Lieberman: I'm Committed to Repeal

Independent senator Joseph Lieberman said Thursday that he is in discussions with the White House and the "advocacy community" about repealing "don't ask, don't tell," but he stopped short of saying whether he would take the lead on repeal legislation.

"That hasn't been decided, but we're all working together in a very collegial way," Lieberman said in a brief interview following a hearing for the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act.

Asked what would go into his decision, he said, "It might not be my decision, but I just would want to make sure that we go about this in the most effective way that builds the highest probability of success."

Lieberman said that securing a Republican cosponsor would help the effort. He also stressed how important it is "that there's a buy-in by military leadership, which seems to be coming around; and that the White House is committed to doing this, which I believe they are. Because I'm committed to doing everything I can to see that it passes."

Lieberman pointed to the recent article urging immediate repeal of the policy that was published in Joint Forces Quarterly, a publication of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a sign that the military's top brass is amenable to the effort. "I thought it was not insignificant," he said.

Both Defense secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, he added, have made two things clear: one, that they will follow the decision of the commander in chief; and two, that it will take some effort to prepare and communicate the change in policy with the rank and file of the military.