Obama Administration Seeks To Halt Effects Of DADT Ruling

The Justice Department is attempting to block a federal judge in California from issuing an injunction against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the policy that bans openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

Citing concern over the effects an injunction would have on military readiness and operations abroad, the Department filed the objection Thursday with California’s Central District Court.

“A court should not compel the Executive to implement an immediate cessation of the 17-year-old policy without regard for any effect such an abrupt change might have on the military’s operations,” the objection reads. It goes on to say that if an injunction is levied, it should only apply to members of the organization Log Cabin Republicans, who brought the challenge against the policy to court.

Earlier this month, District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell violates the Constitution’s first and fifth amendments. Phillips has said that she will file a nationwide injunction. 

The White House issued a statement Thursday defending the Department’s challenge and also reiterating the President’s opposition to the controversial policy.

“This filing in no way diminishes the President’s firm commitment to achieve a legislative repeal of DADT,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gates said.

Gates added that the White House will continue to pursue the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell through legislative means.

The text of the Justice Department’s 14 page objection can be read here.

Filibuster Unlikely To Affect Pentagon Study On DADT Repeal

The Senate’s filibuster against the Defense Authorization bill, staged in part due to language on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, will not affect the Pentagon commissioned review on how to best wind-down the controversial policy currently barring openly gay soldiers from military service.

“What occurred yesterday in the Senate was an internal, legislative, procedural matter. It doesn’t change our efforts,” Pentagon spokesperson Col. David Lapan told reporters Wednesday. “The working group continues to complete their task.”

The study, which will in part measure the effects the repeal will have on military readness and unit cohesion, is scheduled to be delivered to the Defense Secretary in early December.

The review includes a survey issued to U.S. servicemen and women. According to Lapan, 115,000 were returned, marking a response rate of 29 percent.

“People who do this for a living tell us that this is above what a normal response rate is,” Lapan noted.

Efforts to sidestep a filibuster Tuesday only received support from 57 Senators, landing short of the 60 procedurally needed to open the legislation up for formal debate. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, used the ongoing study to defend his opposition.

“The Senate should not be forced to make this decision now before we have heard from our troops,” McCain said from the floor of the upper chamber.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Stalled In The Senate

Senate Democrats Tuesday failed to secure the 60 votes needed to sidestep a Republican filibuster staged against a provision within this year’s Defense Authorization bill that would grant the President the authority to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

The vote to invoke cloture secured 56 votes, with GOP Moderates Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Me.), and Susan Collins (R-Me.) both withholding their support. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) ultimately changed his vote to No in a procedural move that would allow the Senate to take up the legislation again. 43 Senators, including Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), voted against the bill.

The language in the $726 billion appropriations bill concerning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the policy that currently bars gay men and women from serving in the military openly, requires certification from both the Defense Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before the policy is altered. Still, opponents of the policy’s repeal accused Democrats of moving too quickly on the decision.

“The Senate should not be forced to make this decision now before we have heard from our troops,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on the floor, referring to a study commissioned by the Pentagon on how to effectively repeal the policy.

Republicans have also balked at a provision in the bill that would allow female servicewomen to receive abortions on military installations as well as Democratic plans to include amend the legislation to include the DREAM Act, which would allow immigrants who serve in the military or attend college to more easily qualify for citizenship.

Senate To Vote Tuesday On Defense Bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled a vote on a defense authorization bill for Tuesday that includes, among other things, a provision to repeal the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy as well as a measure to put hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants on a pathway to citizenship.

Reid is likely aware that getting the 60 votes needed to pass either measure could be difficult, but understands the positive impact that attaching the two side-bills to the legislation may have for his party. The Nevada Democrat, who isn’t taking for granted his chances of being reelected this fall, hopes the efforts to pass immigration reform don’t go unacknowledged at the polls by the state’s voters, nearly 25% of whom are Hispanic.

Democrats, including Vice President Joe Biden, believe they are close to having the votes necessary to overcome a Republican filibuster on DADT. However, some Republicans have made it clear that they’ll vote ‘no’ if the controversial item is attached. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), an enthusiastic supporter of the military, told the Washington Times earlier this week that he believes Reid is using the defense bill to advance the ““social agenda of the liberal left.”

The DREAM Act has even less support from Republicans despite the fact that it was co-authored in 2001 by one of their own, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The legislation, which aims to put illegal immigrants between the ages of 16-35 on a path toward citizenship, has 39 co-sponsors, all Democrats, and is supported by President Obama.

During a meeting with Hispanic lawmakers at the White House this week, Obama reportedly said he would ask the Senate to hold an up-or-down vote on the measure. According to Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), the president told the lawmakers he would “leave no stone unturned.”

Pelosi Celebrates Small Business Vote, Slams GOP On Variety Of Issues

By Miles Wolf Tamboli
Talk Radio News

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared giddy during her weekly press conference on Thursday over the fact that her chamber passed an important bill aimed at providing relief to small businesses.

Earlier in the day, the House passed the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, legislation that will provide small businesses with credit from a $30 billion trust, by a vote of 241-182.

"Small businesses are the creators of jobs in our country, they're the creators of capital...but they need credit," said Pelosi.

The Speaker then went to work on responding to criticism waged by Republicans over aspects of a financial regulatory reform bill making its way through conference.

"For too long now, Republicans in Congress have favored Wall Street over Main Street," she said.

Pelosi also blasted Republicans over a statement made by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) earlier in the day, in which he apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a hearing in the House for what he referred to as a "shakedown" by the White House on BP's earnings.

"I think that Mr. Barton's comments fit comfortably among the leadership of the Republicans in the House of Representatives...He is not alone in his association with sympathy for the oil companies," said Pelosi.

The Speaker also condemned the GOP for voting against a defense authorization bill that passed the House last month.

"Their mantra: 'defense, defense defense; it's our first responsibility. We all care about it.' Nine Republicans voted for it, because it had 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in it. Over 160 Republicans did not vote for it," Pelosi said.