Their strategy seemed perfect: Lay low while gaining support, circle around, then pounce on America like a blitzkrieg and shove it down the throat of Americans, once again.
UPDATE 5/28/10: President may veto bill for Congress' over spending
Illinois residents: E-mail President Obama, Sens. Durbin & Burris, and your congressman (takes less than 60 seconds) and tell them to oppose this legislation.
-- From "'Don't Ask' Repeal Deal Faces Pushback, Gains Key Backer" by Brian Montopoli, CBS News 5/26/10
Earlier this week, gay rights groups, congressional leaders and the White House worked out a deal to pass a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
The plan was this: The House and Senate would vote this week to include repeal as part of the (essential) defense authorization bill, which authorizes billions in spending for American troops. It would not go into effect, however, until (1) a Pentagon study on the impact of repeal is finished on December 1st, and (2) President Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen approve moving forward based on the study's findings.
That way, the thinking went, they could pass repeal before expected Democratic losses in the November midterm elections - but not enact it until after the Pentagon study is finished. The hope was to get repeal attached to the bill in both houses of Congress before the Memorial Day recess.
Yet not long after the deal became public, momentum seemed to shift away from it getting done.
The lawmakers may have been taken cues from Gates, the defense secretary, who yesterday signaled his frustration with the repeal plan.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Obama rebuked for 'back-room deal' for 'gays'" by Chelsea Schilling © 2010 WorldNetDaily 5/25/10
While President Obama and Congress seek to ram through an amendment to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy – with votes coming as soon as this week – several groups are blasting the president for forcing a "radical" homosexual agenda on the military during a time of war.
Lawmakers had been slow to proceed after Defense Secretary Robert Gates requested that they wait until the completion of a Pentagon study in December. In a strongly worded letter dated April 30, Gates wrote that the Defense Department must be given an opportunity to evaluate the possible impact of repealing the ban before Congress acts.
"Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully," Gates wrote.
He added that repealing the policy before completion of the review "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."
But homosexual advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, stepped up the pressure following concerns that Democrats may lose seats in Congress during the November election.
The 1993 federal statute at issue, debated and adopted by Congress, states that open homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military. The law was overwhelming passed by bipartisan, veto-proof majorities in both houses, after extensive hearings and debate.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
