Gibbs: “Congress has to ask themselves how they want to end this”
At today’s White House press briefing — awaiting word from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on the status of the National Defense Authorization Act vote — spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked multiple questions about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal. First, Gibbs was asked if the NDAA still could be considered and passed with DADT repeal included in the lame-duck session of Congress.
Gibbs responded, “I think it can and I think in as you mentioned, Jonathan, there are a number of individual senators that have come out in support of ending an unjust policy. As I said yesterday, the president has made calls to Democrats and Republicans on both ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the DREAM Act ….”
Gibbs later was asked about what would happen if DADT repeal is not accomplished in this Congress.
Gibbs replied, “Our efforts our focused [on legislative repeal] through Congress.”
Referncing Defense Sec. Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gibbs added, “There’s no better advocate than Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen in believing how much this needs to get done this year.
“The president strongly believes that one of two things are going to happen: Either Congress is going to decide this legislatively, or the courts are going to decide this. And, uh, the policy is going to come to an end. Congress has to ask themselves how they want to end this — what role they want to play in ensuring that it’s done in an orderly way.”
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