Dems in Congress and Obama at odds over timetable of DADT vote

[ruggerson]

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


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.

(MORE)

[agentS]

1. So, one side wants now and another side wants the Lame Duck period?

Is that about it, right?

[Clio the Leo]

2. Interesting article. NT

[ruggerson]

3. yep

I think a tipping point has been reached. People have had enough. Just pass the damn thing. If we can't do something as moral and right as this without worrying about political timetables, what does is say about us as a party and, more importantly, as human beings?

[Prism]

6. And what does it say about DOMA?

That's what really bothers me with this DADT mess. If this is how it is going down with 75+% support from the electorate, how on earth can we trust this President to push through something tricky like DOMA repeal? DADT is an electoral slam dunk, and he's flying away from it like it's some kind of political dark energy.

I don't think people understand the more the President does something that signals how few risks he's willing to take on our issues, the more years we see added to our inequality.

The more I watch, the more I'm becoming convinced that this is not the President who will be repealing DOMA. I just don't think he has it in him.

Luckily for him, Republicans will probably gain in Congress at some point during his presidency, providing him with excuse enough.

[boppers]

8. "this is not the President who will be repealing DOMA"

Nope. Dude simply doesn't believe in marriage outside of XX+XY.

[QC]

12. He was for it before he was against it. n/t

[boppers]

20. Citation please?

When was Obama for XX marriage?

Is this just another lie?

[QC]

22. No, I'll leave the lying to you,

along with the childish personal attacks that seem to be your only reason for coming here.

Here's a citation from back in 1996, when Obama was running from a safely liberal district for a state senate seat: http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/archives/current/election/mckeon.html

Here's a collection of Windy City Times articles on the subject: http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=20230

Here's a recent piece on Huffingtonpost: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html

[boppers]

23. Thanks for the links!

They paint quite the picture of a changing stance. Looks like he's been wandering back and forth for a while now.

Bummer.

[graywarrior]

4. Something has been telling me they know if they do it before 2012, they're screwed.

If they had balls, they'd do it now.

[Prism]

5. The fierce urgency of whenever politically expedient

Sigh.

For the people who are always saying "Why don't you bother Congress?!"

Because Congress has our back.

Unlike certain executive branch types I could mention.

[CreekDog]

7. Take a freaking risk Obama

Sheesh.

You're already going to be blamed for wanting to do this.

At least get the credit by actually doing it.

Heck, you could even split the difference by having congress pass a law now that gets phased in on Dec. 1, with no more discharges in the interim.

[kentuck]

9. I think there are some in the Administration..

who would like to wait until after the mid-terms to tackle the DADT issue? They think it would give the Republicans an issue to feed to their base if it is addressed at this time.

[Peacetrain]

10. Well good for them!! Seriously...because it will take the congress to get the damn law overturned

Get a little fire in the belly already guys and gals.. just get this thing overturned

[VMI Dem]

11. Fierce advocacy at work.

[William769]

13. Well it is up to Congress and not the President

At least thats what so many people here have been saying.

[Aramchek]

14. I guess McCain would have gotten to it much quicker, huh?

[William769]

15. And your point being?

They are the same?

[VMI Dem]

16. One claims to be a fierce advocate?

[William769]

17. One is President also.

The only thing I can figure out is other persons name is used to to try to deflect from the other (and not very well done either).

[Aramchek]

18. The point is that Obama is actually working to repeal DADT.

Yet he is attacked for not moving fast enough.

You are lucky we have a President who believes in equal rights.
Don't be so quick to write him off.
Consider the alternative.

[Uzybone]

19. The President does not have a vote. Move on ahead Congress

If the WH wants to wait move on past them.

[ShortnFiery]

21. Gee, I didn't know that The President rules Congress? I thought it was the legislators?

They can't beg-off responsibility on each other. If they don't act, I'll blame them both. :grr:

[robinblue]

24. yes, but the WH has requested Levin not to insert this now. Beyond

sad. Levin is gutless if he does not insert the provision. I say go for it and see who objects/supports-with the vote. Lets call em all out.

[ClarkUSA]

25. So what? Two co-equal branches of gov't. can and will disagree on matters of policy. n/t

[Enrique]

28. so call someone in Congress if you care about the issue

if you care one way or the other about this, then this article does a very good job of laying out where people stand. It gives you something to tell your rep when you call them. You can say, line up behind Udall, if that's how you feel.

If you don't care about the issue, you can just ignore the article.

[ClarkUSA]

29. lol! I doubt that was the purpose of the OP. n/t

[jenmito]

26. I REALLY hope Congress puts this in the defense reauthorization bill. No way would Obama

veto the bill.

[BlooInBloo]

27. I'm having trouble appreciating the difficulty. Just repeal the fucking thing...

They don't need Daddy's permission - they're an independent branch of government.

Put the damn repeal on his desk - he'll sign it.

[Tailormyst]

30. I can't post what I REALLY want to say to President Obama

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: