Politics. On Point.

Today the president signed  Don't Ask, Don't Tell into law, allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military.  The president said the signing was "the right thing to do for our security, and the right thing to do, period." Today's event was one of several events the president deemed "progress for the American people". "A lot of folks in this town predicted that after the midterm elections, Washington would be headed for more partisanship and more gridlock", said President Obama.  "And instead, this has been a season of progress for the American people.  That progress is a reflection of the message that voters sent in November; a message that said it’s time to find common ground on challenges facing our country.  That’s a message that I will take to heart in the New Year, and I hope my Democratic and Republican friends will do the same." The president met briefly in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with report...

President Obama Repeals The Don't Ask, Dont Tell" Law.   Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conduct a press briefing at the Pentagon discussing the public release of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Comprehensive Working Group report on Nov. 30, 2010. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  In a statement today, President Obama comments on  DOD's Don't Ask, Don't Tell  Report As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “ don’t ask, don’t tell ” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipli...

"Hey, I'm dealing with Congress, here. It takes a little time." Move faster on " Don't Ask, Don't Tell ", shouted a heckler has President Obama was speaking at a Barbara Boxer fundraising event. In response, Obama told the heckler, "Hey, I'm dealing with Congress, here. It takes a little time".   Nebraskan senator Bob Nelson , a key figure in the process, plans to vote to ban the DADT policy. "I don't believe that most Nebraskans want to continue a policy that not only encourages but requires people to be deceptive and to lie. The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy does just that," said Nelson. "It also encourages suspicion and senior officers to look the other way. In a military which values honesty and integrity, this policy encourages deceit." President Obama called for the policy's repeal last month in his State of the Union address. "This year I will work with Congress and our m...