Could the DNC boycott be working already?

John Aravosis of Americablog, one of the leaders of the LGBT boycott of the DNC, reports that the tactic might just be working.

One day after the boycott began, Barney Frank, one of the few openly gay members of Congress, said that the Don't Ask/Don't Tell will likely be taken up by Congress this spring.  This is the clearest indication yet that the anti-gay policy may be repealed during Obama's first term.  Previous signals from the White House and Congress were vague at best.  Frank, a liberal known for his ability to effectively manipulate the rough and tumble politics of Washington, most likely made his suggestion with consent of the DNC leadership.


It's a good start.  But if DNC members think a quick announcement -- not by the administration but by a member of Congress -- will mend fences, they're in for a surprise.  And two things about this new information make John Aravosis hesitant: (1) the use of the word likely...still not a definitive statement and (2) the fact that a senior member of the administration did not make the announcement.


Parsing words?  Maybe.  But every word is parsed in Washington.  Words like "likely" are important, as are the titles of those who make the announcements.  And let's not forget that we're unlikely to see any profiles in courage in Congress during an election year.