Levin admits he may remove DADT from Defense Authorization (Obama & Congress: FAIL)

[Bluebear]

The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, carries significant sway over what happens to the Defense Authorization bill. About 10 days ago, we heard rumblings that Levin was negotiating with McCain about removing the DADT language from the Defense Authorization bill. Today, Levin acknowledged it. So this wasn't background noise after all:

The measure to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military may have to be dropped from the defense authorization bill in order to get the bill passed this year, said Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin (D-MI).

"I'm trying to get the bill through Congress. I'm the committee chairman for a 900 page bill. ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is two pages of 900 pages. My focus is different from the media focus. I'm just trying to get a bill passed," Levin told reporters at the Capitol building on Tuesday.

While no final decisions have been made, Levin said one option was to separate the language on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from the rest of the bill, and then making two separate efforts to pass the both pieces of legislation.

"I'm trying to get both done. And if I can't get both done, I want to get one of them done," Levin said.

The one he really wants to get done is the Defense Authorization bill. This is not good. Not good at all. As Senator Udall told Kerry Eleveld:

I do think the best way to move this forward is in the NDAA and I do worry that if we don’t formalize the repeal process in statute now that we may not have this opportunity for a number of years in the future.

Removing the DADT language from the legislation is almost certain to kill it. There's just not enough time left for the Senate to act. And, it probably didn't help that there was an article in today's Washington Post titled, "'Don't ask, don't tell' splitting gay rights groups." Thanks for nothing, Palm Center.

Promises have been made, repeatedly. Promises have not been kept. On October 27th, the President said "there is a strategy" on DADT:

SUDBAY: Is there a strategy for the lame-duck session to --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

SUDBAY: -- and you’re going to be involved?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

SUDBAY: Will Secretary Gates be involved?

THE PRESIDENT: I’m not going to tip my hand now. But there is a strategy.


I thought Obama understood that I meant I was asking if there is a strategy to pass the DADT language. Because, we haven't seen anything close to that emerging. Time is running out. Earlier today, Atrios tweeted:

DADT has been one of those 'shut up and trust us' issues. so outcome will be revealing

It sure will be.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/11/sen-levin-admits-he-may-remove-dadt.html

[laughingliberal]

1. Big Fail. K&R eom

[xchrom]

2. Recommend - it's all sounding pretty weak right now. Nt

[nosmokes]

3. "I’m not going to tip my hand now. But there is a strategy." cue throw gays

under the bus music... not one to be whipping a horse carcass, but we're familiar w/ your strategy mr president and it's a loser. may i refer you to the public option just for starters.

[dmr]

4. Damn. I'll be calling his office tomorrow & the next day & the next

He's a good man, and a good Senator, just hope like hell this is kept in the bill. Screw McCain & his 'get off my lawn' assholeness.

[Bluebear]

5. Thank you SO much dmr.

Levin IS a good man, I cannot believe he is caving to McCain and ignoring 70%+ of Americans who want this policy overturned!

[EFerrari]

14. I hope a phone campaign is mounted.

Levin is a good man and he might respond if we get enough calls and emails made. At least we'd go down swinging.

[dmr]

26. Yes, the phone calls are helping. I was told not to give up, that Sen. Levin

is working hard on this. I called his DC office & the local office in my city.

One thing I know about him is he is a quiet & thoughtful man, so I don't expect him to show his hand.

I'll be calling both offices again later today.

[Chulanowa]

6. So what control does Obama hold over Levin?

[dsc]

7. He could threaten to veto the bill if it doesn't have DADT repeal

[LonePirate]

8. Obama either signs the bill w/ the repeal or vetoes the bill w/o it otherwise he loses my 2012 vote

[BzaDem]

10. because that's the best way to go about achieving your goals. Enbabling Republicans.

:crazy:

[LonePirate]

11. Obama is the one enabling Republicans by not standing up for Democratic values

[piratefish08]

12. Obamas style of governing is creating more 'one issue' voters by the day.

DADT - tax cuts for the 2% - wars.........

at some point the argument has to become more than "you're enabling republicans".

the President needs to address certain issues boldly or the party WILL lose votes in 2012. The only question is how many.

[donco6]

22. So no matter what they do, our "choice" is to like it.

Got it.

[Chulanowa]

23. Yes he could. But that's not what I'm asking

I'm asking what puppet strings Obama's got here. See, my assumption would be that Levin's position is 100% Levin. The OP however is clearly making the assumption that Obama is as much to blame for Levin's stance as Levin himself is.

So. What blackmail does Obama have over Levin?

[dsc]

24. Levin is doing this because he wants the bill passed

if Obama says he will veto it, hence it won't pass, then his veto threat would prevent the removal of DADT.

[Owl]

9. I wish they'd take the other 898 pages out of the bill instead.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

13. Bottom line: When he said "there is a strategy", Obama was almost certainly not telling the truth.

I don't think the claim that the Democrats intend to repeal DADT can be taken seriously any more.

I'm sure some of them would *like* to do so, but given that they're not going to do so (arguably "they're not going to be able to do so") that's entirely irrelevant.

Do not shut up, and most certainly do not trust Obama.

[leftstreet]

15. K&R

[Better Believe It]

16. The Democrats are once again caving in to bigots and Republicans. Nothing new at all.

Vote the bill up or down.

And let the Republicans vote against the military bill if they want.

The Democrats would rather cave in to Republicans and bigots than call them on their bluff.

Is the Democratic Party a partisan party or has it become simply a Republican enabler party?

Is seems that President Obama's grand chess like strategy is to once again surrender.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Levin is such slime, he has been refuting this for weeks in the

most arch and nasty terms, as if he was offended that anyone would even suggest that he'd think of doing exactly what he is doing. It is that double dealing hypocrisy and moment stealing that I find to be the insult icing on the bigotry cake that is DC thinking about GLBT issues.

[TwilightGardener]

18. Why take it out of the bill before it comes to a vote? Leave it there, vote on it.

Get everyone on record. Make McStupid and whoever else opposes the bill explain why they won't let it go forward. Why is surrender the first maneuver?

[donco6]

20. It's the Democratic party way.

Why fight when you can roll over?

[neverforget]

21. It's like they're too lazy to fight. I swear I don't get it. What is so hard

fighting for your constituents? God I'm frustrated the Democratic Party right now. :argh:

[donco6]

19. It'll be stripped and it'll be passed and signed.

And everyone will be really sad about it. But really, they don't give a shit about us.

[Starry Messenger]

25. recommend.