Republicans Don't Appear Likely to Reinstate DADT

Even if Mitt Romney wins the White House, it doesn't look like Republicans will try to reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

The Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee echoed this week what Romney said on the campaign trail -- that what to do about DADT has already been settled even if he opposed the outcome.
 
"We fought that fight," said Rep. Buck McKeon, according to the Associated Press. McKeon said that while other Republicans might support reinstating the policy, which was repealed by Congress and President Obama in 2010, it's not something he'd pursue. And McKeon would have a lot of sway over that question as chairman.

In the Senate, where Republicans are still in the minority, Sen. John McCain of Arizona is the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. McCain staunchly opposed repeal of DADT, but Steve Clemons of The Washington Note reports that the former GOP presidential nominee has also signaled the law shouldn't again be changed.

Romney came out in support of gays serving openly in the military during an interview with the editorial board of The Des Moines Register in December.

"I'm not planning on reversing that at this stage," he said -- which was a reversal of his own. Romney had previously said DADT should remain in place. But circumstances had changed, he told them. "I was not comfortable making the change during a period of conflict, due to the complicating features of a new program in the middle of two wars going on, but those wars are winding down, and moving in that direction at this stage no longer presents that problem."

Trending stories

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

VIDEO: A man living with HIV discusses his journey to fatherhood

Checking out: nhow London, the city’s coolest hotel

Electric Forest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community

Why the internet is crashing out over this viral video of a 'couple' cozying up at Coldplay concert

This HIV Long-Term Survivor Day, listen to this leader from God's Love, We Deliver

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

'We take care of us' is more than a slogan–it's the motto of a revolution

Trump admin guts $258 million in funding for HIV vaccine research

'Big Brother 27's Zae Frederich opens up about his sexuality

Gays went feral at an iconic Pride celebration in Pensacola, Florida

Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton share details on 'Wednesday' S3 and potential 'Beetlejuice 3'

Wilderness, woods, and Wigstock: Drag icons light up the Catskills

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

Conservative dad moved to Russia to get his kids away from 'woke' — now he's been sent to war

Paige Bueckers finally made it official by revealing that Azzi Fudd is her 'girlfriend'

BREAKING: Supreme Court rules to save free access to preventive care, including PrEP

The StudBudz WNBA livestream had everything from Megan Rapinoe talking strap-ons to dissing Diplo

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

1985: the year the AIDS crisis finally broke through the silence

The Old Gays reveal their favorite part about being queer: 'The sex!'

Matt Rogers responds to Jamie Lee Curtis red carpet debate from Las Culturistas Culture Awards

8 K-pop stars who are openly LGBTQ+

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Need an escape from American anxiety? Consider Colombia.

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8