Obama's Statement on DADT Report

As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipline within our military ranks. That is why I directed the Department of Defense earlier this year to begin preparing for a transition to a new policy.
Today’s report confirms that a strong majority of our military men and women and their families—more than two thirds—are prepared to serve alongside Americans who are openly gay and lesbian. This report also confirms that, by every measure—from unit cohesion to recruitment and retention to family readiness—we can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and national security. And for the first time since this law was enacted 17 years ago today, both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have publicly endorsed ending this policy.
With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all. The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation. Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally. Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the best led, best trained, best equipped fighting force the world has ever known.

Defense Department Releases DADT Report

The report will be released here at 2:15 pm eastern.

Pentagon to Military Recruiters: You Can Now Accept Gay Appliants

Military recruiters have been told that they must accept gay applicants, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Tuesday, following a federal court decision striking down the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Top-level guidance has been issued to recruiting commands informing them that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule has been suspended for now, spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told reporters.
Recruiters also have been told to inform potential recruits that the moratorium could be reversed at any point.
Last week, a federal judge ordered the military to stop enforcing the 1993 law banning openly gay service members. The Justice Department is appealing the decision and has asked for a temporary stay. msnbc

Obama Says DADT Will End on His Watch

Once again Obama says he wants to end DADT in an "orderly" way and repeal DADT through Congress, while the left just want Obama to write an executive order.

At the MTV/BET town hall today, Obama also said that he's somewhat optimistic that he can get the Dream Act done next legislative session. I'll post the town hall if it comes available.

It's Lady Gaga Vs. John McCain

I'm not a fan of celebrities getting political. There's always at least a sliver of self promotion and ego. But Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) makes a good point: Shouldn't the soldier that shows prejudice against the gay soldier be kicked out? Amen.
A vote on don't ask don't tell is expected today. Democrats need 60 votes to get around a republican filibuster. Lady Gaga was in Maine hoping to rally two of the remaining sane republicans, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, to vote with dems to repeal DADT. Of course, dusty McCain is fighting the repeal.

Collins Votes With Democrats to Repeal DADT

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday voted to repeal the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law that bans openly gay people from serving in the military.

The panel voted 16-12 to repeal the law. Sen. Jim Webb (Va.) was the only Democrat to vote against the measure, while Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) was the only Republican to vote for it.
....
Under the provision, the repeal will not be implemented until the Pentagon finishes its review of how it would impact the military. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen must first certify it can be achieved consistent with the military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion and recruitment and retention.
The Hill

Obama is pleased:

I have long advocated that we repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’, and I am pleased that both the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee took important bipartisan steps toward repeal tonight. Key to successful repeal will be the ongoing Defense Department review, and as such I am grateful that the amendments offered by Representative Patrick Murphy and Senators Joseph Lieberman and Carl Levin that passed today will ensure that the Department of Defense can complete that comprehensive review that will allow our military and their families the opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process. Our military is made up of the best and bravest men and women in our nation, and my greatest honor is leading them as Commander-in-Chief. This legislation will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity.

Obama's Remarks at Boxer Fundraisers in San Francisco

Was this the only photo that Getty could get last night? This is a really bad photo. What is it that the photog was trying to say? It just looks awkward.

Obama spoke in California last night at a couple of fundraisers for Barbara Boxer.
CNN has a couple of clips.

Here is the one where Obama speaks about moving our economy to new energies.
Here is another where he's heckled about DADT.
Obama says: "I saw this guy down in LA," referring to the heckler. Obama says the heckler should buy a ticket to see a guy who doesn't support his point of view.

Congress Could Repeal DADT This Week

Here is the compromise to the amendment, which will be attached to defense spending bill: If the repeal is passed, it wouldn't be put into place until after the DoD and military complete a review, due on Robert Gates' desk Dec. 1, and only if military leaders say it doesn't effect readiness, cohesion and retention. Read the White House letter on this here.

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White House and Gay Rights Activists Discuss Stepping up DADT Repeal

A proposal to step up the repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military but still allow the Pentagon time — perhaps even years — to implement new policies was being discussed Monday by administration officials and gay rights activists.
The White House had hoped lawmakers would delay action until Pentagon officials had completed their study so fellow Democrats would not face criticism that they moved too quickly or too far ahead of public opinion in this election year. Instead, administration officials now expect Congress to move ahead this week even though advocates on both sides say it's not clear there are enough votes to lift the 1993 ban. Read more at NOLA

Republicans promised opposition, which is nothing new:

On Capitol Hill, the third-ranking House Republican promised unified GOP opposition to lifting the ban. "The American people don't want the American military to be used to advance a liberal political agenda. And House Republicans will stand on that principle," said Mike Pence, R-Ind.
Pence urged Democrats who control both chambers to wait until the Pentagon completes its review of what a repeal would take.

Adm. Mike Mullen on Don't Ask Don't Tell

Adm. Mike Mullen says gays should be allowed to serve openly. He made it clear he was speaking for himself only. He says he supports Robert Gates' plan to change the policy. The dinosaur in the room, republicans, led by John McCain, who is opposing repealing don't ask don't tell.

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Live Stream of Obama's State of the Union Jan. 27 2010

You'll be able to watch it all over your TVs, but if you're not in front of a TV, here you go. It will be all over the Internet as well. What we know so far is Obama is going to ask Congress to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, he's going to talk about immigration reform, he's going to urge healthcare reform, he's going to talk about a 3-year freeze on discretionary spending. Will there be any surprises? A holler out, a "you lie," something in the speech that the media hasn't already fussed over. We shall see.
Speech over. See SOTU video here.

White House Press Briefing Jan. 26

Obama's Speech to Gay Rights Group Video Oct. 10

Obama gives an inspiring speech tonight to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Obama shows why he's a Peace Man. Obama will end Don't Ask Don't Tell, which will allow gay people to serve freely in the military. He'll also soon be signing the Hate Crimes bill (introduced 10 years ago) in honor of Mathew Shepard.

Obama jokes: "It's a privilege to be opening for Lady Gaga:"

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Tomorrow, there will be a National Equality March in DC:

On October 11, meet at the Human Rights Campaign building, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, at 11:00 a.m. The march will take us through D.C. and end with the National Equality March Rally. The march begins at 12:00 p.m.

Joe Solomnese gave a pretty darned good speech too:

Obama Speaks to Gay Rights Group Oct. 10

Update Oct. 10: Event over. Watch video of the speech here.

Update Oct. 10: Obama to speak around 8 pm eastern. Live streaming of the event here. Audio at Whitehouse.gov/live.

Gay rights groups want Obama to tackle Don't Ask Don't Tell sooner rather than later:

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President Obama will speak to a gathering of gay rights activists this weekend, a day before thousands of people are expected to march on Washington in a demonstration calling for greater legal protections for gays, lesbians and transgendered Americans.

Mr. Obama’s appearance on Saturday at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, represents a significant show of support for gay rights at a time when many prominent gay and lesbian activists have been questioning the president’s commitment to their issues. NYT

Obama's Interview With Anderson Cooper July 13

Anderson lets Obama skate through the second stimulus question, but Obama has already said he wants to let the first one work. I think the republicans would break out in hives have a collective cow if there was another stimulus.

On don't ask don't tell, Obama says it's not appropriate for the executive branch to simply not enforce a law. But we can change how the laws are being enforced (see this video), he said. He would like to see the law changed sooner rather than later. Obama's a law stickler.

There is a 15 second ad and then the interview and Obama dances:

Gates Looks to Not Enforce Don't Ask Don't Tell

Mullen Reserved on Don't Ask Don't Tell

There is wide acceptance of gay people in the military by those of us who aren't in the military. But let's face it folks, many in the military are socially conservative and may be homophobic.
It would be a tough shift for the military to make. I'm sure that gay slurs are still used in military training. 

People against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell believe that once gay people are allowed to openly serve in the military, they'll be soliciting sex. Really, that's what they're saying when they use the arguments that it would "undermine the cohesion of the units."
But that argument is ridiculous because it paints gay people as merely sexual beings. They don't view gay people as regular people.
Gay people want to serve in the military for the same reasons that non gay people want to serve. And there are rules of sexual conduct for everyone in the military.
It's obvious Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has reservations. He says the forces will comply with the new law when it comes about.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me talk about the issues of gays in the military. The president has told you that he wants to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy so that gays and lesbians can serve openly in the military. And the Pentagon said this week that you personally, along with Secretary Gates, are working to address the challenges associated with implementing the president’s commitment.

What exactly are you doing? And what exactly are you worried about?

MULLEN: 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. 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.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And there’s legislation introduced in the Congress.

MULLEN: And there is. Exactly. And so I’ve had discussions with the Joint Chiefs about this. I’ve done certainly a lot of internal, immediate staff discussions about what the issues would be and how we...

STEPHANOPOULOS: What are they? What are the challenges?

MULLEN: Well, it’s my job as the senior military adviser to provide best advice, best military advice for the president. And what I owe him is an objective assessment of what these changes would be. What they might impact on. And there could be speculation about what that might be, but my goal would be to achieve an objective assessment of the impact, if any, of this kind of change.

In addition, you know, I would need some time for a force that’s under a great deal of stress -- we’re in our sixth year of fighting two wars -- to look at if this change occurs, to look at implementing it in a very deliberate, measured way.

And what I also owe the president, and I owe the men and women in uniform, is an implementation plan to achieve this based on a timeline that would be set, obviously, after the law is changed.

STEPHANOPOULOS: One of your predecessors, General John Shalikashvili, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs back in the early ‘90s, has said he has second thoughts on this whole issue now. He was against opening up service to the gays and lesbians then. Now he’s written, “I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces. Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job.”

Is he right?

MULLEN: He’s certainly entitled to his own personal opinion. And certainly, I have the greatest respect for him.

There are also lots of retired generals and admirals on the other side. 

STEPHANOPOULOS: What’s your opinion?

MULLEN: And what I would hope to do in this, George, again, given the strategic intent of the president, is to avoid a polarizing debate that puts a force that’s very significantly under stress in the middle. And to get this, get to this, assuming the law is going to change, and, again, a measured, deliberate way. And that, as the senior military leader, is what I consider my principal responsibility.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Measured, deliberate way. So it sounds like if the Congress calls you up to testify in this, you’re going to say now is not the time to repeal?

MULLEN: No, I actually -- I’m going to talk to the process that we have in this country, which is we follow the law, and if the law changes, we’ll comply. There’s absolutely no question about that. Read the whole transcript at CQ.

Gibbs Press Briefing May 18

Jim Jones on Don't Ask Don't Tell

Gibbs Says Obama Will Get Rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell - Video

Gibbs answers a series of questions that people asked on change.gov, such as how to fix No Child Left Behind. Gibbs says, first, it will be funded.
Obama will get rid of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy. Watch:

For marijuana smokers, sorry, Obama isn't in support of its legalization.

“Previously Addressed Questions”
These popular questions have been answered previously by top officials or in the prior edition of “Open for Questions.”

“Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor (ideally Patrick Fitzgerald) to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?”—Bob Fertik, New York City

Vice President-elect Biden, 12/21/08: “[T]he questions of whether or not a criminal act has been committed or a very, very, very bad judgment has been engaged in is—is something the Justice Department decides. Barack Obama and I are—President-elect Obama and I are not sitting thinking about the past. We’re focusing on the future… I’m not ruling [prosecution] in and not ruling it out. I just think we should look forward. I think we should be looking forward, not backwards.”

“What will President Obama do to bring about an independent Palestinian state and bring an end to the violence in the West Bank and Gaza?”—Katherine, Virginia

President-Elect Obama, 1/5/09: “I am not backing away at all from what I said during the campaign that starting at the beginning of the administration we are going to engage effectively and consistently in trying to resolve the conflicts that exist in the Middle East. That is something that I am committed to—I think it is not only right for the people in that region, most importantly it is right for the national security of the American people and the stability that is so important to this country. So on January 20th you will be hearing directly from me and my opinions on this issue. Until then my job is to monitor the situation and to put together the best possible national security team to hit the ground running once we are responsible for national security.”

“I’m concerned about the banks who received tax payers money and have had no accountability. Will this be corrected after President-elect Obama is in office?” —Dorothy, Tucson Az

Open for Questions Response, 12/15/08: “President-elect Barack Obama does not believe an economic crisis is an excuse for wasteful and unnecessary spending. As our economic team works with congressional leadership to put together a plan, we will put in place reforms to ensure that your money in invested well. We will also bring Americans back into government by amending executive orders to ensure that communications about regulatory policymaking between persons outside government and all White House staff are disclosed to the public. In addition all appointees who lead the executive branch departments and rulemaking agencies will be required to conduct the significant business of the agency in public so that every citizen can see in person or watch on the Internet these debates.”

“Will you consider legalizing cannabis/marijuana/hemp so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a multi-billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”—DJ C, Chicago, IL

Open for Questions Response, 12/15/08: “President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana.”