Gibbs Breaks From Pentagon: President In "Active" Discussions Over Don't Ask Don't Tell

White House Press Secretary indicated in Thursday afternoon's briefing that the White House is in the midst of "active" negotiations with the Pentagon to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Just two days ago, a Pentagon spokesperson said that there were no plans to repeal the policy, which President Obama promised to abolish during his campaign.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen are "aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Morrell said.

Gibbs was asked about the Pentagon's statement during his daily press briefing.

Q: So you had said that the President is working with the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on "don't ask, don't tell," but earlier this week the Pentagon said that the conversations were "initial" and that there is "no sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell.'" So I wanted to give you a chance to correct the Pentagon on that. And I have two other questions. What other policies are there --

MR. GIBBS: If you ask like that you're going to get bumped up to, like, the first row. (Laughter.) Let me address the first question because, if I'm not mistaken, the Pentagon did correct that statement on efforts regarding the reform on "don't ask, don't tell."

Q: So there are active conversations happening now?

MR. GIBBS: Yes. Yes.

Q Okay. And then I wanted to know if there are any other policies that the President believes to be, as you said yesterday about "don't ask, don't tell," not in our national interest but is content to let Congress take the lead on? And second, President Truman didn't see it necessary to clear desegregation through Congress, so how is this different?

MR. GIBBS: Well, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but maybe I was -- maybe I used some poor language, but the President is involved in these discussions. It was the President's commitment to overturn the policy that's not in our national interest that is the reason for these discussions and for the effort to overturn this. So I think the notion somehow -- the reason Congress is involved is the only durable and lasting way with which to overturn the policy is to do it by law.

The president's lack of action on 'don't ask, don't tell' came into relief when Dan Choi, an officer in the Army National Guard and Arab linguist, came out on TV and was discharged for being gay. Lieutenant Colonel Victor J. Fehrenbach, a pilot who flew over Washington, D.C. on September 11, was also recently discharged because of his sexuality.

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Comments

[antaeus]

The peddlers of self-fulfilling prophecy are becoming tedious.

Many other countries have made this move. If it's implemented here, our own military will adapt. Move on.

[jtchicago]

blah blah, I will believe it when action takes place and all the talking is put to rest.

[Uosdwis]

How about we go the other way? No gays in the military. AND you can't serve if any member of your family is gay. AND no gays on any Congressional committee that has anything to do with the military. AND servicemen cannot patronize any establishments that employ any gays. AND contractors that employ any gays cannot do business with the military. If you're going to be that bigoted, go all the way, no matter how painful.

[FORLOMC]

President Obama is brillant, kind, caring and best of all believes in and follows the Constitution. He is brillant in the fact that he will act to make decision such as this law so that any future President cannot simply use his own decision to reverse polcies that violate the Constitution. President Obama is my hero.

[kkent]

Kool-Aid overdose alert.

[BethinIllinois]

Did you listen to his speech yesterday? DO you know of his plans to detain people indefinitely, sans charges? What part of the Constitution is he following? And did you listen to him whine? That's not brilliant, it's childish.

[imjustawitchywoman]

Our President does have alot on his plate.

BUT.....I do hope this is one of things he makes priority.

We owe it to our Troops.....whether they are straight or gay.....they are fighting for America and Americans.

All "don't ask, don't tell" does is discriminate against gays.

This is the year 2009.......lets start acting like it. Not like we are trapped in the 60s and 70s.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I agree this needs to be done, but it needs to be done the right way. DADT is legislation and it is coupled with regulations. The regs need to be rolled back and the law needs to be repealed. And, the marriage rights of gay couples must be recognized as well so that gay couples get the SAME benefits and rights as hetero couples.

So, we need everyone working on this. Pressure Congress. Pressure state legislatures to pass marriage equality laws. Pressure our men and women in the military to keep doing excellent work while following the law. Keep pressing the president. But do not go ballistic if it doesn't happen instantly. Let's keep working.

[antaeus]

This rhetoric of myriad obstacles and complexity is getting real old. The more we keep verbalizing a 1950s attitude, the more we simply reinforce it.

We need a little more if-we-buil­d-it-they-­will-come thinking. Gays are serving openly in many other civilized countries. How many Americans realize that pertinent fact? Maybe what we really need is an education on the new reality.

[dollyfedup]

Why should he make this a priority with all the other issues on his plate? Rachel Maddow obviously want him to make it a priority. He'll get to it when he can. I don't agree with the policy, but I'm tired of the pressure that liberals, republicans, everyone is putting on our President. He is only one person and has to prioritize issues in a manner of importance. Enough already! Everyone thinks their specific groups should be given priority.

[Cakey4814]

Thank you..

[TomInJax]

As an ex Navy who was booted because of DADT and member of the HRC I have no issues with Obama's actions at this point. I have no doubt he will take action on this and see it's rescinded. I like the idea of pushing it through congress to make it permanent and harder to over turn.

[Charmed]

I wonder why President Obama doesn't just wave his magic wand and fix everything that people want done yesterday. I mean congress is just there to get a paycheck not to actually do any work that would last. Just sign a excecutive order and then start the fight over if a future President decided to do another excecutive order and reverse it......

[TomInJax]

Very funny and quite to the point. Make it law and be done.

[antaeus]

This warning that "a future president" could simply revert back to an exclusionary policy after gays had been integrated for some years is a straw man. These things do not go backwards. Inertia might delay necessary change, but once the change is made, it doesn't revert.

As for the "magic wand," well, in the case of Don't Ask, that metaphor happens to be apt. As the reporter pointed out, "President Truman didn't see it necessary to clear desegregation through Congress, so how is this different?"

[Charmed]

Anataeus.....I have to agree with you because afterall it took forever for President Obama to reverse the steamcell research policy.

[dollyfedup]

Everyone thinks Obama has and should wave his magic wand to get things done. Ask Rachel Maddow. She thinks this issue should be his numero uno priority.

[Charmed]

dollyfedup.....I've stopped watching Rachel Maddow because she's turning into Lou Dobbs...going on and on about what her number one issue is........

[beat123]

Choi and Fehrenbach are the right kind of people in the military. Does the military think they will lose potential soldiers or cause chaos in the barracks?. If anyone resigns after DADT is outlawed, they are exactly the type of people we don't need in the military.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

If they were the right kind, they should have followed the existing law. The law is grossly unfair, but it is the law.

Hopefully, when it is repealed, all discharged service men and women will be given the opportunity to reup. I hope . . . it would be only fair.

[swan1]

Do reporters intentionally mislead? Oh of course they do. Besides, how would they attempt to make a name for themselves if they didn't distort, lie, and twist words. My hatred for the media is second only to that of the extreme right (Beck, Hannity, Limpball)

[mcantwell]

The Pentagon Spokesperson named Morrell, is a Bush holdover. Shortly after the President took office I watched this guy give a presser and it was clear that he was a bu sh loyalist. He spent half the time defending Bu sh's policies. I was completely dsigusted.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

The White House did not break from the Pentagon. The White House has been very, very consistent that there have been ongoing discussions about repealing DADT. I wonder if the Pentagon rep is one of the Bush people left behind or if he was grossly misinformed. Either way, he should have confirmed before he told the press what he "thought" was happening.

So, hopefully there is no confusion and all the hue and cry can calm the @#$^ down. The President is in active, ongoing conversations to repeal DADT. Until then, all soldiers need to comply with the law. Don't tell if you want to serve. Until the law DADT is changed, follow the law.

[dollyfedup]

Exactly

[binarystar]

"The president's lack of action on 'don't ask, don't tell' came into relief when..."

I'm not sure why since he didn't do it yesterday it's considered a lack of action. The guy is going to be president for at least 4 years - give him some time to do his job. He's not magician in chief. Not to mention that the conversation you quoted right before that seems to suggest that there actually isn't a lack of action at all.

[NWBrunette]

He can order the brass to stop implementing the policy with the stroke of a pen. And while we're waiting, how about you give up some of your equal rights and see how long you can go?

[dollyfedup]

Tell this to Rachel Maddow. She thinks Pres. Obama is suppose to wave his magic wand right now and change this law. Everyone thinks that their issues are suppose to be addressed right now. I sometimes wander if Mccain would be receiving the same pressure that Obama is receiving. I think people expect more from him because they gave someone different a chance to be president, therefore, he better perform and do everything we want and when we want it done. I'm sick of it!