Obama aide: Ending 'don't ask, don't tell' must wait

Obama Will End ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’
Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines — ... don’t hear politicians give a one-word answer much. But it’s ‘Yes.’” Gibbs on Wednesday expanded on his answer, saying, “There are many challenges facing our nation now and the president-elect is focused first and foremost on jump-starting this economy. “So not everything will get done in the beginning but he’s committed to following through” with ending the policy against being openly gay in the military. Read more READ THE WHOLE ITEMRelated ...

The Obama Back-and-Forth (Starring Eric Holder, Rick Warren, and Assorted Neocons)
David Corn — ... Gene Robinson, a gay Episcopal bishop, to the lineup. Yay. He dines with conservative and neocon columnists who have helped run the country off the rails. Boo. Then he has breakfast with Rachel Maddow and E.J. Dionne. Hooray. His press secretary, Robert Gibbs, says Obama will end "don't ask, don't tell" and allow gays to serve openly in the military. Wow. Then Gibb says that changing the policy must wait. Well, okay. ...

They Didn't Ask, She Didn't Tell, and Yet...
Swampland — ... the military about your sexual orientation? What about kissing your girlfriend in the checkout line in Wal-Mart? It does if you serve in the Kansas Army National Guard, which recently discharged an Iraq war vet for being a lesbian. Since "don't ask, don't tell" went into effect in 1993, nearly 12,500 service members have been discharged for being gay, lesbian or bisexual. Three-quarters of Americans think gay members of the military should be able to serve openly. Tell us again why ending the policy has to wait? (h/t: Andrew (no relation) ...

Time's Sullivan Impatient That 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Not Overturned Yet
NewsBusters.org - Exposing Liberal Media Bias — ... about your sexual orientation? What about kissing your girlfriend in the checkout line in Wal-Mart? It does if you serve in the Kansas Army National Guard, which recently discharged an Iraq war vet for being a lesbian. Since "don't ask, don't tell" went into effect in 1993, nearly 12,500 service members have been discharged for being gay, lesbian or bisexual. Three-quarters of Americans think gay members of the military should be able to serve openly. Tell us again why ending the policy has to wait? (h/t: Andrew (no relation) Sullivan) ...

NY Times Rich Celebrates End of Family Values ‘Ayatollahs’
NewsBusters.org - Exposing Liberal Media Bias — ... on the use of federal money by organizations offering abortions overseas.” And Rich cheerfully predicted that, “When the administration tardily ends “don’t ask, don’t tell,” you can bet that this action, too, will be greeted by more yawns than howls.” ...

Brandon Friedman: No, gay soldiers won't be allowed to cross-dress while on duty.
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... Now, most Americans--81 percent, in fact--are proud of the work Dan has done in serving his country, regardless of his personal life. But that last remaining 19 percent (probably closer 40 percent in the Army)--who don't think Dan should be allowed to acknowledge his sexual orientation publicly--aren't so sure. And this has caused them to come up with some very strange arguments to force Dan to keep his sexuality a deeply hidden secret. ...

Gay Rights Activists Chagrined at Obama Administration Foot-Dragging on Overturning Don't Ask/Don't Tell
Political Punch — ... of Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Knight, who said the U.S. Navy knew he was gay, discharged him after he admitted his sexuality, and then re-called him to serve in the Middle East. In January, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that "there are many challenges facing our nation now and the president-elect is focused first and foremost on jump-starting this economy. So not everything will get done in the beginning but he's committed to following through" with ending Don't Ask/Don't Tell . Eighty-one percent of the public, according to a December CNN/Opinion Research ...

Reid Appeals Directly To Obama: Help Us Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com — ... Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs has said that the president wants to see the policy repealed, but has other legislative priorities that must be addressed first. ...