Gay Rights Activists Protest White House Stance on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Lawsuit
Gay rights advocates are speaking out against the Obama administration's defense of a Department of Justice lawsuit arguing for the continuation of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy just days after a repeal of the policy failed in the Senate.
"It's sad and disappointing that the administration would file such a document days after it urged Congress to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said James Woods, the attorney for the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights organization that sued to stop enforcement of the policy.
Many activists see the lawsuit as confirmation that the Obama administration either can't or won't make good on the president's campaign promises to end enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
"We are not surprised by this but we are extremely disappointed with the Obama Administration," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Clarke Cooper, in a statement responding to the lawsuit.
"Many times on the campaign trail, President Obama said he would support the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Now that it's time to step up to the plate, he isn't even in the ballpark."
Openly gay House Democrats Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis are also said to be pressing Mr. Obama on the issue, according to Joe Sudbay of AmericaBlog Gay, who claims to have acquired an early version of a letter in which the three entreat Mr. Obama not to repeal the recent decision that declared Don't Ask Don't Tell unconstitutional.
"In this critical time when military readiness is paramount we must recognize the importance of every linguist, flight nurse and infantryman," the draft of the letter says. "To stay above the rest, to remain the most formidable military force in the world, we must innovate, change and grow. As we update our weaponry and strategy, so too must we open our policy to encourage as much cohesiveness and camaraderie as possible. In the military where lives rely on trust and determination, DADT represents neither."
The White House is pushing back against early criticism of the lawsuit, saying that "in no way diminishes the president's firm commitment to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT," as enumerated in a statement released by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs last night.
Gibbs said that although Mr. Obama was "disappointed" with the outcome of the vote on repeal of DADT, the Justice Department was acting "as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged."
He also emphasized that Mr. Obama will "continue to work with the Senate Leadership to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT...this fall."
