He also noted the ongoing study of the repeal that is due Dec. 1.
“I will look at it very carefully,” Obama said. “That will give us time to act, potentially during the lame duck session, to change this policy.”
He also said the repeal of DADT should not be a “partisan issue.”
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network‘s Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis issued an official statement about Obama’s comments on DADT at Wednesday’s press conference:
“When asked about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ today, the President was right to focus on the lame duck session in the Senate as the best place to get repeal this year,” he said.
“If the President, Senator Majority Leader Reid, and Secretary Gates are aligned and determined to see the defense bill move this year the chances are good repeal can still happen, but they will need several Republican senators to join them. Clearly a bipartisan vote will be needed to take up the bill in the Senate and to ensure final passage this year.”
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