No Move From Obama Yet to Change "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

Despite expectations that President Obama would move to end the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy closeting gays in the military, there is no move yet to make the switch. While the Pentagon will not stand in the way of any changes, officials say that no request has been made and no studies have been set in place to consider the impact of allowing gays to serve openly. The issue was expected to come up at Defense Secretary Robert Gates's Capitol Hill hearing two weeks ago, but it was never mentioned by any of the House or Senate armed services committees' members. Gates has said that he will follow whatever law Congress puts into effect. However, an aide to Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher, a California Democrat, says she plans to re-introduce legislation next month to remove the ban. But whether she will try to insert it in the next Pentagon authorization bill, taking effect October 1, has not been decided. "There are lots of things to be determined," said spokesman Robert Keller. "The congresswoman has been very emphatic that it needs to be done prudently" and "is bringing people together to get it done."

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