This is going to be short. I am not a really into writing a long diary and this is not an issue usually foremost on my mind. It comes to mind now because of timing in the political cycle.
I was absolutely at odds with a lot of my political allies when I agreed with conventional wisdom that last summer and last fall were not the right times to push Obama on gay rights. How can there be a bad time? Well, health care was heating up and insurance companies are possibly the most virulent adversaries of all to take on in a political battle. I was good with waiting.
Now the big health care push appears to be genuinely stalled, or at least they have to reassess strategy (go left, right or whatever). This pause in health care reform advocacy and touted emphasis for the jobs initiative is a time to push. I am just thinking in terms of political cycles –if I were a gay activist group I would go for it now.
There is a downside to this since if politicians are running scared the last thing they will probably be willing to attempt is a gay rights initiative — since anti gay rights legislation seems to always win on the ballot. Gay rights will probably get little support in legislation for this reason. I am emailing Human Rights Campaign to suggest that they push Obama to sign an executive order to end enforcement of Dont Ask Dont Tell now–and issuing honorable discharges to all who have been discharged under this policy.
This does not sound like much but it would be a major step in the right direction that is possible without getting into a drawn out congressional fight.
I don’t think Obama wants to fight another losing battle. Look for him to pick something he has a chance of winning.
executive order — This would be foolhardy to do as legislation in an election year. Maybe there will never be a good time.
He still has wide support but he knows what direction it is heading. He will be fighting for causes which the polls show are popular with the majority of Americans. That does NOT include gay marriage. Look for more “fighting big banks”…
I dont dream about Scott Brown or the available girls.
“Even if I’m wrong, I’ll claim to be right”
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p>It makes discussion with him next to impossible.
I also don’t dream about Scott Brown but I could see myself dreaming about his daughters.
and accumulate evidence that gays in the military is NOT a bad thing. If he shot out an executive order, he would probably lose a lot of respect and sway in the military regardless of being commander in chief.
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p>I also think a pilot program in a few brigades would help identify potential problems that can be amended prior to a military-wide change in policy. It would be foolhardy to just do it and see what happens. By taking it one step at a time, it will most likely work out better and make him seem like a president who is concerned with results rather than scoring political points quickly.
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p>The hard part, however, would appear to be getting him to take that first step, or any step on this matter.
like a sound method that is less likely to cross the brass–something he doesnt need right now.
to deal with DADT maybe as suggested in a pilot program so that it doesnt become a big freakout for pols in election yr. It is one of those policies that is just wrong. It is one of those hot button issues that is never a good time to address politically. I think the best time would have been during heat of health care debate to derail all the health care screaming this fall.
credit for having some political timing intuition
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p>Mike Mullen Calls For Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: ‘Right Thing To Do’
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p>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…