The Good DADT News For Alexander Nicholson: He Can Finally Shut Down His Organization
Servicemembers United founder Alexander Nicholson, the only plaintiff named in the Log Cabin Republicans’ DADT lawsuit, always said the goal of his organization was … to bring an end to his organization. After yesterday’s ruling out of California, he might just accomplish that goal.
In January when Obama delivered his State Of The Union, Nicholson said the president “stepped up to the plate and made a firm commitment to work to finally end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in 2010.” We laughed at the time, in the “not funny” sense, because we knew Obama’s lip service meant little in the way of an actual commitment.
I have a feeling we’re going to be “laughing” again when Obama’s DoJ appeals the decision — which, as Barney Frank explains to Keith Olbermann, would be stupid.
Unfortunately for everyone involved (the gays and the Dems running for office), the deadline for appeal is AFTER the November elections.
This effectively means that we’re going to have to have “faith” that the Obama Administration won’t stab us in the backs after Nov 2… because I guarantee you we won’t know which way things are going until Nov 5.
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The ongoing campaign to repeal DADT neglects the fact that thousands of servicemen and women have been humiliatingly discharged for their orientation. It has caused them much personal and professional hardship.
The repeal of DADT should be followed by official apologies and reinstatements of those who were discharged. This of course will be another political fight in itself, but it is the right thing to do and it is owed to all the victims of DADT. So Servicemembers United’s work should not be finished only when DADT is repealed.