We still don't have a White House strategy on Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- unless we count stopping legislation that could stop funding it

UPDATE: Just heard Rep. Hastings will be on Rachel Maddow's show tonight to discuss what happened with his DADT amendment.
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This is probably going to be hard for all the Obama apologists and job-seekers to accept, but the White House not only isn't helping efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Someone over there is undermining efforts to end the program according to a member of Congress. No wonder the Palm Center is so irritated.

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) had an amendment to the Defense Appropriations that would have prevented funding any DADT investigation. That's the kind of procedural tactic Republicans have used for years to stop funding of programs they didn't like. For years, Republicans blocked federal funding of DC's domestic partnerships and needle exchange. I'm not sure if this was the best approach, but, sometimes, the only way to make progress is to use (or abuse) the appropriations process. But, a funny (or not so funny) thing happened on the way to the Appropriations bill mark-up. In his own words, Hastings was pressured by the White House and others to drop his amendment. From the Miami Herald's blog, Naked Politics:

Rep. Alcee Hastings has withdrawn an amendment that would have prevented the military from using money to carry out the provisions of its controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy which prevents gays from serving in the military. He says he pulled the measure under pressure from the White House and colleagues.

"I would, however, like to note that it is most unfortunate that we are not addressing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell at this time," Hastings said in announcing his decision. "We should not be appropriating funds to enable qualified service members to be booted out just because they are honest about whom they are."

Again, was Hastings approach the best strategy? I don't know. It was very inside baseball tactic. And, for years, Republicans were masterful at the inside baseball approach.
We've heard for months now that the White House thinks Congress needs to deal with don't ask, don't tell. The Obama administration has taken a hands-off approach and punted to Congress -- even though the President has the power to stop discharges.

A couple weeks ago, Obama told Anderson Cooper, "We've already contacted Congressional allies." Really? Because, I'd consider Hastings an ally. And, he was told to back off. We're not the only ones trying to get to the bottom of this. I got an email from a plugged-in friend:

Like many others, I've been trying to figure out what happened on the Hastings amendment. Only getting some pitiful excuses and a few swipes at Hastings. I am also hearing now that the White House and Congress are claiming to be confused about what "we" want (this is so they can do nothing, and act confused). It's not complicated: we want is full repeal of DADT today. That’s pretty simple. They can either take it in pieces (suspend funding for investigations, a presidential proclamation suspending investigation and then a thought out repeal process with the White House leaning on congress OR they can just repeal it immediately.).But, waiting and doing nothing is not acceptable. That's what our "friends" really need to know.

So, it's "our" fault. Okay?

Meanwhile, the Obama staffers at the White House haven't gone to Congress to help end the DADT policy, but it sure seems like someone jumped into action to prevent progress via Hastings. It's getting complicated again. The White House might need to throw another party for the LGBT leaders.