Alcee Hastings Withdrew DADT Amendment Under White House "Pressure" (VIDEO)

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) has withdrawn an attempt to weaken "Don't Ask Don't Tell" under "pressure" from the White House, he said Wednesday.

Hastings' amendment would have added language to a defense appropriations bill that prohibited "spending money to investigate or discharge members of the military who reveal they are homosexual or bisexual."

Hastings told the Palm Beach Post that those urging him to drop his amendment "didn't want to tie the politics of this in with the appropriations process." He wouldn't name names, saying only that "I didn't talk to Barack Obama."

On MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" Wednesday night, Hastings pushed back:

"I have a different political calculus. If something is bigoted and if your intent is to see to it that it does not continue, then I did not understand the leadership of Congress or the White House in saying that the time is not right. My position is the president has said he wishes that this matter be repealed. My colleague Patrick Murphy [D-Pa.] now has more than 170 co-sponsors on a measure to repeal it. Secretary [of Defense Robert] Gates has said, I'm glad he is now saying, 'when we change our policy.' Last year he would have been saying 'if,' but my view is that the time is now to eliminate this bigoted law once and for all."

Asked if he had been informed of a White House-endorsed strategy for ending "Don't Ask Don't Tell," Hastings replied, "I have not heard anything other than the rhetoric."

Watch (via Think Progress):

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Comments

[Artemis34]

We're wasting money we DON’T have and kicking out people we DO need!

[PinkoPanther]

Well, why hasn't Hastings just simply told us who this mysterious, shadowy figure from the White House is who told him to withdraw the measure? And why did he listen to them? Hastings works for his voters in a predominantly gay and lesbian district in South Florida. If he is not willing to follow through, the voters will find someone who will. We need our congressmen to do our will - that's how the government works. The White House needs to mind its own business until we give them a bill to sign. No more excuses... If you look at these gay districts - we put our civil rights above healthcare and certainly above "fiscal conservati­sm"... So don't blame our leaders for doing what they're elected to do. Hastings should re-introduce his measure.

[superstition]

So, it's Hastings' fault? I don't think so.

The President has had the power from his first minute in office to stop the implementation of the policy. Where was his support of the Tauscher bill? Why did his administration argue DADT is a good policy at the Supreme Court? Why was repeal language removed from the website? Why has repeal been replaced in the discourse of his proxies with "modify/humanize"? Why did Gibbs go from a single word answer to complicated stonewalling (see the questions of Ana Marie Cox)?

Why on Earth did this happen?
http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/obama-justice-department-defends-doma.html

[Niasia]

Would they just end it already!!! It is 2009 feel free to step into the light...yo­u can do it just jump!

[RepugsOut08]

President Obama has continued to take a truly incomprehensibly negative approach to matters which polls show American voters are way ahead of him on.
It's like Obama's stuck in some 90s time warp, where he's judging new millenium issues, through Clinton era failures.
People now WANT serious health care reform, Mr. president! The vast majority of voters, and even the leaders of the military, are not afraid of gay soldiers anymore.
The vast majority of voters now realize that pot should be decriminalized, but you, Mr. president, stedfastly tow the line of fearing bold action and leadership. Bold action and leadership that isn't even that bold given the public support for these issues.
Some change.

[Marcospinelli]

If Obama wanted public health care, he would exert pressure on Democratic politicians, just as he did here.

Welcome to Bush's third term.

[gbrooks]

Food for thought.

[MRb1000]

I think most of you know what the problem why gays cannot openly serve in the military. It is a intimate issue! So why did he drop this bill because not one will vote on it. It would fail big time! You keep pushing the subject in this manner you will lose. Yeah, you just lost. You will lose many other battle if you approach it this way! Deal with the issue of why people will not have a gay roommate! You can get mad all you want. This is the unvarnished truth.

This is the way it is!

[wijg]

You DO realize that these soldiers have "gay roommates" now, don't you?

Intimate issue? Are you talking about showering?

"73% of the troops said they were comfortable working around gays and lesbians"

http://servicemembersunited.org/?cat=11

... "open showers in the military are fairly uncommon these days. A recent Zobgy International poll of combat veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan found that 71% of the troops always or usually showered privately, whereas only 8% always or usually showered in groups. Additionally, when one takes a shower is often discretionary. So if a heterosexual service member is concerned about taking a shower with a gay guy, he/she can take the shower when the known or suspected gay member is not there. Taking this latter tact even further, one might facetiously argue that someone who is “uncomfortable” in the presence of gays would want gays to be able to serve openly so that they’d know exactly who to avoid in the shower."

http://servicemembersunited.org/?p=432

[Artemis34]

Bravo Rep. Hastings! It is time. 75% of Americans say it is time for gays and lesbians to serve openly.

The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) IS a matter of national security as the President and the Representative both state.

We need ALL hands on deck NOW to fight wars on two fronts with little allied support. We’re so desperate for fighting men and women that we’ve instituted an illegal draft called “stop loss” that punishes those who have already served.

The fact that we don’t see prosecutions under the “Don’t Ask” provision shows this law was not just motivated by bias but also implemented with bias.

This is already a bill to repeal DADT:
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act H.R. 1283
http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/5659.htm

HR 1283 sponsors:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR01283:@@@P

The Commander-­in-Chief’s DOES have the authority to halt discharges
http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/releases/New+Study+Says+Obama+Can+Halt+Gay+Discharges+With+Executive+Order

About “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
http://www.sldn.org/pages/about-dadt

Top 10 Reasons to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
http://www.sldn.org/pages/top-10-reasons-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell

[Whinger]

A big tree must bend in the wind or snap under the pressure!

[Artemis34]

The discharges should be de-funded immediately.

I do not see this would hurt or weaken H.R. 1283 The Military Readiness Enhancement Act

http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/5659.htm

[Artemis34]

It is a readiness issue. We have been discharging people with key skill such as translators.

As Jon Stewart said "You can't torture people into speaking English!"

[hapiday]

"Do you not understand that this will weaken the position of Senator Murphy's bill?"

True it will. I'm very curious what Hastings is up to. Putting in a temporary stop loss does nothing but complicate repealing DADT. It appears Rep. Hastings is upset because President Obama has chosen to work with Rep. Murphy on DADT. It also seems like Rep. Murphy has the president's ear on this matter. Hastings seems to be going rogue because he is jealous. Something stinks about why he made a beeline to Rachel's show. Everybody knows Rachel gets emotional and out of control when it comes to gay issues. He knew she would run like a dog with a old bone with this.

[Artemis34]

She is passionate. Nothing wrong with that.

You cross the line.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

O seems to be possessed by the spirit of Jerry Fawell. Wonder what it is he has against gays?

[caseyasmith]

Nothing. The administration is working closely with Patrick Murphy on ending DADT. Hastings' amendment would've actually WEAKENED Murphy's attempt. What...you didn't watch the clip?

[1088]

Bad timing! Health Care Reform, please! No distraction!!

[wijg]

The fight for civil rights does not and should not wait for an appropriate time.

[Montgriz]

so, gays will be excluded from health care if the insurance companies had their way..they already can not donate blood.....

[gbrooks]

Really? Even lesbians?

[Artemis34]

Private health insurance already makes a big effort to exclude veterans as we're considered a higher risk group.

[sws3030]

I didn't think this president would have a civil rights record as bad as the last president.

I fear I may be wrong.

[PlaceboStudman]

There IS still time for his record to reverse itself, if congress, and more importantly, the American People get off our duffs and demand that Congress write and pass the legislation for President Obama to sign. He is a president of a representative democracy, not the benevolent Fearless Leader of a dictatorship, as much as people might like him to be (an odd thing considering how well that went with Bush)

[Mattylock]

The things he's done to date already surpass the previous administration.

[liberaldemdave]

improving on nothing isn't much of an accomplishment.

[xlntcat]

The WH is trying not to put in jeopardy the bill to repeal DADT which is currently working its way through Congress and the last I heard has 178 signatures. The young congressman who authored the bill at the request of the WH speaks eloquently and with authority on how DADT weakens cohesiveness in the military and does a disservice not just to Gay and Lesbian military personnel but does a disservice to all who serve with them. Instead of whining get behind the bill to repeal atrocious law. Chipping away at the law by blocking funding for investigation isn't sufficient. Quit whining, and contact your congressman to support the repeal of DADT. If you can't do your part, then you are as bad as the last president. Operating from a position of active participation is more productive than whining and blaming others.

[plaidsportcoat]

one hopes that the wh's plan to nurture talented young dems doesn't fall flat when they lose all public support for not passing laws that support the middle class and the rights of the middle class. for example, the right of lower level military to not be scapegoated while holder lets yoo, cheney and all them go scot free.

[PlaceboStudman]

Here is the letter I just wrote to my Rep

Dear Representative LaTourette,

I am writing you in regards to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, HR 1283. I am asking you to sign on as a co-sponsor of this bill, which, as Im sure you are already aware, deals with allowing our LGBT soldiers to serve openly in the armed forces. This important piece of legislation is not just one that affects our LGBT soldiers, or even just the LGBT community itself, although that would be reason enough to support it. This act is important to our very safety and security, as it will ensure that no soldier will be dismissed purely for expressing their sexual orientation, as every other soldier commonly does. This bill would prevent the hundreds, or thousands, or tens of thousands of dismissals of much needed Arab and other Non-English Language speakers and translators that are vital to our military's success abroad, especially in a time of war, as we are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Please, Mr Latourette, I am asking you to consider co-sponsoring this bill, HR 1283. Or if you feel it is not a wise political move to sponsor the bill directly, I ask you to please consider to pass this bill when it reaches The House floor, so that we might ensure the safety and security of our nation and the respect and admiration of our allies by allowing LGBT soldiers to serve openly in our armed forces

[plaidsportcoat]

be creative - suggest an alternative army for ONLY lbgt people!
THat will turn their heads

[Montgriz]

nicer uniforms..­..oops, aren't those marine outfits just a tad too nice?