Insider sources tell me that MG Stanley favors repeal of DADT. He was extensively vetted by the White House on this issue before he was selected. That is VERY good news, indeed, for those favoring an end to this discriminatory policy. It's hard to do better than a former Marine Major General on your side.

Here's his bio:

Clifford L. Stanley, Nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense

Dr. Clifford L. Stanley recently served as the President of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization. As President, Dr. Stanley provided leadership for over 50,000 volunteers in 42 states with a full-time staff of 160 men and women. Prior to assuming this position, Dr. Stanley served on the senior leadership team of the University of Pennsylvania as Executive Vice President. In that capacity, he served as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible to the president for the non-academic functions of the university, such as business, finance, facilities maintenance, and campus security. In 2002, Dr. Stanley retired from the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Major General. During his distinguished 33-year career, he served in a range of leadership positions including Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, where he was responsible for all doctrine, organization, training and education in the U.S. Marine Corps; Commanding General of the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia; Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center; and Director of Public Affairs, Marine Corps Headquarters. Dr. Stanley earned his Doctorate of Education Degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and holds a Masters degree in Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from South Carolina State University.

Obama Nominee Critical to DADT
By Kerry Eleveld

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.

Stanley served 33 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, became the Marines' first African-American regimental commander, and retired in 2002 as a two-star general. Most recently, Stanley was the president of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization.

Stanley’s history with the Marine Corps could be helpful in wooing the military since marines are known to have a particularly deep loyalty to each other as well as strong ties to Capitol Hill. Though Stanley’s views on the military’s gay ban are not certain, his interviews and speeches over the years demonstrate an unwavering commitment to diversity and an appreciation for the level playing field provided to him by the military.

In a 2001 speech he made during African-American History Month, Stanley talked about the racism he still sometimes experienced despite his rank.

"I still feel it, still see it," Stanley told the audience. "For example, I'm the person who goes into the company office and the first sergeant does everything but pay attention to me. I'm the person who goes into supply and the sergeant and his NCOs continue to chitchat and drink coffee, kind of ignoring me.”

Later in the speech, he concluded, “Things change, and that's one of the most beautiful parts of American society.”

Stanley also knows the violent consequences of discrimination intimately. In 1975, he and his family were the victims of a racially motivated attack by a sniper who opened fire on their car, killing his uncle and leaving his wife paralyzed.

“That was the turning point where I thought I was going to have to cash it all in and at least move to something a little more stable,” he said during a 1998 interview with Black Collegian. “My wife encouraged me to stay and we prayed on it. The Marine Corps actually worked overtime to keep me in. Again, the same environment you'd think would've been hostile reached out and grabbed me.”

In the same interview he was asked if African-Americans risk losing their cultural identity in the military, and he responded, “I don't think anyone can remain successful if they forget who they are.”

Stanley earned a doctorate of education from the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education; he holds a master’s degree in counseling from the Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from South Carolina State University.

[http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/Obama_Nominee_Critical_to_DADT/]

White House fills key slot on 'Don't Ask'

The White House, I'm told, will today announce that it's filling the key Pentagon slot for the implementation -- or repeal -- of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which bars open gays and lesbians from serving in the military.

The appointment of retired Marine General Clifford Stanley as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness is being hailed by a key group that represents gay soldiers as a major advance toward repeal -- suggesting the White House is moving closer to backing legislation that would reverse the measure.

Kevin Nix, a spokesman for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network -- which follows the issue very closely -- welcomed the move in an email:

There were indications of seriousness of purpose on DADT repeal today by this White House with its intent to nominate an Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Dr. Stanley is likely to be the President’s key Pentagon player in the DADT debate and will be critical for the President in getting military uniform buy-in. Historically, the position of Under Secretary of Defense provides oversight of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Stanley most recently served as president of Scholarship America, a large non-profit scholarship organization.

There's also been discussion recently that Senator Joe Lieberman would carry the legislation repealing the measure; he reiterated his opposition to "Don't Ask" today.

[http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1009/White_House_fills_key_slot_on_Dont_Ask.html]

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