Lieberman Forges Ahead on Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Two keys senators are moving forward on a bill throwing out the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military, despite pleas from the Pentagon for more time study the impact on the Armed Forces.

Pentagon spokesmen told reporters on Wednesday that the military needs to know more about the potential effect of lifting the prohibition so "that we could work with Congress to help inform the process that they undertake, if they undertake it," the Washington Post said.

But Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is not waiting on the 10-month review ordered up by the Defense Department. He introduced legislation Wednesday to immediately repeal the ban and forbid discrimination against gay men or women in the military. And Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said his panel will likely consider the bill in May as part of broader legislation authorizing Defense Department spending in 2011.

"If Americans want to serve they ought to have the right to be considered for that service regardless of characteristics such as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation," Lieberman said.

"Don't ask, don't tell," enacted with President Clinton's support in 1994, requires military commanders to refrain from digging into the sexual preferences of service members as long as individuals, while serving, keep their sexual orientation private. President Obama and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen have endorsed the repeal effort.

Passage this year, however, is far from assured. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a number of other senators think the current policy is working and want to keep it.






In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Pentagon xxxPolitico said.