Natalie Gonnella
In 2006, during an interview at Iowa State University, Senator John McCain discussed his views regarding a repeal of the military's "don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, stating:
I understand the opposition to it, and I‘ve had these debates and discussions, but the day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, Senator, we ought to change the policy, then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility to.
Well that day may be December 2nd, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen are confirmed to testify before the Senate Services Committee during a two day hearing on the current policy.
Commenting, on ABC’s This Week, Adm. Mullen said that he personally believes in a repeal of the rule “because…it belies us as an institution. We value integrity as an institution.” Mullen went to further note “asking individuals to come in and lie about who they are every day goes counter to who we are as an institution.”
Robert Gates also stated, during a recent joint interview with Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that “leaving 'don't ask, don’t tell’ behind us is inevitable” (Politico).
Gates and Mullen are scheduled to testify on the first day of the hearing, which will be lead by Committee Chairman Senator Carl Levin as well as ranking member Senator John McCain. Also giving testimony over the two days are Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson, Army Gen. Carter Ham, Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. James E. Cartwright, Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey Jr., Naval Chief of Operations Adm. Gary Roughhead, Marine Commandant Gen. James F. Amos and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz.
According to Ed O’Keefe in the Washington Post, “attention will focus especially on the Marines' Cartwright and Amos, who lead service members who reportedly are the most concerned about ending the ban, according to sources who shared details of the forthcoming report.”
The release of the report on November 30th, in conjunction with next week’s hearing, may prompt the Senate to move forward on a vote for the Annual Defense Authorization Bill, which currently contains language for a repeal of "DADT".
Although McCain has threatened a filibuster, independent Senator Joseph Lieberman says that he already has the 60 votes needed to overcome any opposition (Connecticut Mirror). Jonathan Capehart (Washington Post) points out that Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski, John Ensign and Susan Collins have indicated that they may support the repeal, which would, as Liberman says, assist in securing the magic number needed to pass the bill and overturn the current policy.
However, as Senate debate on the annual bill usually takes up to two weeks, with only one month left in the current lame-duck session, time may run out, and come January, with GOP gains in the Senate, changes to "DADT" will likely prove even harder to pass.
With Republicans having successfully blocked the initial vote on the Defense Authorization Bill in September, next week’s hearing will definitely be one to watch.
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