Asked about a judge’s order yesterday halting all discharges under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the president believes the best way to repeal the anti-gay military policy is for Congress to repeal it.
The Senate should follow the House’s lead and pass repeal in a lame-duck session next month, Gibbs told reporters today. He wouldn’t say whether the Justice Department would appeal the injunction, referring questions instead to the DOJ.
President Obama has taken heat from gay rights for not pushing harder for repeal. His administration also yesterday filed to appeal two court decisions ruling the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.
Gibbs did, however, say that recent court decisions finding DADT unconstitutional prove that the policy’s days are numbered.
‘“They’re demonstrating that time is running out on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Gibbs said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates balked at the injunction, telling reporters shutting down the policy so abruptly would have “enormous consequences.”
He also said Congress should repeal the policy — but not until after the Pentagon’s policy review is completed in early December.
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