White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, shown here talking to the media earlier this month, explained the president’s stance on ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” Wednesday.
This may seem counterintuitive, if not counterproductive, given that President Obama has made noises about opposing discrimination against GLBTQ members of the military, but the Obama administration is apparently preparing to appeal U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips’ injunction to put an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell” practices worldwide.
Why, you may ask? It seems to have more to do with protocol (lame!) than principle, as CNN broke it down Wednesday. —KA
CNN:
A Justice Department official said that although the administration believes the law is discriminatory, it will nonetheless defend it as it does when all acts of Congress are challenged.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs referred all questions on a possible appeal back to the Justice Department, but said President Barack Obama “strongly believes it’s time for this policy to end.”
“The president strongly believes this policy is unjust, detrimental to our national security and that it discriminates against those who are willing to die for this country,” Gibbs told reporters, saying he discussed the matter with the president earlier Wednesday morning.
Emphasizing process over time, Gibbs repeatedly told reporters that ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is more a matter of how and not when. The president, Gibbs said, believes the law should be changed by Congress, not by the courts, to allow for a smoother transition away from the policy by the military, which is fighting two wars.
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Mafia or religious leaders have no respect for free thinkers, following orders is the
only reality. Free thinkers get whacked or beaten until they learn what counts. It is
no different in a harsh dictatorship, readers of any book except the Bible or Koran
are suspect. Pol Pot executed all those wearing glasses.
Well… here is one of the many many reasons I did not vote for a minor fixer, Dem party facilitator, from a small pond (please, Chicago is a small pond, in national terms) who was also
A GOD DAMNED FUCKING BORN AGAIN.
And I am very relieved I did not… tho I was called a racist thru out 2008.
hey, proud of not voting for him. Nor for Hillary, nor for McCain.
What a lousy crew our masters sent forth as political cud for our famished stomachs..
Mr. Obama, you have lost your way! All paths lead away from the people who put you in office! Just how dumb do you think we are? No foreclosure moratorium, closure of Gitmo… Another staged terrorist attack will not save your presidency - you will be blamed the day it occurs!
By bravewarrior, October 14, 2010 at 12:30 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Meanwhile the Obama team is on all channels trying to
rally the base to save the few blue dogs and dinos
who lack support everywhere. This cynical and
manipulative administration really disrespects the
intelligence of its supposed base. They vote on gay
and immigrant issues just a month before elections.
Even though they knew that this bill in the senate
was DOA. Of course they did it to embarrass the
republicans and to be able to boast that they
supported the issues, knowing it was a symbolic vote.
But the Warren appointment, couldn’t be trusted to
the senate, could it? All these corrupt hypocrites
should be thrown out. The democracy game, like the
classic three card monty, or the American dream ponzi
scheme has outlived its purpose. No difference except
the rhetoric between the parties. Everybody gets paid
by the same masters. Any progressive who supports
this administration is lying to themselves. The
banks, Wall Street, MIC and Israel control our
politics, period. Pretending that dishonest, corrupt
politicians can ever solve any serious problems,
other than the bottom line for the corporate culture,
is naive and manipulative. Any gay person still
believe that Obama stands for anything? Any immigrant
or working class member? Throw them all out and start
over. What delicious irony that it was a republican
‘Log Cabin’ group that finally nailed DADT. While our
democrat allies stuff their pockets with campaign
cash from the same corporations they supposedly
condemn. These clowns seem only competent to conduct
back room, secret deals-to maintain power while
selling out their base.
Of course they will appeal. It has nothing to do with principles, it’s all about the adversarial court system. They will appeal, simply because they lost. And it’s even worse that they lost to the Log Cabin Republicans.
Gay Democrats are like abused spouses who return to their attackers.
Christ, even Bob Barr says that DOMA was a mistake, and said it should be repealed, and he wrote the fucking Law. What have the Dems done about DOMA???
By Miko, October 13, 2010 at 6:06 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Obama is very good at having his cake and eating it
too. He personally supports DADT (but can’t publicly
say so as he’d lost a large chunk of his base), so he
pretends that he’s only fighting to keep it as a
formality. If he loses the cases, he’ll claim that
that’s what he wanted all along and graciously accept
the accolades of the GLBTQ community for failing to
uphold bigotry despite doing everything he could to
spite them. If he wins the case, we’ll never hear
another word about ending DADT from his White House.
It’s the whole “Oh, yeah: the public option is great”
in public and “Don’t worry insurance-exec-who-
donated-to-my-campaign: there’ll be no public option
in the final bill” behind closed doors scenario all
over again.
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By morristhewise, October 14, 2010 at 5:48 pm Link to this comment
Mafia or religious leaders have no respect for free thinkers, following orders is the
Report thisonly reality. Free thinkers get whacked or beaten until they learn what counts. It is
no different in a harsh dictatorship, readers of any book except the Bible or Koran
are suspect. Pol Pot executed all those wearing glasses.
By Marisacat, October 14, 2010 at 4:00 pm Link to this comment
Well… here is one of the many many reasons I did not vote for a minor fixer, Dem party facilitator, from a small pond (please, Chicago is a small pond, in national terms) who was also
A GOD DAMNED FUCKING BORN AGAIN.
And I am very relieved I did not… tho I was called a racist thru out 2008.
hey, proud of not voting for him. Nor for Hillary, nor for McCain.
What a lousy crew our masters sent forth as political cud for our famished stomachs..
LOL
Report thisBy Allan Krueger, October 14, 2010 at 3:52 pm Link to this comment
Appeal judges ruling on DADT!
Mr. Obama, you have lost your way! All paths lead away from the people who put you in office! Just how dumb do you think we are? No foreclosure moratorium, closure of Gitmo… Another staged terrorist attack will not save your presidency - you will be blamed the day it occurs!
This is not the change I voted for, Barack!!!!!
Report thisBy bravewarrior, October 14, 2010 at 12:30 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Meanwhile the Obama team is on all channels trying to
Report thisrally the base to save the few blue dogs and dinos
who lack support everywhere. This cynical and
manipulative administration really disrespects the
intelligence of its supposed base. They vote on gay
and immigrant issues just a month before elections.
Even though they knew that this bill in the senate
was DOA. Of course they did it to embarrass the
republicans and to be able to boast that they
supported the issues, knowing it was a symbolic vote.
But the Warren appointment, couldn’t be trusted to
the senate, could it? All these corrupt hypocrites
should be thrown out. The democracy game, like the
classic three card monty, or the American dream ponzi
scheme has outlived its purpose. No difference except
the rhetoric between the parties. Everybody gets paid
by the same masters. Any progressive who supports
this administration is lying to themselves. The
banks, Wall Street, MIC and Israel control our
politics, period. Pretending that dishonest, corrupt
politicians can ever solve any serious problems,
other than the bottom line for the corporate culture,
is naive and manipulative. Any gay person still
believe that Obama stands for anything? Any immigrant
or working class member? Throw them all out and start
over. What delicious irony that it was a republican
‘Log Cabin’ group that finally nailed DADT. While our
democrat allies stuff their pockets with campaign
cash from the same corporations they supposedly
condemn. These clowns seem only competent to conduct
back room, secret deals-to maintain power while
selling out their base.
By Fat Freddy, October 14, 2010 at 9:42 am Link to this comment
Of course they will appeal. It has nothing to do with principles, it’s all about the adversarial court system. They will appeal, simply because they lost. And it’s even worse that they lost to the Log Cabin Republicans.
Gay Democrats are like abused spouses who return to their attackers.
Christ, even Bob Barr says that DOMA was a mistake, and said it should be repealed, and he wrote the fucking Law. What have the Dems done about DOMA???
Report thisBy Miko, October 13, 2010 at 6:06 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Obama is very good at having his cake and eating it
too. He personally supports DADT (but can’t publicly
say so as he’d lost a large chunk of his base), so he
pretends that he’s only fighting to keep it as a
formality. If he loses the cases, he’ll claim that
that’s what he wanted all along and graciously accept
the accolades of the GLBTQ community for failing to
uphold bigotry despite doing everything he could to
spite them. If he wins the case, we’ll never hear
another word about ending DADT from his White House.
It’s the whole “Oh, yeah: the public option is great”
Report thisin public and “Don’t worry insurance-exec-who-
donated-to-my-campaign: there’ll be no public option
in the final bill” behind closed doors scenario all
over again.