The White House is starting to feel the heat on Don't Ask Don't Tell.President Obama promised to repeal it but the gay community thinks he's dragging his feet on the issue.They want him to unilaterally ( by Executive Order) put an end or at least delay the firing of certain gay military officers who's cases are pending review. Reporters at starting to ask more and more about it. Robert Gibbs was asked the following questions at the briefing Tuesday:
Q And a question on another subject. Even some of the President's friends are now saying that he is hedging on his promises on "don't ask, don't tell." He said he would overturn it, and now -- and you're saying, you have said, the President will keep his promise. But we heard from General Jones saying that "I don't know" when he was asked when it would be overturned. And some people feel that it's really on the back burner.
And also, cases of people -- there's a group now of people who were in the military who are gay who have come out, who are -- we're doing a profile on one who's a linguist, Arabic linguist, who's been kicked out because -- precisely of that.
MR. GIBBS: I think that case, in fact, shows why the President, why former members of the Joint Chiefs, and why the administration believe that the policy isn’t working for our national interests.
Now, in terms of keeping his promise, I would note that many of the questions that have been asked here require more than the snapping of one's fingers. To get fundamental reform in this instance requires a legislative vehicle. The President made a promise to change this policy; he will work with the Joints Chiefs of Staff, the administration and with Congress to ensure that we have a policy that works for our national interests.
Q Robert, back to "don't ask, don't tell," you indicated that the President wants to change the policy, but that some legislative vehicle would be necessary. He is the Commander-in-Chief. I mean, if the President and the Secretary of Defense can bring about a new leadership in Afghanistan, replace the commanding general there, couldn't the President and the Secretary of Defense delay any more people getting fired under "don't ask, don't tell"?
MR. GIBBS: Well, there have been discussions about the best way to move forward, and the only sustainable way to do that is through -- sustainable and durable way -- is through legislation, which the President has promised and has continued to work for.
Q Is he willing to let other men and women in uniform, then, be dishonorably discharged simply because they're gay and lesbian while he's waiting for legislation?
MR. GIBBS: Well, Bill, as I said a few minutes ago, I think the President believes now, as he believed -- has believed for quite some time, that the process does not serve our national interest. You've seen many speak out in opposition to it, and the President is working with the Joint Chiefs and members of Capitol Hill to come to a durable legislative solution.
The President is in a pickle here. Conservatives don't trust him on this because they think he'll eventually put some muscle behind the effort to repeal the policy and liberals think he's being too weak on the issue as it stands now. Read an editorial below from an online gay publication called Queerty:
We're tired. Tired of the Obama administration backpedaling on promises it made to the gay community. Tired of pointing out the many ways the president is failing on equal rights. Tired of showing how Barack is not our buddy when we need him the most. After reneging on the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, with President Obama passing on the opportunity to even halt current investigations while he pretends to get Congress to act, his administration now finds itself being confronted with another very accurate reality: Barack Obama is an advocate of separate but equal policies.