Obama Suggests A Slow Go On DADT Repeal For The Safety Of Gay Troops

BY CARLOS SANTOSCOY 
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

In a just-published interview with Rolling Stone, President Barack Obama 

says he favors a slow go on repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” for the safety 

of gay troops.

Advocates for repeal of the law that forbids gay and lesbian service

 members

 from serving openly have expressed anger that the president – who 

campaigned on the promise of repeal – has not fiercely advocated

 against the policy.

“We are extremely disappointed with the Obama administration,” R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of gay GOP group the Log Cabin Republicans,

 told theWashington Post. “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.”

The Log Cabin Republicans convinced a federal judge to rule the law unconstitutional and have asked the court for a “worldwide, 

military-wide injunction” against its enforcement.

The Obama administration has argued that the judge's ruling should be 

limited to the 19,000 members of the group, and that to do otherwise 

would harm the military.

Other groups have also decried Democrat's foot-dragging on promised 

gay rights, including the Libertarian Party.

“They could have repealed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'” Mark Hinkle, chairman 

of the party wrote at his group's website “They could have gotten rid of the Defense of Marriage Act [the federal gay marriage ban, DOMA]. But they

 didn't do either of those things. That's a complete and total betrayal of 

all the promises they made to gay and lesbian voters for years.”

Hinkle's criticism came after Senate Democrats failed last week to advance legislative repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”

Obama, however, says a slow go approach to repeal of the Clinton-era law

 is in the best interest of the gay troops involved.

“Understandably, everybody has a great sense of urgency about these issues.

 But one of the things that I constantly want to counsel my friends is to

 keep the long view in mind. On social issues, something like 'don't ask,

 don't tell.' Here, I've got the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff both committed to changing the policy. That's a big deal,” he told the 

magazine.

“Now, I am also the commander in chief of an armed forces that is in the

 midst of one war and wrapping up another one. So I don't think it's too 

much to ask, to say 'Let's do this in an orderly way' — to ensure, by the way,

 that gays and lesbians who are serving honorably in our armed forces aren't subject to harassment and bullying and a whole bunch of other stuff once we implement the policy,” Obama added.

Advocates for repeal say they'll lobby for another Senate vote after the 

midterm elections.