Burying the lede on DADT

[Robb]

We already freaked out yesterday about the "multi-year process" Gates et al were preparing to repeal DADT. Based on unnamed officials.

But five paragraphs into this story we find unnamed gay rights leaders telling us something quite important:

...On Tuesday, in the first Congressional hearing on the issue in 17 years, Mr. Gates and Admiral Mullen will unveil the Pentagon’s initial plans for carrying out a repeal, which requires an act of Congress. Gay rights leaders say they expect Mr. Gates to announce in the interim that the Defense Department will not take action to discharge service members whose sexual orientation is revealed by third parties or jilted partners, one of the most onerous aspects of the law.

Essentially ending DADT.

So, whose unnamed sources do you like better? The ones with a track record of slanted stories, or the ones that suggest an administration that might POSSIBLY have read the May Gallup poll that 69% of the country approves of gay people serving??

[babylonsister]

1. Excellent catch, Robb. Thanks, and rec'd! nt

[crikkett]

2. Too bad Obama can't do this via executive order.

Is it because Congress passed DADT?

Adm. Zumwalt ended segregation in the military WITH A STROKE OF HIS PEN. His order went into effect IMMEDIATELY.

[enlightenment]

3. Congress didn't pass DADT - Clinton signed that one as an order.

The prohibition is actually the same one that's been on the military 'books' since 1981 (and codified in 1993):

Here is the current code:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/654.html

A rather useful little history of the policy - scroll about 1/3 down the page for the beginning of the discussion.
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/HTML/military_history.html

They could overturn DADT tomorrow, but it wouldn't change the current US code. THAT has to be done with the cooperation of Congress and the military.


edited to finish my thought.

[crikkett]

9. thanks for helping me understand n/t

[Toasterlad]

8. Obama Could Suspend DADT, But He Can't Repeal It. Congress Must Do That.

Edited because I misread the OP, and was foolishly giving Gates and Obama more credit than they deserved.

[xchrom]

4. Recommend

[PHIMG]

5. Does not "esentially end" DADT

Gay service members still have to live a lie and pretend they are straight.

Only a full repeal is acceptable.

[donheld]

6. K & R

[BR_Parkway]

7. If true, then it's a very small step - only protected from 3rd party and

jilted partners? But you still have to live a lie and pretend to be hetero or get booted