Attempts to repeal the "Don't ask,
don't tell" (DADT) policy: 2008 & 2009

"It's been 15 years and attitudes have changed. And, so, I think it is time for the Congress, since it is their law, to have a full review of it. And I'm quite sure that's what President-elect Obama will want to do." ₁

"The story of the ongoing purges of gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines with language skills critical to waging the war on terrorism pits political expediency and moral dogma against national security, social scientific research and common sense. It is a story that shines a spotlight on certain truisms that Americans seem to grasp only when it's too late, and then to promptly forget until the next time it's too late: that prejudice is generally self-defeating rather than productive, and that it nearly always has unexpected consequences." ₂

"Last month the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara released a new report showing how the President can legally suspend discharges of gay and lesbian personnel in advance of congressional action to permanently repeal DADT. (Full disclosure: I’m a coauthor of that report; my main contribution was to the section on how to effectively implement a new, nondiscriminatory policy.)"

"Earlier this week, 77 members of Congress sent an open letter to the President, urging him to suspend investigations and discharges of service members in the Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation.  'By taking leadership of the important issue of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,' said Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), 'President Obama would allow openly gay and lesbian service members to continue serving their country and send a clear signal to Congress to initiate the legislative repeal process'."

"And Wednesday, the Center for American Progress issued a five-step plan for repealing DADT that begins with an executive order suspending discharges."

"I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security ... Ending the policy requires an act of Congress and will take time." ₇

"It's very clear what President Obama's intent here is. He intends to see this law change. I've had conversations with him about that. What I've discussed in terms of the future is I think we need to move in a measured way. ... I haven't done any kind of extensive review. And what I feel most obligated about is to make sure I tell the president, you know, my - give the president my best advice, should this law change, on the impact on our people and their families at these very challenging times."