Tauscher to Introduce Bill to Repeal DADT

Rep. Ellen Tauscher will re-introduce a bill in Congress Tuesday to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," an action that she was supposed to take yesterday but was reportedly delayed.

"This is an important civil rights issue. We also need the strongest military possible, and we need to recruit the best and brightest Americans. Some happen to be gay," Tauscher said Monday during a forum on the issue at the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Dr. Nathaniel Frank, an expert on the policy who also spoke at the forum, called the California Democrat's action "brave" given the current climate in Washington regarding the economy and other pressing concerns.

Though the Obama administration has indicated in no uncertain terms its intention to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military, they have also wavered on timing.

At the forum, Congresswoman Tauscher said Democrats would need some time to make the case for repeal.

But Dr. Frank hoped they wouldn't wait too long to take action. "I don't begrudge the lawmakers and the President for wanting to be cautious about this because of the other priorities the nation faces and wanting to use political capital wisely," he said. "I think though, the real question is what are the costs and benefits of delay."

Frank noted that President Bill Clinton stalled on the issue back in 1993 and created a commission to study the effects of the military's policy on gays at the time. "That was what allowed the opposition forces to fester and rally to defeat him and it caused enormous harm to his political fortunes, to his agenda and to the military because the policy was a disaster," he said.

Frank, whose book "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" is being released Tuesday, added that "an enormous amount of research" already exists indicating that "don't ask" has a negative effect on military preparedness and troop morale.

"One thing that concerns me is that there was some word out of the administration that they should wait until the Iraq war was over before they did this," Frank said. "That's dangerous of course because we are not going to be living in peace time any time soon. Obama's time frame for getting the troops out of Iraq is August 2010, which is election season for the midterms and we don't know if the Democrats will be in control of Congress after this session." (Kerry Eleveld, Advocate.com)

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Name: David Watson
Date posted: 3/3/2009 12:14:00 PM
Hometown: Seattle Washington

Comment:
I sure would have liked to hear who in the administration thought they should wait until the Iraq war was over before they did this. If it turned out to be Mrs. Clinton, she might as well forget 2012. But what get's me is that they are letting people from the Klan, gangs, people with criminal back grounds in to the military. When these type raise up in rank that affects how our military gets run. We are all ready seeing how gangs are using their military knowledge to rob banks, and conduct other criminal behavior. What's next? And they are worried about gays? BTW you still can be drafted at age 40. They way things are going I bet they will be drafting at age 50.
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Name: Franz
Date posted: 3/3/2009 2:01:00 AM
Hometown: Seattle, WA

Comment:
Thanks Rep. Tauscher for introducing something that Congress and Pres. Obama are too coward to bring up. ANd mind you there is still nothing on the federal level to protect GLBT from discrimination and employment termination. Linda, that's beside the issue and many gays and lesbians who are serving would not consider this a crumb. The issue is, is that they deserve equal protection of the law whether they are serving or not. Those token appointments by Pres. Obama in his Cabinet are crumbs. As a former Marine, I am personally sickened by DADT and the illusion that it protects anyone.
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Name: Brian
Date posted: 3/3/2009 12:45:00 AM
Hometown: Anaheim

Comment:
I will be shocked if the administration lets this see the light of day. I fear Obama will not sign this.
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Name: Ben
Date posted: 3/2/2009 7:04:00 PM
Hometown: NY

Comment:
Thank God I'm too old to be drafted. 31 is too old, right?
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Name: Christopher Hogan
Date posted: 3/2/2009 6:11:00 PM
Hometown: Saint Robert, MO

Comment:
I remember 2004 vividly. I spent a year in Iraq fighting what I thought was a "war on terror" and returned, only to find that eleven states had amended their constitutions to keep me from marrying. I also faced harrassment and physical threats from other soldiers in my own squad. Many people ask, "why do you do it?" Because if we abandon the country and the flag that will one day treat us as equals, then the bigots will have won.
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Name: Linda
Date posted: 3/2/2009 5:57:00 PM
Hometown: Bullhead city Az

Comment:
I am all for the repeal of DADT, but please someone tell me why they would risk their life for their contry and return to be denied the right to marry the person you love? Is this the only "crunb" we will be tossed?

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