So it seems that folks like to throw around the "Executive Order" idea to stop DADT. Just today, an article asked the question, "Why won't he use it on gay troops?"
But are we really thinking about what it means to use an executive order? I'm not sure we are.
This practice is not a highly approved idea. In fact, it is frown upon and can lead into some deep crap. Bush did it several times and caused an uneasiness in the country.
I think Obama is right not to use the executive order on DADT. Obama has his peeps working on it and others congress people are developing policies to repeal it. I think we should wait until they have exalted all possibilities and then, he can look into it. But to use it to wipe DADT out, without a back-up plan is dangerous. It's like erasing your hard drive without backing it up on some disk.
Plus, Obama needs to the support of congress to get health care off the ground, if he starts side-stepping everybody there will be some pissed off folks in the house.
So let's wait and see what Congressman Patrick Murphy and the others can do before Obama calls on the great and majestic, executive order power.
3 comments:
In another window I am writing a post on the Nathaniel Frank and I came here, knowing that you would have likely have something up already. (I have to work on beating you too the punch.)
On the issue itself I am with you and not with you on this one, V. While I agree an executive order does not carry the full weight of Greyskull, simply using his authority now to put a halt to the discharges while Congress figures it out would be for me the right thing to do.
Because in the meantime as Congress works up the strength for it on Capital hill, gay people are continually being kicked out, and I don't think he will give them back their benefits if it is passed next spring.
Plus, he's made his intentions know that he does not like the policy, so stepping in wouldn't be that much of a shocker. To me it seems really to be a political calculation. (I might have to copy and paste.)
Well, I'm going to be the unpopular person on the subject. As I've heard from one gay service member, "You chose to be in the military as there are no mandatory requirements, so if you choose to join you must realize there are risks to the job".
In other words, you knew what was up before hand so don't be surprised at what happens.
I'm not condoning the White House's lack of executive order because it is an issue totally up to the President. However, we must realize that he has to ride a delicate tight rope being the first non-white president, so regardless it is all about political capital.
Yep, Kayman, you're officially the unpopular one. Haha.
I think that kind of stance on the issue is very simple, and does not take into consideration the different variables that are at play.
Not all of the people who are discharged are like Dan Choi, who publicly went on television and said he was gay. Many go into the military and try hard to hide their sexuality and exist under DADT.
The military investigates either because someone reports them or the soldier makes it slip. So it's not as if they go in there trying kicked out.
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