Reply #38: This really isn't that complicated. Let's think a little bit.

[Skinner]

As Bill Clinton liked to say: "You can't take the politics out of politics." This is politics.

Here's the deal: DADT is dead. It was decided long ago (November 2008) that it was going to be repealed. The President, the Congress, the SecDef, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs all want it repealed.

What we are experiencing now -- with the report and the timing and all that -- is about MAKING IT WORK. Getting everyone on board. Giving them some time to FACE REALITY. Smoothing the way so the backlash will be small, and more importantly... Making sure GLBT soldiers are not ostracized when the policy is finally put in place.

I know it would feel really awesome if President Obama got on TV and said, "fuck all you bigots, I'm the Commander in Chief, I'm going to cram this down your throats, and you all can bite me." Arguably, it is his right to do so. But I would submit to you that that approach might not be the most effective way to ensure that GLBT soldiers are treated with respect when they show up for service.

If I were a GLBT soldier, I would feel much more comfortable coming out of the closet if I knew the DADT repeal was carefully planned, and I knew almost everyone was (more-or-less) on-board. If, on the other hand, the President just said "fuck all you bigots," and looked like he was cramming it down everyone's throats, I would be pretty concerned about how the backlash might affect me personally.

When it finally gets repealed, it's going to be fine. And some people are going to say, "See? It was totally fine. Why did they need to waste so much time planning?" What they will fail to realize is that the repeal will have gone well *BECAUSE* they spent the time and effort to make sure it did.