In a pathetic display of political kabuki, House Armed Services Committee Chair Buck McKeon and House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Chair Joe Wilson (both Republicans, as if we needed to say that) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (right) asking him to delay the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal set for next Tuesday.
Their rationale? Congress hasn’t been properly informed about all the new policies in place for the transition to a post-DADT military.
“This failure to meet the committee’s requests leads us to conclude that decisions on the policies and regulations to implement repeal are not complete and that your certification and those of the others were inaccurate…”
“We find it unconscionable that the policies and regulations that provide the guidelines and procedures to be used by service members and their leaders to implement repeal, as well as to protect the interests of all service members, including gay and lesbian members, remain unpublished.”
How odd—the military is usually so good about letting everyone know exactly what they’re up to.
More than two million members of the Armed Forces have already undergone open-service training (whatever that is), so like a good schoolmarm, Secretary Panetta wasn’t having their lame last-minute excuses:
“The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will occur, in accordance with the law and after a rigorous certification process, on Sept. 20,” said a Pentagon spokesperson. “Senior Department of Defense officials have advised Congress of changes to regulations and policies associated with repeal. We take that obligation seriously.”
Now go write “I won’t be a jingoistic Neanderthal” on the chalkboard 100 times.
Bootsiegee
Get the F**k over it! Gays are going to be allowed to serve their country with out the constant fear of being thrown out of the military. I am a vet who was in before DADT was enacted, when being could still get you sent to jail with a dishonarable discharge. I was investigated three times and still managed to get out, after 8 years of service, with my honorable discharge. I never thought I would see this day.
Little Kiwi
Dear America, since 1992 Canada has allowed its LGBT citizens to serve openly in the military.
That’s nearly 20 years, for those of you who cannot count. So far it’s worked just fine. We don’t understand why so many of you seem to insist it will not work in the USA. The only logical reason seems to be that you believe the US military is comprised of people who hate gays more than they love America.
We don’t get it. If a man is so insecure and nervous that he cannot stand the thought of serving alongside an LGBT person, how on earth is get going to be able to deal with the pressures of, you know, COMBAT?
Cam
“” said a Pentagon spokesperson. “Senior Department of Defense officials have advised Congress of changes to regulations and policies associated with repeal.””
_______________-
So then if the Pentagon spokesperson is telling the truth, the others were lying.
Apparently Congress is the only job where you can openly lie, everybody in your workplace knows it and yet you don’t get in trouble for it.
Thomas Maguire
Dear Congress-Twats,
Gays exist. Get over it.
Sincerely,
A Homosexual American
Little Kiwi
Dear Straights, we’re gay. We like other gay people. For real. We smell better than you.
Love, The Gays.
Mike1987
I guess my question is; given the political climate in the House, can they actually prevent this or is notification to Congress the only requirement? DOES Congress have take a step and accept? If so, by NOT taking that step, does it put DADT in limbo?
Put aside the snark and think this one through, what can a Republican controlled House do to STOP DADT short of holding the DoD budget hostage?
Thomas Maguire
@Mike1987: It would take a change in the law.
Obama will not sign such a law, nor will such a measure pass the Senate.
They COULD go to court and seek an injunction, but that would make them look anti-military.
It’s why they wrote a letter. If they COULD do anything else, they would.
GayGOP
My party is full of homophobic morons. I remain a member only because I agree with them on abortion and economic policy, and because I want to vote in primaries. I just wish they’d stop the homophobic stupidity.
geoff
@gaygop You agree with them on abortion – so when they have control of women’s reproductive organs you won’t mind them taking over your genitalia and anus and telling you what you can and can’t do with those – And between 2000 -08 a gop pres. and gop Congress spent 4 trillion $ they didn’t have. Is that the economic policy you with which you agree?
xander
The Armed Svcs Committee apparently lost the (proverbial) “memo” and their collective mind, as shown by their last ditch effort to derail the repeal. Pathetic louts!
@Thomas Maguire : Thank you, btw, for answering the question posted above, one which I had as well.
Reason
@GayGOP: I am pro-life, but what have the GOP done to stem the tide of abortion when they are in power? Abortions have been full steam ahead under both parties. Then we can go into the number of deaths caused by unnecessary military adventures (Iraq) to ruminate on whether the GOP really cares about life. How about the let them die crowed at the GOP debate in regards to the uninsured, seems diabolical rather than life loving. People that would put a percentage point on taxes above human life have no grounds to debate abortion. At least the pro-choice liberals that I disagree with seem to just be confused about when life starts, though it is not an excuse, they are on the high road in comparison.
Mike in Asheville
To Daniel Villarreal: I am not sure whether jingoistic Neanderthals have the intelligence to know what a “jingoistic Neanderthal” is, nes pas? Good post.