Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Patrick Murphy (D-PA) are among those signing an open letter to Defense Sec. Robert Gates, demanding he send over all of 2009’s data on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell dismissals, which will help them either support or punt on a 2010 effort to repeal the law. Palm Center director Aaron Belkin says the letter is a form of “pressure”; we politely disagree. The letter is one more thing Sec. Gates and the Obama administration will file away and address when they’re no longer so “busy.”
96 U.S. Reps Want Defense Sec. Robert Gates to Deliver a Ream of Gay Paperwork
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musicdivaSF
This is one pressure that needs to be put on. This list will show that discrimination has no place in the military. The US of A military needs to wake up and see the errors of their ways. For country that brags about their military and defense services to other nations, we certainly don’t know how to take care of our own.
Magnus67
Other countries have successfully intergrated gays & lesbians into their military with barely a hiccough/hiccup. At a time when our forces are stretched thinner than a Hollywood starlet before a camera shoot, can we really afford to say NO to men/women who want to serve?
Rhetorical question: what is there to be gained by denying/opposing the request for the DADT data? Facts? Hidden exceptions? Witch/warlock hunts? Hmmmm.
So much for ‘open government.’ Oh, the ODD-ASSITY of hope! [sic]
Steve
The requested information seems to be he sort of routine stuff that DOD supplies to Congress on request, without much fuss or bother. Congress often wants to know how a statute has actually been applied, as part of the process of considering a change.
The “open letter” does seem unusual. I don’t think requests for documentation are normally done that way. Perhaps the usual process for requesting information has already been tried, and received no response from the administration. In any case, the “all of 2009” data won’t be available for at least several more weeks. That makes me think they have not previously followed the usual process.
This could indicate an actual attempt to expedite movement the issue. Or, it could be just political grandstanding. If I were a betting man, I would place my wager on the latter.
The one thing that seems sure is, further delay.
Brian NJ
The Democratic Party policy on gays is a shell game: “I wrote a letter!” “I made a phone call!” “I invited Joe Blow to a meeting!” But this time, in 2010, the pass the potato game won’t work for gays. They are not coming to to be placated any more. But bye democrats; thanks but no thanks. We are OUT.