Reply #16: No. Put that in CONTEXT. It was the very best he could manage, and the

[MADem]

only compromise that all parties (Congress, Defense, Executive) could live with.

He wanted to lift the ban outright, but the climate forbade it.

On the bright side, it worked so well that BushCo didn't get rid of it, and they've had two whole terms to do it. And if it WAS the end of the world, well, wouldn't they have?

The fact that we've had two administrations, Democratic and Republican, over the course of almost four presidential terms, that have 'managed' with the knowledge that there ARE gays serving in uniform under DADT, that these personnel didn't have to answer "THE" question on the enlistment contract paperwork, makes it apparent that the NEXT step is just getting rid of the damned ban in its entirety. And the best way to do this isn't with a great deal of fanfare--even though some might like that--but with a simple professional and declarative statement that doesn't give the right wing any fodder to cry and make a huge issue about it. Right the inequity, and move on.