Go ahead and ask, go ahead and tell - Page 2

alphabassettgrrl · 01-15-2009, 11:20 AM

I certainly hope he can get it overturned!!! It's a stupid policy and never should have been enacted in the first place.

Alex · 01-15-2009, 11:31 AM

Well, yes, it was a campaign promise. Sorry, I wasn't clear.

I meant that the current restatement of the intent is no longer a campaign promise, especially since this story implies they've moved up the timetable compared to earlier statements (when it was said it might be a year or two before it was acted on).

Moonliner · 01-15-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Well, yes, it was a campaign promise. Sorry, I wasn't clear.

I meant that the current restatement of the intent is no longer a campaign promise, especially since this story implies they've moved up the timetable compared to earlier statements (when it was said it might be a year or two before it was acted on).

No you were clear, I just posted while I was still editing. A bad habit I need to get out of. Given the response time around here...

SzczerbiakManiac · 01-15-2009, 11:32 AM

"Campaign promise" or not, I am still not gonna hold my breath. Call me pessimistically hopeful.

Alex · 01-15-2009, 11:37 AM

Unlike Clinton, it is unlikely that Obama would face significant congressional opposition from the leadership of his own party and Obama has prominent leadership within the military on his side now as well.

Besides, back in 1992, the social impacts of the "gays in the military" episode of Quantum Leap hadn't yet had time to percolate through society.

JWBear · 01-15-2009, 03:01 PM

Would he even need to involve Congress? Wouldn't it just take an Executive Order?

Alex · 01-15-2009, 03:04 PM

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is law, not an executive order.

It was a compromise Clinton reached with congress. So unfortunately it isn't just as easy as making a new executive order (I too thought that it was an executive order this morning and was looking for it when I found I was wrong).

ETA: Well, that link apparently doesn't work. Anyway, it was part of HR 2401 in 1993 if you want to seek it out.

Alex · 01-15-2009, 03:11 PM

Or rather, to be clearer, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" part could be reversed by the Secretary of Defense any time he wants. However, that the law still says that you can't be gay and in the military.

So reversal of the first part without reversal of the second part would just mean that they could start questioning you again.

Gemini Cricket · 01-15-2009, 07:35 PM

Senator Keeley: Homosexuality is weakening our country.
Albert: That's what I thought until I found out that Alexander the Great was a fag. I mean, talk about your gays in the military!

bewitched · 01-16-2009, 01:03 AM

I suppose the real question is not "if" but "when".

Quote:

Although Mr. Obama has not publicly identified which priorities will have to wait, advisers and allies have signaled that they may put off renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, overhauling immigration laws, restricting carbon emissions, raising taxes on the wealthy and allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

01-15-2009, 11:20 AM	#1
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	I certainly hope he can get it overturned!!! It's a stupid policy and never should have been enacted in the first place. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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01-15-2009, 11:31 AM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Well, yes, it was a campaign promise. Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant that the current restatement of the intent is no longer a campaign promise, especially since this story implies they've moved up the timetable compared to earlier statements (when it was said it might be a year or two before it was acted on).
	Submit to Quotes

01-15-2009, 11:32 AM	#4
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	"Campaign promise" or not, I am still not gonna hold my breath. Call me pessimistically hopeful. __________________
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01-15-2009, 11:37 AM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Unlike Clinton, it is unlikely that Obama would face significant congressional opposition from the leadership of his own party and Obama has prominent leadership within the military on his side now as well. Besides, back in 1992, the social impacts of the "gays in the military" episode of Quantum Leap hadn't yet had time to percolate through society.
	Submit to Quotes

01-15-2009, 03:01 PM	#6
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Would he even need to involve Congress? Wouldn't it just take an Executive Order? __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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01-15-2009, 03:04 PM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Don't Ask, Don't Tell is law, not an executive order. It was a compromise Clinton reached with congress. So unfortunately it isn't just as easy as making a new executive order (I too thought that it was an executive order this morning and was looking for it when I found I was wrong). ETA: Well, that link apparently doesn't work. Anyway, it was part of HR 2401 in 1993 if you want to seek it out.
	Submit to Quotes

01-15-2009, 03:11 PM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Or rather, to be clearer, the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" part could be reversed by the Secretary of Defense any time he wants. However, that the law still says that you can't be gay and in the military. So reversal of the first part without reversal of the second part would just mean that they could start questioning you again.
	Submit to Quotes

01-15-2009, 07:35 PM	#9
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Senator Keeley: Homosexuality is weakening our country. Albert: That's what I thought until I found out that Alexander the Great was a fag. I mean, talk about your gays in the military!
	Submit to Quotes