DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on Rosh Hashanah

By DNC Press

Tonight marks the beginning of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah. In recognition of that occasion, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“On this eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we celebrate and reflect on how far we have come as a nation. During the past year, we have become a more perfect union. Millions of Americans are now experiencing the benefits of comprehensive health care reform, saving them money and saving lives. We have begun to fulfill a promise to our families, as American troops are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. And we ended the discriminatory practice of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

“However, we cannot forget the difficulties we have faced this year. This is a challenging time for our nation, as so many Americans are struggling just to make ends meet. Our country has been rocked by hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters and communities across the nation are still picking up the pieces. It is also a challenging time for our friend and ally, Israel, which continues to face attacks on her safety and legitimacy from hostile neighbors and the broader international community.

“If there is one lesson that these holidays teach us, it is that we must come together to embrace the ideals of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal. Together, we mark the year that was past, and as a community—as a nation—we forge on toward a better future.

“In the spirit of social justice, we must not rest until joblessness, homelessness, and discrimination are relics of history. In the spirit of those before us we must continue to protect the unbreakable bond between Israel and the United States, and stand up for her security. And in the spirit of tikkun olam, we must commit once again to build a better world together that is filled with justice and peace.

“Today, as I celebrate the new year with my own family, I hope you take the opportunity to share this holiday in health and happiness with those you love. May the next year be one of renewed hope in our dreams of all we aspire to be. L'shanah tovah u'metukah, and may you all have a peaceful 5772.”

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on GOP Presidential Debate in Orlando

By DNC Press

Following the Fox News/Google Republican presidential debate held in Orlando, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Tonight, the Republican candidates for president held their second Florida debate in as many weeks, and whether they’re in Orlando, Tampa or any other part of the country, the message is always the same: They have no new ideas for creating jobs or helping America’s middle class. They simply want to get rid of all the things that protect and improve the lives of middle class families—Social Security, Medicare, the EPA, the Department of Education, Wall Street Reform, the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ and more. We heard more of the same failed policies of the past that the Tea Party is demanding they support—policies that would dismantle Social Security into pieces, end Medicare as we know it, and provide even more handouts and tax cuts to large corporations, special interests and the richest Americans while asking our nation’s seniors, students and middle-class families to pay for it.

“What we did not see tonight was a single Republican candidate stand up for the bipartisan American Jobs Act, the President’s proposal to get more Americans back to work and put more money back into their pockets. Nor did they offer support for President Obama’s new plan to restore economic security and reduce the deficit by more than $3 trillion over the next decade. That would require the Republican candidates to challenge the right-wing ideology of the Tea Party, and from everything we saw tonight, that is a pipe dream.

“Let’s be clear, the policies GOP frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rick Perry and the rest of the candidates all support would slash Social Security—cutting benefits and putting seniors at risk. And all the GOP candidates support the Republican budget plan in Congress ending Medicare as we know it.

“At a time when we need to be moving our country forward, Republicans are offering no plan for securing our economic future—and that is something we simply cannot afford.”

Defense Leaders Laud Repeal, Return of ‘Equality’

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – The official end today of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law reflects the American values that military members uphold, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

“Thanks to this change, I believe we move closer to achieving the goal at the foundation of the values that America's all about -- equality, equal opportunity and dignity for all Americans,” he told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing.

Panetta reaffirmed his dedication to all who are serving and ensuring everyone who wishes to serve has the opportunity to do so regardless of sexual preference.

“As secretary of defense, I am committed to removing all of the barriers that would prevent Americans from serving their country and from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their talents and capabilities warrant,” he said. “These are men and women who put their lives on the line in the defense of this country, and that's what should matter the most.”

Panetta credited several groups for helping prepare the Defense Department for the implementation of the repeal.

“I want to thank the repeal implementation team and the service secretaries, along with the service chiefs, for all of their efforts to ensure that DOD is ready to make this change, consistent with standards of military readiness, with military effectiveness, with unit cohesion, and with the recruiting and retention of the armed forces,” he said.

“All of the service chiefs have stated very clearly that all of these elements have been met in the review that they conducted,” Panetta said. “Over 97 percent of our 2.3 million men and women in uniform have now received education and training on repeal as a result of these efforts.

“I also want to thank the Comprehensive Review Working Group for the work they did on the report that laid the groundwork for the change in this policy,” he added.

Panetta also lauded Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his commitment to the repeal of the 1993 law.

“And above all, I'd like to single out … Admiral Mike Mullen,” he said. “His courageous testimony and leadership on this issue, I think, were major factors in bringing us to this day. And he deserves a great deal of credit for what has occurred.”

Mullen said he steadfastly believed repealing the law was the right thing to do.

“I testified early in 2010 that it was time to end this law and this policy,” he said. “I believed then, and I still believe, that it was, first and foremost, a matter of integrity.

“It was fundamentally against everything we stand for as an institution to force people to lie about who they are just to wear a uniform,” Mullen added. “We are better than that.”

The chairman said the repeal will strengthen the DOD and emphasize positive values.

“Today, with implementation of the new law fully in place, we are a stronger joint force, a more tolerant force, a force of more character and more honor, more in keeping with our own values,” he said.

Mullen also emphasized the Defense Department is well prepared for implementation of the repeal.

“I am convinced we did the work necessary to prepare for this change, that we adequately trained and educated our people, and that we took into proper consideration all the regulatory and policy modifications that needed to be made,” he said.

“I appreciate [Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s] confidence in me, and his kind praise,” Mullen said. “But today is really about every man and woman [in uniform] who serves this country … regardless of how they define themselves.”

Panetta said the long-awaited repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” brings the nation closer to true equality.

“Thanks to this change, we move closer to achieving the goal that is at the foundation of American values -- equality and dignity for all,” he said.

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on Official End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

By DNC Press

In recognition of the official end of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which has prohibited gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans from serving their country openly in the U.S. military, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Today, our nation adds another achievement in our promise to Americans that we are the land that guarantees freedom and equality for all of its citizens, as we formally put an end to the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy of the U.S. military. Since its enactment in 1993, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has led to the unjust discharge of thousands of qualified gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members who were ready to give their lives for their country, even as they were asked to deny who they truly were. These are people like Jonathan Hopkins, a West Point graduate who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three times and earned three Bronze Stars only to be honorably discharged in August 2010 because of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'

“This policy undermined our military readiness and weakened our national security, costing our nation hundreds of millions of dollars with the needless loss of mission-critical service men and women, military personnel, linguists, and other specialists whose skills are vital to the success of our armed services. It was dishonorable and fundamentally un-American, and we celebrate today as it officially becomes a relic of the past.

“I applaud President Obama for his successful leadership and steadfast commitment to putting an end to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and I was proud to join my fair-minded colleagues in Congress who supported him in that effort last year. But most of all, to all of those in our nation’s armed forces who have been forced to hide their true identities, thank you for your service to our country. Today, we stand with you as our country takes this important step forward.”

Court Orders Halt to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Enforcement

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2011 – The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the government to stop enforcing the terms of the law that prevents openly gay service members from being in the military.

The Defense Department will comply and is informing commands worldwide of the court’s order, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan said.

The court lifted a stay put in place Nov. 1. DOD and Justice Department lawyers are studying the ruling.

The stay was put in place after 9th Circuit Judge Virginia Phillips ruled the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law was unconstitutional. The case went to a three-judge panel on the Court of Appeals, which released its ruling today.

Since the court issued the stay in November, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed repeal of the 1993 law. “In the meantime, implementation of the DADT repeal voted by the Congress and signed into law by the president last December is proceeding smoothly, is well under way, and certification is just weeks away,” Lapan said.

The repeal act calls for training the force and for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense to certify to the president that the conditions for repeal are met.

Behind the Scenes Video: Signing Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell

By Jesse Lee

At the signing of the bill to repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" last week, the sense of history and enthusiasm was palpable throughout the audience.  While we were there we had a chance to talk to Captain Jonathan Hopkins, who was discharged under the policy, as well as Rep. Patrick Murphy who led the charge in the House of Representatives, and Melody Barnes who played an integral role here at the White House.  The video gives a glimpse of what it was like there: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/29/behind-scenes-video-signing-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell?utm_source=123010&utm_medium=intro&utm_campaign=daily.

Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

By Hillary Clinton

This is a historic step forward for all Americans, a step toward a more perfect union and a more perfect reflection of our core values. As the President and I have repeatedly said, we are committed to universal standards abroad and here at home. Our progress on equality here strengthens our advocacy for human dignity everywhere.