President Barack Obama intends to nominate Dr. Clifford L. Stanley as the undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness -- the position within the Defense Department that oversees the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“He is likely to be the president’s key Pentagon player in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ debate and will be critical for the president in getting military uniform buy-in,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the repeal lobby group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
Originally posted by IHAWKER: Obama Nominee Critical to DADT
President Barack Obama intends to nominate Dr. Clifford L. Stanley as the undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness -- the position within the Defense Department that oversees the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“He is likely to be the president’s key Pentagon player in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ debate and will be critical for the president in getting military uniform buy-in,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the repeal lobby group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
I think it was bleah that says it will take congressional action to make law to repeal DADT. Since democrats own a super majority in BOTH houses, ought it not be a foregone conclusion that if Obama wants DADT repealed he'll get it? Why all this dancing around in lieu of getting right to the point? As Commander-in-Chief, the president doesn't need the military to "buy-in" does he? What will he do if....the military doesn't....buy-in?
What will he do if....the military doesn't....buy-in?
My opinion: if the Joint Chiefs don't tell Congress that the military has the leadership capabilities to repeal DADT without significant problems, then Congress won't repeal it, even with a Democratic majority in both houses. DoD's opinion is critical, something I've been saying for 5 years.
But I think we're quite close to getting that favorable opinion, especially since the reality on the ground right now demonstrates that known gays are already serving and it isn't creating a problem.
