White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett appeared on ABC's Good Morning America on Thursday and defended the White House’s moves to defend the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
According to The Wonk Room, Jarrett discussed the ninth circuit court of appeals’ decision Wednesday to temporary stay a lower judge’s injunction on “don’t ask, don’t tell.” She said the administration had a duty to defend the policy despite President Barack Obama’s opposition to it and added that “many members” of the gay community understood the White House’s position.
”You know what, the Justice Department is required to defend the law of the land,” said Jarrett. “Believe me, we wish there were another way, because the president has been so clear. And I think there are many members of the gay community who actually understand this and who are working with us to try to put pressure on Congress to repeal it. It’s clear that the vast majority of American people think that it should not be the law. And we are determined to have Congress revoke it. But we have to go through that orderly process.”
The Wonk Room also reports that Ted Olson, the solicitor general under George W. Bush now pressing the case against Proposition 8 in the federal courts, said it would be appropriate for the White House to decline to defend the discriminatory law.
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