Military deserves action on 'Don't ask, don't tell'

By A.B. Stoddard - 12/03/10 01:20 PM ET

There are reasonable views on both sides of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy debate. The Pentagon is advocating repeal of the 17-year-old law since a recent study suggested the effect of repeal would be positive, mixed or have no effect at all. Opponents are concerned not only about opposition to repeal from those serving in combat units, but also question why the study the Pentagon conducted on this issue not only did not ask whether men and women serving in the armed forces support repeal (only whether it would be disruptive) and why its findings are based on a 28 percent response rate.

At this point there may not even be enough time to debate DADT, with the tax cut debate unresolved and the Obama administration's push to prioritize the ratification of the new START treaty before other legislative business. Yet the GOP leadership still got 42 signatures on a letter this week promising to filibuster anything until the tax cut question is resolved. Fine. But when that is over, the U.S. Senate owes the military a vote on DADT. Why? Because the Department of Defense is asking for it.

In Senate hearings Thursday, Pentagon officials made clear that they now fear a sudden repeal, forced upon them by a court decision, that would be far more chaotic for the armed forces than a carefully planned and phased-in repeal. Delay, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will lead to lawsuits and the possibility that a court decision will force a repeal. "Those that choose not to act legislatively are rolling the dice that this policy will not be abruptly overturned by the courts," Gates said.

And on the question of whether the men and women in uniform are queried on policy matters, Gates — who earlier this week said repeal was the will of the American people — had this to say: "I can't think of a single precedent in American history of doing a referendum of the American armed forces on a policy issue. … Are you going to ask them if they want 15-month tours? Are you going to ask them if they want to be part of the surge in Iraq? That's not the way our civilian-led military has ever worked in our entire history. The 'should' question is to be decided by the Congress or the courts, as far as I'm concerned."

Republicans should drop their filibuster on this issue and allow an up-or-down vote on repeal of DADT. When our military asks the U.S. Congress to vote on something, they owe them a vote. How long will it take, and what is the job of a U.S. senator if not to make policy decisions? Vote no, or vote yes, but cast a vote.

Don't Vote, Don't Serve.

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