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Obama Looks to Lieberman to Lead 'Don't Ask' Repeal

Conn. independent has opposed policy on gays in military since '93

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 13, 2009 7:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – After President Obama's pledge this weekend to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the White House turned immediately to key senators on the Armed Services Committee—in particular Joe Lieberman. A House bill to repeal the policy has 177 sponsors, but the White House is eager for Senate legislation with bipartisan support. "We are talking directly to the Hill," said John Berry, the White House's director of personnel and the administration's highest ranking gay member.

Several Democratic senators, including Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, have been mentioned as possible sponsors, but Lieberman, who endorsed John McCain last year, looks likely to get the White House's backing. He sits as an independent with strong relationships with Maine's two Republican senators, either of whom might co-sponsor the bill. A Lieberman spokesman gave few details but pointed out: "He has opposed since it was first proposed in 1993."

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command, shakes hands with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command, shakes hands with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Lieberman after Obama's address before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.
Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Lieberman after Obama's address before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., last September.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., last September.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
Forderon
Oct 13, 2009 9:14 AM CDT
Wait, who said anything about Lieberman betraying anyone?
RockyPneumonia
Oct 13, 2009 8:02 AM CDT
"The point is that Obama pretends that only Congress can change how we treat our men and women in the military, and it is simply not true." ...Except, of course, that -- according to several thousand lawyers, it IS true. But you just keep on pluggin'....
RogerMohajir
Oct 13, 2009 7:43 AM CDT
@Rocky: Neither the story nor my comment was about "rule by decree" or whether or not the media can be trusted -- both interesting matters for discussion, though. The point is that Obama pretends that only Congress can change how we treat our men and women in the military, and it is simply not true. You claim that it is true, or ought to be, or who cares anyway, because members of Congress are dumb, the president has too many powers, and the media can't be trusted. None of which changes this simple fact: if Obama really wanted to end discrimination against gay men and women in the military, he could do it today. He CHOOSES not to, which is a perfectly defensible position, but he needs to defend it, instead of trying to fool the public into thinking he has no choice.

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