[Touchdown]

58. That means They don't need this gay man's money this year.

That's fine. More for me to buy an iPad. People ask "What is an iPad good for? It seems like a waste of money"... apparently good for much more than the President is on gay inclusivity, and I've wasted money before... in 2008.