Joe Sestak

Sestak: Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2009, 6:17PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) appeared on CNN today to discuss a Navy hazing scandal, commenting as a retired three-star Admiral, and strongly called for a repeal of the ban on gays in the military.

Sestak is also running for Senate, challenging incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary.

"How could I, having gone to war, where public surveys let us know we did have gay members, come home and say they don't have equal rights?" said Sestak. "We are losing good men and women, and we're not adhering -- we're absolutely not adhering to the ideals of our nation, that everyone is treated and respected equally."

He also added: "And I hope that this year, prior to December, that our president, having taken care of the cratering of our economy, having dealing (sic) with health care, takes care of something having to do with our ideals, and that's repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Our Service would be better for it."

Gay Rights

Obama Speaking To Human Rights Campaign, WH Says He Wants Progress In 'Coming Weeks'

Christina Bellantoni | October 10, 2009, 6:16PM

President Obama tonight will address the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, speaking about his commitment to gay rights even as the community is frustrated about lack of action on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, among other things.

The White House said the president will speak for 15 to 20 minutes, and hinted he might make some promises about speedy action.

"He looks forward to speaking directly with the LGBT community about the steps his administration has taken thus far and the progress he hopes to achieve in the coming weeks and months," said White House spokesman Shin Inouye.

Earlier this week, Obama named an openly gay lawyer to be his ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand.

This summer just before Obama was about to address gay Democratic activists, he extended some benefits to the partners of gay federal workers.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama will discuss the Hate Crimes measure that may pass Congress, saying the protections are "long overdue"

"[He] looks forward to, when that legislation gets to his desk, signing it and making that the law of the land," Gibbs said.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Gillibrand Takes Lead In Senate On Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2009, 3:35PM

Senate Democrats are perhaps set to start the ball rolling on repealing the ban on gays in the military, with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announcing that hearings have been scheduled for the Armed Services Committee to examine the impact of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

"This policy is wrong for our national security and wrong for the moral foundation upon which our country was founded,'" Gillibrand said in a press release. "I thank Chairman Levin for agreeing to hold this important hearing. Numerous military leaders are telling us that the times have changed. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is an unfair, outdated measure that violates the civil rights of some of our bravest, most heroic men and women. By repealing this policy, we will increase America's strength - both militarily and morally."

Some people might suspect that Gillibrand could have a political motivation. She is an appointed Senator facing a 2010 primary challenge in a liberal state -- with the polls putting her challenger, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, narrowly ahead -- and would have something to gain from taking the point position on this. A spokesman said this is not politically motivated, drawing attention to the fact that Gillibrand had already been on the record for repealing DADT when she was still in the House.

Supreme Court

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | July 1, 2009, 9:03AM

SCOTUS Moving Rightward Under Roberts
The Washington Post reports that this past Supreme Court session shows the Roberts Court to have moved definitely to the right, through a cautious and incremental -- but definitely conservative -- approach. "One thing I think is going on is that the Chief Justice has a devotion to the institution of the Supreme Court, and not wanting to get it out on a limb in front of public opinion," said Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute. "But Roberts is, after all, a conservative." The New York Times says the same thing, pointing to the key role played by Justice Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold an online town hall discussion on health care at 1:15 p.m. ET, hosted at Northern Virginia Community College. At 4:45 p.m. ET, he will sign a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

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Barney Frank

Frank: It Would Be Reasonable For Dems To Challenge Specter

Brian Beutler | June 8, 2009, 4:32PM

GQ's Lisa DePaulo conducted a long interview with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)--the quick-witted, at times acerbic, chair of the House Financial Services Committee--and among many other things, she asked him about his party's newest member. "[A]s a Democrat," Frank said, "I'm glad to have him."

But as an elected official, I have to say I don't think he did our profession any good. First of all, to announce that it was done purely so he could survive. Secondly, his performance since then has been very disappointing. In particular, what troubled me was when he was quoted as saying, "Well..." In terms of no Jewish Republicans, the answer should have been, Who cares? That's not a relevant issue. But then, when he said, Oh, but I'm confident the courts in Minnesota will do justice to Norm Coleman, and then said, Oh, I forgot which side I'm on!--forget about forgetting which side he's on. What that says is, his view of what the law should be depends on what party he's in. This notion that your view of what's an appropriate legal decision depends on your party is shocking for a guy who's supposed to be this great lawyer.

So what does that mean, in his mind, for the 2010 election? Frank said, "there's an erratic behavior pattern there that's very troubling. I think at this point it's entirely reasonable for some Democrats to think about challenging him." Unfortunately, the interview doesn't touch on Specter's most likely challenger--Frank's House colleague Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA).

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Obama To Ask Congress To 'Change' DADT...At 'Some Time'

Brian Beutler | May 25, 2009, 3:42PM

The Obama administration's plans for Don't Ask, Don't Tell are pretty clear at this point. They will call on Congress to repeal the law...in some way...at some point in time. And not a day sooner.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he is working on an assessment of what -- if any -- impact overturning "don't ask, don't tell" policies would mean for the military and its culture. In the meantime, the Pentagon plans to follow the existing rules, which say gays and lesbians can serve in the military if they do not disclose their sexuality or engage in homosexual behavior.

"The president has made his strategic intent very clear, that it's his intent at some point in time to ask Congress to change this law," Mullen said. "I think it's important to also know that this is the law, this isn't a policy. And for the rules to change, a law has to be changed."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press breathlessly headlines their article "Mullen: Military to comply if gay ban law changes". Good to know they're not considering mutiny.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Pentagon: Still No Real Talks With White House About DADT

Brian Beutler | May 20, 2009, 10:24AM

Yesterday, Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell offered an update of sorts on the progress of a long-awaited repeal of the Pentagon's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which forbids openly gay troops from serving in the military.

"I do not believe there are any plans under way in this building for some expected, but not articulated, anticipation that don't ask-don't tell will be repealed," Morrell said at a press briefing. Pentagon leaders, he said, are "aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal don't ask-don't tell."

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