I'm Disppointed Obama hasnt begun the effort to Overturn DODT, but where is Congress?

[MadBadger]

Every single person who is discharged because of this ridiculous policy, gets me more and more pissed off. I'm disappointed Obama hasnt started the effort of overturning it by now, and I say effort because I want to see this go through Congress, not be an executive order. That said, where the hell is Congress? If they think he is waiting too long, which he is in my opinion, why havent they made the effort to overturn DODT? Why havent the more liberal members of Congress pushed for it yet? Where are they?

[armyowalgreens]

1. Where the hell is Kucinich?

Someone send him an email.

[MadBadger]

2. He's one of them I'm wondering about.

[Political Tiger]

5. Good question! n/t

[Political Tiger]

3. I've been wondering the same thing. n/t

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Enrique]

10. kind of

Obama has said he wants the ban lifted during the current congressional term, but even the most motivated lawmakers see little prospect of swift action.

Democratic U.S. Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, co-chairs of the newly formed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus, have said they need to be sure there is majority support for repealing the ban before beginning debate.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-do...

[DURHAM D]

6. Doesn't Cong. Sestak have a bill that is buried in committee? n/t

[SpartanDem]

8. There is already a bill in committe

write the Dems in the Armed Services cmte to see if you can't get them move to move it through quicker

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.01283:

[MADem]

9. You mean D"A" DT?? The A is for ask.

There was a bill to overturn. It's been sent to committee. That means it will probably gather dust there.

Congress doesn't want this agenda item on the calendar right now. That's why the thing is stashed in committee.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/22/bad-news-on-don... /

.....I contacted the subcommittee's chair, Rep. Susan Davis (D-Ca), and her spokesman, Aaron Hunter, gave me some rather deflating news.


He said that the committee plans to schedule hearings on the bill. Later this year.

I was flabbergasted. "You mean, the hearings on this bill could literally begin anytime up to December?"

"Yes."

That's just to schedule hearings, let alone hold a vote in the full committee or the House. By then, the midterm election campaigns will be in full swing, with Republicans already signaling that they plan to make gay marriage an issue.

This is not a criticism of Congresswoman Davis, who supports the repeal of this policy. She held the first Congressional hearings on DADT in 15 years last July. Hunter told me that they still need to build support for the bill in the subcommittee.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Ted Kennedy has agreed to sponsor the Senate version, but is still seeking a Republican co-sponsor.



No "messenger shooting," now.

[bluestateguy]

11. Thank you for this good point

Many bills pass Congress without the President's prodding them. Conversely, presidential pushing is no guarantee of a bill's passage either. The president will exercise leadership on certain bills, but on other bills, members of Congress have to initiate the action. That's the way it has been for many years.

Has anyone done a head count as to how many votes a repeal would have in Congress?

[SpartanDem]

15. The bill has 141 cosponsors I say that's a pretty good sign

of strong party support.

[Captain Hilts]

12. They are just as guilty. nt

[EFerrari]

13. That's a great question. Where are they?

Skating on Obama's approval ratings, it looks like.

[depakid]

14. I doubt the Senate has the votes

and even if they do, I doubt that congress has any more political fortitude at this point than Obama has on the issue.

[Neecy]

16. what's really unfortunate....

Is that we need some political leaders to start using the bully pulpit, laying out the case for repealing DADT. Emphasize the public support for doing so. Highlight the damage it's doing to the military to have supremely qualified men and women kicked out. Remind people that we're patriots as well and will serve our country if allowed to do so openly.

But the silence is overwhelming from Obama down. Harry Reid? Nope. Nancy Pelosi, D-SAN-Friggin'-FRANCISCO? Missing. Even our gay Representatives are cowering. This is repulsive. People's lives are being destroyed. Nobody in our government gives a shit.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. There's a bill in committee.

According to Barney Frank, noted homophobe who doesn't advocate for gay people, they're waiting until 2010 to get economic and health care through before trying to build up support so it can get through congress.

[Neecy]

18. 200 people fired since January.

"...before trying to build up support..."

What's wrong with trying to build up support NOW? Oh, no, so many bigger priorities. So...many....

You sure seem to show up in every gay thread to drop your pearls of wisdom at our feet. Love us much? You must.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. "What's wrong with trying to build up support NOW?"

My guess is, it wouldn't work. They don't want to bring it out of committee if it's got a good chance of failing, and messing with other legislation in the process.

Welcome to politics.

[SpartanDem]

21. Pretty much

Congress and the WH have decided that repealing dadt would be a distraction while trying the pass the energy and health care bill which are the big legislative items on the agenda. Not saying it's right, but that seems to be their line of thinking

[MercutioATC]

20. I agree. "Don't Ostrich, Don't Tell" is a travesty!