Friday, May 29, 2009

DAY 12: DADT Update

President Barack Obama's campaign promise to scrap the military's "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" policy gave Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach hope. Now the aviator is wondering if the president will deliver in time to save his 18-year Air Force career. Lt. Dan Choi is wondering too. So am I. How many days has it been so far? The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group seeking equal treatment of gays in the military, estimates that more than 200 service members have been discharged under "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" since Obama was sworn into office in January.

At yesterday's White House Press Briefing, Robert Gibbs was asked, once again about "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" at the top of the briefing, and again said that the President was "working with the Joint Chiefs, the Pentagon and others to bring about a change in that policy." A Politics Daily reporter then asked why the president wouldn't put a moratorium on discharges if he truly thinks the policy runs counter to our national interests. "The president and legal team here believe that in order to have a durable solution to this, legislation is the only way to go," Gibbs said.

Folks, we need to keep speaking up! If you did not write to the President, Vice President, Speaker Pelosi, your senators and others, do it now!

Dan Choi will be walking from Selma to Fresno tomorrow from 8am to 1pm, then giving a speech on "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" at the "MEET IN THE MIDDLE FOR EQUALITY" events. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Dan if you're in the area and let him know you support him!

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