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Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Repudiates Delay Strategy of Gates, Skelton, and White House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2010

Contact: Paul DeMiglio
(202) 251-5553 or pdemiglio@sldn.org

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Repudiates Delay Strategy of Gates, Skelton, and White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), responded today to the White House statement issued to members of the media and Capitol Hill this evening. The White House statement – included below – follows a strongly worded letter from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) recommending delay on legislation to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year.

Statement by Aubrey Sarvis, executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network:

“The President of the United States appears to have reversed himself from what he told the American people in his State of the Union Address. We have the votes in the House and we’re close to having the votes in the Senate Armed Services Committee -- the President, however, is not helping us to get the votes we need. Service members around the world took the President at his word; we still do.

“It's time for the president and commander in chief to speak clearly and frankly on this issue. The commander in chief sounds like he is deferring to his Defense Secretary, to a House Chairman who opposes him on repeal, and to his political operatives.

“With all due respect to Secretary Gates, it is Congress that determines the legislative schedule, not the Secretary of Defense. Congressional leaders and repeal advocates may need to give the Pentagon leaders a gentle reminder.

“Servicemembers Legal Defense Network repudiates the delay game plan worked out among House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, and the White House. Repeal legislation can and should move forward this year that is most respectful of the Pentagon Working Group.

“This objective can be accomplished by amending both the House and Senate bills to expressly provide for the Pentagon recommendations to be received and considered by the Armed Services Committees before any repeal action is final. There is no need to bring the legislative repeal effort to a screeching halt to ensure that the views of the Pentagon Working Group are carefully and respectfully considered. If the White House agrees, we need to hear that and soon.”

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Statement by The White House issued to media and Capitol Hill this evening:

“The President’s commitment to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is unequivocal. This is not a question of if, but how. That’s why we’ve said that the implementation of any congressional repeal will be delayed until the DOD study of how best to implement that repeal is completed. The President is committed to getting this done both soon and right.”

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On April 27, SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis penned an op-ed for Roll Call outlining recommendations for the committee leaders to consider that would allow for legislative action this year while respecting the process of the Pentagon Working Group:

“The Senate DADT repeal leaders, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), and House champion Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) are all aware of the need to ensure that the recommendations coming from the Pentagon are carefully considered before DADT is changed. Here are some recommendations for the committee leaders to consider:

1. DADT investigations and discharges will not end until the recommendations of the Pentagon Working Group have been received and considered; Secretary Gates will retain authority over this process.

2. Under the present schedule, the PWG will make its recommendations by Dec. 1, and 60 days later, DOD can issue directions and instructions to each service on how to proceed with open service.

3. An additional 60 days after that, each service can issue regulations.

4. Therefore, DADT would not be repealed until 180 days after the bill is signed.

5. And in early 2011, the committees can consider any additional recommendations from the Pentagon.”

To read the full article visit: http://www.rollcall.com/news/45597-1.html

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A journalists’guide is available here.

Click here to read the original article.