Levin: No hearings on gay ban until 2010

[CommunityEditor]

Promised December congressional hearings into President Barack Obama’s proposed repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on service by gays will be postponed until next year so the Senate Armed Services Committee can concentrate on investigating the Fort Hood shootings, according to the committee chairman.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., in an interview on the C-SPAN Newsmaker program to be broadcast Sunday, said his resolve toward helping repeal the military’s ban on openly serving gays has not changed, but the need to investigate the Nov. 5 shooting at Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center takes priority.

Since a vote on repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” isn’t likely until next year, at the soonest, during considering of the 2011 defense budget, Levin said postponing the hearings is not a delay in changing the policy.

Levin said the key to changing the policy is a “careful review” of military attitudes about gays and what it would take for the military to accept the change. Levin said his conversations with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lead him to believe such a review is underway.

“This time is not being lost,” he said of postponing hearings until next year.

The House Armed Services Committee also plans to have a series of hearings about the Obama proposal to lift the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the long-standing ban on open service by gays, but it has not announced any dates. Committee aides, speaking on the condition of not being identified, said they did not expect any House hearings to be held until next year, especially not if the Senate is delaying.

The likely vehicle for changing the policy would be an amendment to the 2011 defense authorization act, which would be next year’s version of an annual defense policy bill. Levin said he did not know if an attempt would be made to attach a repeal to that bill or to another bill.


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...layed_112009w/

[Dragonfly]

Great, now opponents of DADT don't tell can join the lost list of people who would like to personally kick Hasan's ass.

[Texpat]

Good News for a change!

[ringjamesa]

Funny how they use the wording to try to appease all...opposed to the ban? They migh have hearings in a month? Opposed to repealing the ban? They won't even consider repealing it unit 2010!! What a victory.

[MitchellJD1969]

It would be better if the ban is repealed on its own merits, and not attached to the defense budget. Its a political football that both sides can use against each other and when it comes to stuff like that it needs to stand on its on.

[CyberStormAlpha]

It would, Mitchell, but this is a (dirty) tactic used by both sides in almost equal measure. If someone opposed to the amendment votes against the bill as a whole, they're "not supporting the troops"... I don't agree with the tactic in any case, even though I see the need for it from time to time (esp. controversial issues).

[Scruples]

President Obama's Afghanistan strategy and its implementation has taken the front burner for the next six months. The Congress, DoD and the CJCS are equally preoccupied with national security issues, viz., Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq (not in the limelight at present, but still there).

In addition, the U.S. Congress and President will be dealing with economic issues in the coming months, viz., maturity of government loans, potential for inflation as the economy grows after the recession.

[Measure Man]

President Obama's Afghanistan strategy and its implementation has taken the front burner for the next six months. The Congress, DoD and the CJCS are equally preoccupied with national security issues, viz., Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq (not in the limelight at present, but still there).

In addition, the U.S. Congress and President will be dealing with economic issues in the coming months, viz., maturity of government loans, potential for inflation as the economy grows after the recession.

...yes and we have some uniform issues and a tattoo policy to work out, too.

[DarkHeart]

Its sad that to repeal an unjust law, underhanded tactics have to be implemented. It is also a shame that people in this country, enjoying rights that alot of them haven't fought for, consistantly vote to take rights away from fellow human beings (CA and ME and marrage equality). Truman had to make an executive order to integrate the armed forces. I don't see much differnce here.

[Texpat]

Do I hear 2011?

Hurrah! O'Bummer ain't so bad afterall.

Maintained rendition, continues to pound Pakis, kept Gates, Gitmo still open, and keeping homers out of uniform.

Heck, I might vote for him in '12.


On second thought...