Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Obama administration placed a cone of silence over today’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”repeal strategy meeting warning the group on the scope and topics allowed in the discussion.
The Advocate obtained a copy of an email sent from Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Obama’s de facto LGBT liaison, to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal meeting’s participants, who include: Joe Solmonese of the HRC; Shane Larson of the Stonewall Democrats; Winnie Stachelberg of the Center for American Progress; Aubrey Sarvis of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network; R. Clarke Cooper of the Log Cabin Republicans; Alex Nicholson and Jarrod Chlapowski of Servicemembers United; Nathaniel Frank, DADT expert formerly of the Palm Center; Jim Kessler of the Third Way.
The email warns participants to stick strictly to a discussion about legislative repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and to steer clear of any mention of the current courts cases now being litigated.
The Bond email says:
“Obviously this meeting has gotten out. We are expecting the content of the conversation today to be off the record and to help us figure out how to move forward with the lame duck session. Also as previously mentioned, there can be no discussion of current court cases or legal strategy or Counsel’s Office will end the meeting. The focus is repeal and the lame duck session. This is also a non-partisan meeting where we want everyone’s help.”
Here is a copy of Brian Bond’s email:
From the Left 
What is the Obama White House afraid of? The court cases involving DADT have been decided. They’re all a matter of public record. Obama and his team just looks smaller and smaller with each passing day.
Why is Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign there? What has he done since becoming president of the HRC except drive down donations. I’m Solmonese he did what Brian Bond told him to do, after he stood up and wiped off his mouth. What a douchebag.
So what happens if the men and women in attendance speak?
Maybe Homeland Security cart them off to GITMO or, will Obama throw a temper tantrum and do do even less than he’s done so far? Less than zero is how much?
82% approval.
70% approval.
61% approval.
55% approval.
50% approval.
46% approval.
40% approval.
37% approval.
All in seven quarters, or 24 months. Barry is sinking like a turn in a commode.
It’s a very curious posture on the part of the president.
Considering Obama ran on with a campaign promise to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in his first term.
One might think the meeting is something the White House would want to show skeptical voters that despite his failure to deliver, the meeting is proof the president is committed to repealing the ban.
Can’t wait for the next leak.
AskMen polled a half a million readers who is the most influential man? If you thought it is Obama, think again. Obama’s dropped to No. 21 place.
“The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart nabbed the No. 1 position on AskMen’s annual list of men of influence, while President Barack Obama dropped significantly in the ranks, coming in at No. 21, after landing the No. 3 spot in 2009, and the No. 1 position in 2008, right before he took office.
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/is-jon-stewart-more-influential-than-president-obama/49548?nc
I can’t wait to learn if President Obama attended or did he watch from a closed circuit TV feed?
I’ll never understand, to save my life, how one person could take that much momentum and flush it down the crapper. In just two short years America is ready to go back to the Republicans. I am seriously considering moving to Australia, New Zealand, hell…at this stage…Mexico. I am one unhappy American.
As President Obama’s term drags on, I can’t help but be reminded of how much his trajectory is similar to George W. Bush’s trajectory.
After the horrible events of 9/11, Bush enjoyed record approval numbers and within a year, he effectively squander the goodwill of not just the American people but, the rest of the world. Obama is going down the same path. On January 20, 2009, Obama walked on water. He was Gandhi, JFK, MLK Jr., and Jesus all rolled into one. How quickly Obama has squandered the opportunity he worked so hard to achieve.
This just sounds like O’busha just took his dunce cap off…. and he’s using it for something else………..!
Any word yet how the repeal meeting went?
My guess is, the Obama team just fed repeal advocates lots of sweet and fancy pablum about how they need to stick with Obama and the Dumbos if they want the ban repealed. An Obama White House hand job.
For someone who says he’s opposed to DADT, Obama keeps directing the Justice Dept. to appeal every court case declaring the ban unconstitutional. Obama can’t have it both ways. The proof is in the pudding and I am left to conclude he sees the LGBT as dispensable. I am tired of the bullshit coming from Obama vis a vis gay rights. He talks real good and delivers nothing.
I just read President Obama graced by the repeal strategy group to deliver his shuck and jive routine.
Five will get you ten Joe Solmonese fainted. 😉
Christopher,
I’ve been MIA of late. A move and too much work has kept me away from the blogs but, I’m back now.
How did you guys get a copy of a White House email?
This is amazing stuff. You’ve provided proof that the Obama White House is playing Nixonian tactics to try and control the flow of information on an issue that has dogged him for two years and threatens to cost incumbent Dems reelection next week.
Great job. Keep up the excellent blogging!
Obama sure does have a funny way of showing that he wants to end this policy.
Come on, Big O. My partner and I just wanna be able to hold hands in public. Is that too much to ask?