DADT Repeal: Republicans Buck McKeon, Joe Wilson Seek To Delay End Of Gay Military Ban

WASHINGTON -- Two top Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee have asked Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to delay the new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

In a letter to the Pentagon chief this week, California Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, the committee chairman, and South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson – two opponents of repealing the ban – complained that the policies and regulations for implementing the change have not been finalized nor provided to the panel.

"Since it is evident that the department does not have final, approved policies in place, we believe it is essential that you take immediate action to delay the implementation of repeal until such time that the review and comment period is completed, that DOD has incorporated the changes suggested during the comment period and that the appropriate regulations needed to implement repeal have been distributed to and are understood by the leaders and key personnel in the field," McKeon and Wilson wrote.

The new policy is slated to go into effect on Tuesday. The end to the 17-year-old ban, commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell," comes after the department has spent months training more than 2.25 million service members, about 97 percent of the total force.

A Pentagon official said senior officials have advised Congress on changes to regulations and policies associated with the repeal and the department's general counsel met with Armed Services Committee staff to discuss the proposed changes. The official said repeal of the ban will occur on Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with Congress.

Congress voted to lift the ban last December and President Barack Obama certified in July that repeal would not harm the military's ability to fight.

Army Gen. Carter Ham, who co-directed a Pentagon study on ending the ban, said Wednesday repeal is likely to prove "pretty inconsequential."

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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

Comments

[truth be told again]

10:51 PM on 09/19/2011

I've read elsewhere (sorry, I visit too many sites to remember where) that those "final, approved policies [that are not yet] in place" have to do with "benefits. They don't want our spouses or families to be recognized by the government. Not only do these Republicans not want open, honest, capable men and women serving, they want them to do it for LESS than their heterosexual counterparts.

[truth be told again]

10:46 PM on 09/19/2011

I'm sorry, but are we supposed to take the word of a Congresscritter who still has a nickname? "Buck", no less!?!?!

;{O)

[JTyroler]

03:03 PM on 09/18/2011

I don't know "Buck" McKeon, but I do know that Joe Wilson is a man who is a proud member of the Sons of the Confederacy - an organization that promotes the Confederate States of America and tries to put that history in a positive light. I'm not sure how one actually puts slavery in a positive light, but that's part of the goal of the SoC.

[StarGazr5992]

12:03 PM on 09/18/2011

My guess is the republican party will never grow up or come out the 18th or 19th century the racist and hateful will always be there

[mrose001]

09:01 AM on 09/18/2011

DADT should have been repealed a long time ago. I don't understand why the GOP consistantly lives in the past with outdated ideas and ideals. Our country is facing some severe issues and we need leaders in Washington who can move us forward and tackle the major issues facing this country. If the GOP can't comprehend what the American people want then they should step down in favor of those who can.

Vote carefully in 2012 if we are going to have a change it is up to each voted to vote carefully.

[CalSailor]

01:12 AM on 09/18/2011

It is about time that this hateful, hurtful and unnecessary policy has come to an end! Gays simply wish to serve their nation without the silence and duplicity forced on them by DADT. Duty, honor, country...gays are willing and able to carry out their service under the same terms as their straight peers. Forcing them to live a lie flies in the face of serving honorably. " Are you gay?" The very question would have required a lie if asked. That makes a farce out of the military creed to live according to the highest standards of integrity.

As a retired Navy officer, a former Navy Chaplain, and a recruit training Chaplain with Marine recruits at Camp Pendleton, as well as Navy OCS, I have no fears that gays won't measure up. This can't come a moment too soon.

These members of Congress are living in a world which, for the most part, is ancient history for the young men and women who are now entering the military. It will be adopted with less fuss than racial integration or the integration of women into full military service.

The proudest moment of my Navy career was when I listened to Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs testify that we are required, by the moral code that sustains the militar,y to repeal DADT. He has it right. A mlitary that lives by moral demands must not require that its people lie to serve. Amen!

Pr Chris

[Edward Standley]

12:04 AM on 09/18/2011

Maybe ol' "Buck" and Joe would be man enough to grab a rifle to hold the line in place of a couple of soldiers waiting for the repeal. I have my doubts, though.

[MarkInEugene]

11:41 PM on 09/17/2011

AH0les to the last minute....sorry, but I am so done with the hypocritical Republican BS on this topic.

[MikeDu]

08:22 PM on 09/17/2011

Considering the way the Palin family luck has been going lately I expect we'll soon find out that this directly affects her family too.

[CaptMike65]

07:20 PM on 09/17/2011

Looks like the Navy has lots of "Cabin Boys" now. Kinda gives new meaning to "blow the man down."

[rottnkid]

12:20 PM on 09/18/2011

I hear ya "Captain", seems you might be leading the charge.

[daho]

07:06 PM on 09/17/2011

And civilized people and everyone in the future is looking back and laughing at them.

[mcmutter]

06:08 PM on 09/17/2011

oh please .... its all around you .... grow up already ......

just check the cloak room .....

[Atwill]

06:00 PM on 09/17/2011

plus, i was in the air force from 78 - 83 and only ONLY in basic did I shower where another guy could see me. Even in tech school at Sheppard AFB, Tx we had stalls and curtians. Not hard to put up a curtian. Even a republican can figure it out.

[f777982]

02:04 AM on 09/18/2011

yes you are right. the GOP will first go to Frank Lutz to get the proper keyword for installing a shower curtain, do some polling in the field, present it to a house committee who will then give it to a subcommittee, have hearings, vote and report it out of the subcommittee, have hearings at the committee level vote on it, bring it to the house floor and finally vote on it. Then they will complain that Obama did not pick a curtain color.

[Atwill]

05:54 PM on 09/17/2011

This is why all gays and bis in the military , on sept 20th, need to come out. and then when they do, eveyrone can see they are normal and just how many are really there. MANY. Then there will be nohing you can do. once you are out, you are out.

[Dr Bob]

04:18 PM on 09/17/2011

A view from my window:

We are in the throes of a recession, unemployment is over 9%, health care is a mess, our budget deficit is ballooning.........and these chowder heads focus on DADT? This is a driving issue for them? Somebody send for a gastroenterologist with a scope........where are their heads????????