Frank: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Will Probably Wait Till Next Year
In news that won't shock regular readers of this site, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)--one of three openly gay House members--says he believes that Democrats will wait until 2010 to attempt a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Not only that, but, according to Roll Call, he thinks that's the right way to go. "I believe we should and will do 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' next year," Frank said. "We haven't done the preliminary work, the preparatory work. It would be a mistake to bring it up without a lot of lobbying and a lot of conversation."
The administration has been walking back its vow to repeal DADT for weeks now, to the great frustration of advocates at Human Rights Campaign and the Servicemember's Legal Defense Networks. Gay rights groups hope the issue will be raised when the Senate considers Defense Secretary Robert Gates' budget proposal next month, and their opponents are preparing for just such a contingency.
Josh
Matt
Eric
The President does have more pressing things on his agenda as does the Congress.
April 23, 2009 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's just say his plate is full. I'm sure that individuals affected by the policy wouldn't regard it as being less significant than others.
April 23, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second.
April 24, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
(I made a post here which the TPM software immediately informed me had been "held for approval". I assume this is because I included several links as citations for quotes that were in the post. Because the last time this happened to me on TPM the "held for approval" post never appeared, I am going to repost the comment with the links removed. If this leads to a double-post I apologize.)
"Walking back" seems like an odd way to phrase it. The Obama administration has been for better or worse suggesting the DADT repeal would be slow-walked since at least comments by Robert Gibbs on January 14, the week before inauguration day. Even during the campaign Obama broadcasted that he wanted to repeal DADT through "a process", rather than trying to ram things through as Clinton did. That "process" as far as I understand appears to refer to, as the Boston Globe reported on Feb. 1 and has been occasionally reported on elsewhere since, "a detailed study of how a change in the policy would affect the military". The idea that the strategy with DADT is to commission a report on DADT and then use this to argue for its repeal is consistent with Frank's comments about "preparatory work" and 2010. Is this strategy a good one? No idea. But the administration and democratic leadership have been nothing but consistent that something like this is the strategy.
Nancy Pelosi claims that the LGBT agenda items for this year are the Matthew Shepard / hate crimes bill and ENDA. As long as they actually follow through with it, I am satisfied with this plan for a start. And after a period of inaction they do now appear to be showing signs of following through; the hate crimes bill (HR 1913) passed out of committee this morning and will be voted on potentially as early as next week.
April 23, 2009 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree completely. I've been involved in working on this kind of legislation for more years than I care to remember (dating back to Elaine Noble's victory in MA) and homework and preparation are absolutely essential. Their schedule sounds just right to me.
The delay has nothing to do with the administration's priorities and everything to do with building an irrefutable case for the absurdity of DADT. You don't pass something like this (homos and the military!) by just introducing a bill and calling a vote on it.
On the other hand, if Obama doesn't stop micromanaging Justice, he's going to find himself in very hot water. Let's work on that one first.
April 23, 2009 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
This stupid issue was the first thing the right wing fascists and thugs used to beat up Clinton with. He was in office like a few weeks and had promised to end this absurd discrimination with an order as commander in chief which he had every right to do. Gore who had been in the Army advised Bill to just order the Joint Chiefs to make it happen. Every asshole who was pissed a young liberal from a small state had just won the Presidency jumped all over this to make Clinton look weak. It worked.
So 16 god damned years later I understand the reluctance of Obama to get his ass chewed by the same bigoted bunch of bullies who back up the redneck jerks instead of the hard working soldiers who are gay.
What I have to say to all you who think this is OK to stall a little longer ..... 16 years people .... is that a small group of gay Americans will die in Iraq and Afghanistan along with their straight buddies but never have the simple human dignity of knowing they are fighting for their own freedom and not just everyone else's. Please think about that.
April 23, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"a small group of gay Americans will die in Iraq and Afghanistan along with their straight buddies but never have the simple human dignity of knowing they are fighting for their own freedom and not just everyone else's"
It doesn't get any clearer than this.
April 23, 2009 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
What if in the process of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell too quickly the Obama administration gets bogged down and gets delayed in its efforts to pass health care legislation and as a result more people die of preventable causes? Of course, the political calculation isn't as simple as that. But in a way, it kind of is.
April 24, 2009 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's why it's not happening right now. The House can pass whatever the heck they want right now. However, per Marc Ambinder's reporting, he's confirmed that the Senate doesn't have the votes. If we get more Democrats in the Senate next term, then it would be great. But right now, there's no votes for it.
April 24, 2009 4:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barney Frank wants to put the issue off until next year, but next year is an election year.
Will they tackle this controversial issue in an election year?
April 24, 2009 8:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
As far as controversial issues go, it's a controversial issue with surprisingly high public support for the Democratic position. I think the Democrats have probably noticed this and won't shy away from the issue.
I'm more worried about them losing their nerve on DOMA as the election approaches.
April 24, 2009 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand that it takes time, politically, to make a big step like this a success.
But when they finally do get around to making it happen, they'd better make a big freaking deal about how grateful they are for our patience. Awarding damages to DADT victims might be a nice start.
April 24, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink