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By James Hohmann
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi suggested Thursday that Democrats may wait on voting to repeal the ban on gays in the military until after the midterm elections and after the Pentagon has completed a full review of its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
“We’ve done a heavy lift, and I don’t know,” Pelosi told reporters. “I’ll have to examine it. We’ll take a look. We’ll sit down together and see. What is the advantage of going first with legislation? Or would the legislation more aptly reflect what is in the review? Or is it a two step-process?”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday established a working group to study the impact on the military of eliminating "Don’t Ask, Don't Tell." He told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the group will produce its findings and recommendations in the form of an implementation plan by the end of 2010.
Asked Thursday about this review, Pelosi said she’s still figuring out details about exactly what the Defense Department will do.
“It would be my preference to go first with legislation, but we’ll have to examine and see what the model is for what the review is,” the speaker said. “It’s not a question of a review to see if we are going to do it. It’s just a question of how we can protect people as we go forward with the repeal of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'”
Many House Democrats who are privately reluctant to take a vote on the issue have already been forced to defend several unpopular health care and spending measures that Pelosi and her leadership team essentially forced them to endorse.
In fact, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) personally opposes changing the policy.
Pelosi reiterated her total commitment to eventually ending the compromise policy enacted under President Bill Clinton, but she notably did not offer any timeline.
“Whatever it is, we’re moving forward on it,” Pelosi said. “And if that means sooner or later with legislation, we’ll just do what’s best for protecting Americans who want to serve our country and to end discrimination against all.”
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Remember, Ms. Napolitano . . .
Who virtually accused those of us who are conservative and in uniform of being ready to settle every disagreement we might have with guns or even with terrorist actions . . .
Much as it makes me feel like puking to admit it, after seeing that some of the posters below have even alluded to the same type of belief about social conservatives . . . *that* is what is slowing Ms. Pelosi down. She thinks we conservatives are dangerous and must be accommodated as she *slowly* integrates outed gays into military life.
I think the opposite might happen. The 50% or so who are not for this might just leave the military. Vote with their feet, as it were. That would be my reason for caution. Do we really want a military that is 100% liberals and far higher than 10% gays? Is there a danger to having the demographics be so skewed??? Maybe not, what do ya'll think?
Interesting. So I suppose
Interesting. So I suppose all of those 50% who will leave the military after DADT gets repealed were only in the military to escape the wrath of "the gay?" (gay = particularly well groomed and hygeinic person with excellent fashion taste or strong woman unafraid to face off with a man who has uncharicteristically good technical skills. Oh yes, and they seek out other gays of their same sex to spend their life with. OH THE TERROR! I jest, but is THIS what we are running from?).
I am challenged to think of any other employment institution who legally can systematically discriminate against a single minority. Now it all makes sense. The phobes join the military to dodge the gays and the gays chase them down by joining in stealth mode. Wow, I never knew this was such a huge conspiracy. I feel so enlightened.
Also interesting to learn that 50% of our military is so incredibly dedicated to the anti-gay agenda that they are willing to give up all military benefits for themselves and their dependents and pension and maybe even a job they enjoy.
first of all
First of all 65% of active military feel DADT should be repealed.
Second, that 10% you mention is a percentage the government came up with back in the 80's, and it has never changed. Our government does not want us to know the true percentage if one could be obtained. There is no way to count the numbers of gays in the militray or in the United States, and many feel that number is more like 20%.
If gays are kicked out of the military, we are loosing talented military men and women that we cannot affored to loose.
If straight people want to leave the military because they do not believe in equality for all, then the military is the wrong place for them in the first place. Just what are they firghting for?
By the way . . .
I am retired, so I no longer get a vote as to whether to stay or leave.
I would have stayed. I am a social conservative, but I have gay friends and don't care whether they are "out" in the military. However, many social conservatives I know have said they will just leave if DADT is repealed.
Seems like, no matter what, we are going to lose highly trained personnel.
Not Today
"Many House Democrats who are privately reluctant to take a vote on the issue have already been forced to defend several unpopular health care and spending measures that Pelosi and her leadership team essentially forced them to endorse". I say put it to a vote let the American people decide. The Dems, are running scared Mr. O is back peddling like crazy now that they actually woke up and saw that they wont be in their fat juicy jobs long doing what they please. Yea they are in charge, why does that give them the right to supersede what the American people want. The last administration did that and look where it got them. Rush rush hurry up and make a decision is what they were trying, now they don't have as much say and want to do it the way the people want it to be. I am embarrassed by both party's at what they have selfishly done in our name. Vote them out when they allow nonsense take priority over getting this country back on its feet. We need our jobs brought back from across the water. That is the #1 priority or should be.
i disagree with pelosi
The wait has been long enough. Pass it now!!! Stop playing games, take the bull by the horn, and pass this repeal and pass health Care Reform also. As fas as both wars, get out of Iraq (the war of lies), focus on Bin Laden, there is no reason our military cannot capture him, and then get the heck out of there too.
I have voted for most Democrats, but I too want to see more action, not chatter.
puzzling
Speaker Pelosi, when asked last year if she felt an obligation as Speaker of the House of Representatives to represent the American people, said that as far as she was concerned she worked for the people of her district and the Democratic caucus. She represents California's 8th District, which includes most of San Francisco, a city with both an extremely liberal political climate and a sizeable and vocal openly gay community. This, coupled with the fact that gay rights in general and the repealing of DADT in particular are major parts of the Democratic Party’s plank, makes Speaker Pelosi’s outspoken position on this matter extremely puzzling. This cannot be going over well at home for her. I think I’ll go check out the San Francisco Chronicle…
If they believe in it pass it
Clearly President Obama wishes for dont ask dont tell to be repealed. It has been part of the democratic platform for years. They are clearly in the majority so they should repeal it if they believe it is the right thing to do.
Show some courage and own the issue. If the public agrees then the dems will maintain their majority in 2010. If not they will lose it but they will have done so holding true to their beliefs.
Why hold it till after the mid terms if you believe in this?
agreed. Hold the vote and
agreed. Hold the vote and see how it comes out. The same with health care reform.
could be done
I agree that repealing DADT would be easy and should pass both houses of Congress with relative ease. Certainly the House could pass it. This is a cop-out on her part I frankly don't understand. The law could easily be tailored to suit the Pentagon's evaluation. The legislation could say, "Homosexual and lesbian Americans shall be allowed to serve as such openly in the Armed Forces of the United States, provided they are otherwise qualified to do so. The Department of Defense shall issue regulatory guidance for the implementation of this Law not later than 1 DEC 2010."
If the DoD could offer a compelling reason why the deadline couldn't be met Congress could always amend the law, but frankly fail to see how they couldn't. There are some issues to be worked out but it can and most definitely should be done.