Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week urged members of Congress to halt any possible repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers until at least next year.
In a letter sent to Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Gates said he is “strongly opposed” to Congress lifting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” until after the Pentagon review on the law is completed, which is expected in December.
Gates said the repeal of the ban before then “would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns and perspectives do not matter on an issue with such a direct impact and consequence for them and their families.”
The review, ordered by Gates earlier this year, is meant to evaluate the impact that lifting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would have on the military and to examine the best method of implementing the repeal.
In a statement issued April 30, White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said President Obama’s commitment to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is “unequivocal,” but that the president supports holding off on lifting the ban until the Pentagon study is completed.
“This is not a question of if, but how. That’s why we’ve said that the implementation of any Congressional repeal will be delayed until the [Department of Defense] study of how best to implement that repeal is completed. The president is committed to getting this done both soon and right.”
Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, criticized Gates’ letter, saying Congress needs to give the Pentagon a “gentle reminder” that they’re responsible for dictating the legislative schedule. He also blasted Obama for what he saw as backpedaling.
“We have the votes in the House and we’re close to having the votes in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The president, however, is not helping us get the votes we need,” Sarvis said. “Servicemembers around the world took the president at his word. We still do.”
Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th Dist.), the lead sponsor of the repeal bill in the U.S. House, told PGN this week that he’s confident the latest action won’t derail the repeal effort.
“These Washington parlor games don’t change the fact that our military heroes — pilots, medics, Arabic translators — have been kicked out while we’re engaged in two wars,” he said. “I think a lot of people in Washington are saying this is a signal that we should walk away because it’s too hard right now, but you have to fight for change. We’re on the right side of history, and I’m not giving up because this is in the right interest of our national security and the American taxpayers, and it’s the right thing to do for these heroes who are serving our country.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said late last month she was planning for a vote on the repeal bill “this year” and, after Gates’ letter was issued, she urged the president to issue a moratorium on discharges under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” until the Pentagon report is completed and “Congress has acted.”
The legislative effort to repeal the bill has been in the news in recent weeks, as Congress is expected to start considering a 2011 defense-authorization bill — a measure some suspected could be amended to include the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Murphy said he is “absolutely considering” introducing the repeal bill as an amendment to the defense measure, and is also looking into “several other avenues.”
“It’s absolutely possible to get this done this year, and it’s my job to make sure we get it passed,” he said. “When Washington tells you to walk away, it’s a sign that you’re getting close. I’m going to keep working and keep fighting for this, and we need people to make sure they call their Congressmembers and their senators and tell them they need to support this.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].
