Obama National Security Adviser Doesn't Know If "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Will Be Repealed

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's national security adviser says allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military is in the early discussions.

But retired Marine Gen. James Jones says it's very preliminary in a very busy administration.

Jones said Sunday he's not sure if the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy would be overturned, although Obama has said he wants it eliminated. Jones said the decision to go forward lies with the president.

For now, Jones says, "We have a lot on our plate right now."

To change the Clinton-era policy, Obama would need Congress' approval. Recent polls suggest public support but the White House faces other challenges with lawmakers, such as passing his budget and health care plan.

Jones spoke on ABC's "This Week."

Comments

[wijg]

It doesn't matter what Gen. James Jones thinks. The President has said he intends to fulfill his commitment.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/08/obama-dont-ask-dont-tell/

[mitsie]

For God sakes, dosen't this administration have enough on their plate to worry about? Can't this issue wait for a year or two? I do not believe some of the things these MSM reporters are asking. It is really embarrasing to be an American some times. That is not to say I don't believe that this should be changed, I just don't know why everyone thinks everything has to be accomplished right now. Some are a bunch of spoiled brats.

[Montgriz]

No, it can't. You seem to think equality is just another perk....Ob­ama can solve many of his "crises" in one day with a stroke of a pen. As for too much "on their plate", give me a break....y­ou and much of America seem to think doing the right thing is complicate­d...all Obama has to do is issue and order to !. End the Iraq involvement,2. end don't ask don't tell, 3 Close Guantanemo 4. Recognize Cuba and normalize relations there. Reopen the Patriot Act for decent debate, and he can do these things if he would stop playing to each special interest group....a­nd that includes the church groups and GOP

[burndtdan]

He can't end DADT with an executive order.

[kforce]

Aside from the ranting, you make a valid point about priorities, although it is kind of difficult, and nasty, to paint people as "spoiled brats" for wanting the full spectrum of civil rights and equality. Also, DADT negatively impacts the effectiveness of our armed forces and the security of our nation. Finally, Obama can legally order the military to stop prosecuting these cases until Congress can repeal the law.

[antaeus]

What happened to all of the boasting about a president needing to be able to "do more than one thing at a time"?

[BluePrideStephen]

DADT will be repealed. It's a matter of time. When X axis (Political Courage) meets Y axis (Political Opportunity), it will become the historic footnote it deserves*

* D on't A sk, D on't T ell (DADT) Military Law It says: Straight People are hereby Licensed to Blackmail Gays. Straights are free to use this law against gays at any time for any reason. Gays are here but straights don't have to acknowledge it. Imporantly, this hateful farce requires the straight person to be seen as 'not knowing.' The legal motion begins when ONE straight demands their due. In this event, the gay who is in the crosshairs is OUT. If promotion, blame, money, time, attention, duties, religion, feelings, whim or ennui ever become a consideration, the gay is OUT. Anytime any straight feels like it, the gay is OUT. Gays can also be OUTTED by other gays, by civilians, press, family, friends, neighboors, schoolmates or anyone else they have ever met. It NEVER requires that the gay person actually must have violated any rule. Merely that they are gay. All rule violations are already handled in the military code of conduct and enforced. This was a unique 'get out of jail free' AND put the gay guy IN jail card for all straights.

The Emancipation Proclaimation of Gays (called 'Do-Tell' by president Obama) was signed by our first black president - delicious irony to our nations most fervent wish: freedom and justice for all!

[Martampa]

It appears that the men involved in getting rid of the DADT policy must be insecure in their own manhood. Are they afraid that being near a gay or lesbian will rub off on them. This is another example of the Americans making a fool of themselves in the eyes of the rest of the world.

[mitsie]

Boy you have that right. Sometimes I am embarrased to be an American because I wonder what people in other countries think of this. I would love to see a poll of citizens from other countries and what they think of our politics.

[Montgriz]

OUR troops fight along side those from Canada, and othe NATO countries and I don't hear a thing....W­hat I see here, is Obama being in tow to the churches and others who cling to the bronze age superstitions of the Bible....

[Steamboater]

If Obama doesn't push hard and end DADT, his support from the Gay community is over. Some will support him if he does it late in the game, which I'm thinking he will and not do anything about it until before the election in 2012, and others want this done ASAP. I do. Just how many more careers can we stand to see tossed aside because of DADT?He's got to keep his word on this one. What bothers me is someone like Jones wouldn't say what he's saying if he didn't have Obama's go-ahead. That sends a red flag up for me and this is very disconcerting. The White House has to be pressured time and again to overturn DADT and if that means an eventual threat of the loss of votes and financial contributions to not only Obama's re-election but the DNC, so be it.

[mitsie]

Why in heck does this have to be accomplished now? Did anyone from the President's office say he was for or against the law" People who don't have the power to change the law are the ones asked the questions. So calm down, he has 3 1/2 years to go. He can't do everything the first six months.

[judiNJ]

I can not believe you would want a right-wing Republican to step into the White House and kiss your chances of the eventual overturn of DADT goodbye for ions just because this is not being done in a New York Minute. President Obama will keep his word, never fear. He is moving slowly but steadily on all his promises. As he has repeatedly said, government is like an LNG tanker, it turns slowly in the direction you want it to go. He knows what has to be done.

[Anonani]

I'm looking for a poll from those serving in the uniform. Does it exist?

[viflyer]

So you think it is for those in the military to decide? You do understand that the military is run by our CIVILIAN government. How about we take a poll of the military every time we need to go to war and let them decide??

[Anonani]

What I think is that they are citizens, taxpayers and voters too and have an opinion that should be heard. Do you have a problem with that?

[hortonhearsawho2]

polish army?...

[Harry Scrote]

So what are we going to do without any competent translators?

[hortonhearsawho2]

play republican­...

[KQuark]

Good thing he's not the one who will make the decision.

[Montgriz]

he's one of them....an­d if this is true, it just might mean no second term for Obama.....­so far he has basically rubber stamped a great deal of the Bush administration, given sound bytes and photo ops on one thing but doing quite another in reality. The Patriot Act is left unmentioned, the wire tapping has been emboldened, Guantanamo is being rewritten, not closed, tax dodging business serving appointments have drained off trillions vs billions of the Bush years and directed them to their pals.....O­bama is is beginning to wear thin.....n­ice guy...spea­ks well, but so far...not so good....

[mitsie]

WTF are you going to do, or expect us to do? Are you going to vote for the Republican on the ticket, just because you don't like some of these policies? I am sure I am not voting for a Repulican every. You may just hand the presidency to someone like Palin. She will do alot more harm then our President.

I am fed up with people wanting everything yesterday, like some spoiled child.

[LynnW49]

Would a a "very busy administration" allow the racial discrimination in the military? Would the Commander in Chief's plate have room for a temporary suspension of discharging blacks from the military?
The President could easily suspend the dismissals while he stays "very busy" continuing Bush policies on the environment, propping up crony capitalism, and pardoning war criminals before they've been investigated and tried.

See Aaron Belkin's piece on the Huffington Post for things that the President could be doing ablout DADT for the benefit of both civil rights and our country.

This sickens me.

[mitsie]

What sickens me are you people who think he has to accomplish everything right now. He's got plenty of time left. Just because some policies are not changed, dosen't mean he dosen't have people working on them. You will be alot worse if you vote for a Republican, that sickens me.

[NWBrunette]

What is sickening is people (liberals supposedly) who can't get passed the end of their nose to see that discrimination actually affects people's lives, as well as our country's readiness. I bet if it was you being discriminated against your tune would change real quick. Your suggestion that Obama is better than a repub only flies in a den of wimps.

[BarackstarObama]

President Obama promised the recently fired young woman in a letter that he would eventually end DADT, and he will.

[mitsie]

Exactly, give the President time to review and change all the things he has to. I am embarrased at what other countries think, we never see issues like this in the foreign press.

[hortonhearsawho2]

i don't know, ask me...bumpe­r sticker or what...

[politicali]

It's a good thing Jim Jones is not in charge of this. POTUS will do it. Jim Jones is so weak, why was he chosen?

[kforce]

If he doesn't live up to his campaign promise, I'm afraid he will lose my vote and my support in the next election. I'm tired of being lied to by politicians and, when it comes right down to it, that's all Obama really is.

[crayola 08]

i agree. if DADT has not been repealed by the end of his first term Obama will not get my vote come 2012.

[hortonhearsawho2]

post that at imanido.td­otcom...

[kforce]

Charming. Goes right along with your picture.

[RainbowPhoenix]

Consider the potential competition, then ask yourself again if that's a good idea.

[kforce]

Well, RP, I take your point. Honestly, I do. But please understand, I've been hearing, and adhering, to this argument for my entire voting life. For my entire voting life, I have acknowledged, through my vote, just how effective an argument it is.

Frankly, however, I'm tired of it, and I've become kind of cynical. Democrats almost NEVER keep their promises to the gay community. If THIS president, in THIS time, with all his support, and all the advancements the gay rights movement has made, AND public support for this particular issue, can't live up to his promise and change this stupid, destructive, hateful policy, I'm afraid I'm done. I don't know if I'll vote for a third party, or if I just won't vote, but I'm tired of giving my vote, money, energy, time and support to lying politicians who have no intention of helping our families out of second-class citizen status.

[Jimtoday]

Sadly here is some truth to the Republican's chant of "Lilly-livered" when it comes to demanding actual leadership in the Democratic Party. It never bothers a GOPer to be ardently, and disgustingly wrong, and usually their policies are carried out, while Dems dither and triangulate, so afraid are they to take a principled stand.

I am disgusted with Obama's feckless lack of leadership on this ridiculous law which endangers all Americans and our national security.

If gays int he vaunted and worshiped "free market" were drummed out of a job, they would sue and win millin,s but as long as they are gay Arabic linguists trying to secure safety for our nation, they must be thrown out. The sicker thing is, he would probably turn around and get hired by Halliburton and charge the US hundreds of thousands of dollars for half the job he's doing now!

[Montgriz]

It isn't just this gay policy or lack thereof, it is many things. Obama is breaking his promises as fast as he made them. All it will take in 4 years is a good man or woman from the GOP to step forward with sound policies free of religious strains and the Democrats will lose the white house....T­hey are messing up big time.....a­s usual.

[revhatchell]

insanity = it's okay if you lie and we know your an asset but if you tell the truth and bring reality into the equation we're going to have trouble.