Time running out

by: Adam Bink

Fri May 14, 2010 at 15:58

I also learned more transmittals will be coming throughout the hearing process up until Congress votes on the actual bill. So the impending hearings are not a deadline, but time is still running out.

This week, pressure has mounted on the remaining Democrats and one Republican (Brown) on the Senate Armed Services Committee to support repeal with Monday's veterans' lobby day on the Hill. Also, via AMERICABlog, a large group of military bloggers- many of them very conservative- came out in favor of repeal. To reiterate, this thing literally has incredible support across a wide spectrum, including over 60% of Republicans in some polls I've seen.

I am hearing good things from a number of sources close to the process that several Democrats on the SASC are coming our way. Meanwhile, the Administration still has not made clear which direction it wants to go. Earlier, Robert Gibbs said he'd have to check on whether the Administration would be in favor of a set end date/delayed implementation approach on repealing DADT, where Congress would vote to repeal the statute and implementation would be delayed until after the Pentagon review is completed.

Today, I learned the latest White House transmittal of language recommendations for the defense authorization bill does not include DADT repeal language. SLDN's release over e-mail:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), released a statement today on President Barack Obama's most recent transmittal to Congress of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.  The transmittal as sent does not include repeal language of DADT.  SLDN has been pushing the President to include repeal in his defense budget proposal as a signal the Administration supports repealing the law this year.

"It is now becoming painfully clear that the President will not include the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in his defense budget transmittals to Congress," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.  "This is his second defense bill without a call for repeal.  But there is still an opportunity for the President to engage, and we hope he will seize it soon.  We urgently need his help in reconciling the differences between the Pentagon and the Hill on the repeal timeline, and he can also begin asking Members of Congress to vote for repeal this year."

A colleague at SLDN told me the White House sometimes publicizes such transmittals and sometimes does not- this one was publicized, most likely because it contained language on nuclear arms control, a White House priority- so it is not the final word on whether the Administration will go in our direction. Still, it is unlikely, as the window is closing. It is also long past time that the President speak out and exert some leadership on this issue, and that the Administration makes clear its views on set end date/delayed implementation. I learned markup in the House is scheduled for the 19th and on the 27th in the Senate.

Two actions:

1. On Monday, SLDN released an action alert asking supporters to call the White House. The number is 202-456-1414. I just called and gave the operator an earful. Please take a second to do so and ask the Administration to lift the ban.

2. Courage Campaign and DFA have reached just over 80,000 signatures on Howard Dean's open letter to the President on this. Their goal is 100,000 by Monday morning. Please sign.

Below is yet another letter in our series of open letters from servicemembers to the President.

"Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama" is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).  We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration's defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal.  The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president's desk.  It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993.

May 14, 2010

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you from a kitchen in the state of Washington.  The love of my life is in the other room.  It has been eight months since I saw him last and I cherish every moment we spend together.  Next week, my mid-tour leave will be over and I will return to Iraq and finish my second deployment. I don't know when I'll see my partner again.

When serving in a war zone, you learn quite a bit about yourself and what's important to you.  I've had the chance to work on a close and personal level with the people of Iraq, and in doing so, I have realized more than ever that the freedoms we enjoy as Americans should not be taken for granted - we must protect them at all costs.  These freedoms are essential to the very foundation of our society.  Yet so many men and women who fight for these freedoms aren't allotted their own. Our freedom to love and be loved by whomever we choose. The freedom to live a life of truth and dignity.

Recently I was informed that the military was investigating me for violating the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. Another service member had apparently "outed" me.  At first I felt free:  I didn't have to lie anymore.  But after that initial sense of relief, I'm left knowing just how little the Pentagon and the United States government think of me.

Mr. President, my unit is extremely undermanned.  We're working around the clock in Baghdad.  My commander informed me that the Army cannot afford to lose me.  I was told that they would prepare my discharge paperwork, "stick it in a manila envelope, and keep it in a desk -- for now."

One moment they wanted to throw me out and the next they are hiding evidence to keep me in.

My comrades now know that I am gay, and they do not treat me any differently.  Work runs as smoothly as ever, and frankly the only difference I see -- besides my pending job loss -- is that I am free of the burden of having to constantly watch my words and ensure my lies are believable.

Having this out in the open makes things a bit less stressful.  But it's also clear the Army is only keeping me around until they are done with me.  After I have served my two deployments -- and only a year shy of separating from the military honorably -- I suspect they will kick me to the street.

It's bad enough that there is a law that denies tens of thousands of service members from serving with integrity, but it's even worse when such a law is carried out with such inconsistency, without any warning of when it might come down.

If my suspicions are true, my discharge will move forward after my deployment.  I am good enough to serve in war, but not at peace? I will never be at peace until this law is repealed - and neither will my partner.  In fact, he won't even be informed if I am killed in action.  That might be the hardest part for us both.

Mr. President, when you took office I remember watching your inauguration knowing that history was being made. I remember feeling like this weight was being lifted off of my shoulders.  I truly believed in you, and I still do.

But, Mr. President, please keep your promise to me.

Please do everything in your power to help Congress repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this year.  Our government called upon us to fight for our country.  So many of us answered the call; we did not delay.  We were sent world's away to defend your freedoms. Mr. President, won't you fight for mine?

With deep respect,

A soldier returning to Baghdad

(The writer is currently serving and unable to identify himself publicly.)