Pentagon Wouldn't Transport Gay Congresswoman's Partner, Pelosi Intervened

Politico:

Prior to the Easter recess, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced to intervene with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in order to get Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin's domestic partner on a military flight for a congressional fact-finding trip to Europe.

The speaker succeeded, but the issue continues to simmer for both sides. The Pentagon appears to be self-conscious about transporting gay domestic partners at a time when it continues to enforce a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in its own ranks. The speaker is sensitive to the gay rights issue but doesn't want to be drawn into a situation where it appears she is dictating policy for the use of military planes.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[GoodbyeKitty]

It's not just the military. Gay couples from Canada, which allows gay marriage, are being harassed by officials in US airports and borders. There is a big backlash coming

[tbone99]

Wonder if Cheney's dgtr and S.O have ever traveled by gov'nt plane?

[FreedomCorpse]

Pelosi fights for gay significant other to travel to Europe on fact finding 'mission'. In other news, 1 million dead in Iraq, 4,011 dead American soldiers, 45,000 injured soldiers from war against country that never did anything to the US and war criminals are lauded as leaders of the 'free world'

[skepticalindenver]

So, is your point that until the largest injustice is solved we cannot address any other issue? Let's have a list for everyone, and they cannot work on ANYTHING else until number one is finished, and so on and so on. And if we know we don't have the votes to solve that, your logic is to simply do nothing for anyone???

[PhoenixtheUndying]

This is a stupid problem to have.

[AjicNYC]

yay Pelosi did something!!!

[DesertLight]

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the two Democratic Candidates are locked up in the corral bolo punching one another. Thanks again Nancy, for really caring for what is important!

[pascaljim]

My observation that "fact finding" excursions generally seem to focus on "Bullet Trains" in France and Japan..The millions expended on trips and studies is deplorable.

All the while rail passenger service declines.

When will we be able to travel to Las Vegas from Southern California, something about a snail or turtle or???

BTW, a spouse is a spouse is a spouse....

[mommadona]

Gee - I wonder what he did with Condi Rice's 'significant other' when SHE accompanied the SECRETARY OF STATE?

Oh, that's right - SHE'S REPUBLICAN.....

Gates is an asshole.

[skepticalindenver]

Gates is operating under policy set by Congress. Are you advocating Gates doesn't pay attention to congress? I'm no fan of the republicans but any person who suggests he ignore congressional policy is an asshole. Do you even read the full articles, or do you just read the titles and comments and form some douche bag opinion based on, "He's a Republican so it is his fault?" These are CONGRESIONAL travel rules he was following. He had no problem putting her on the plane once he had a CYA letter from Pelosi.

[signifyingnothing]

You may not be a republican, but you sure do seem bent on challenging any comment supportive of gay people. The woman is Baldwin's wife. They were married. He treated her like the marriage was illegitimate and then finally caved when Pelosi put the pressure on him. Are you a spokesman for Gates? You act like one. You can really say with confidence that Gates "had no problem putting her on the plane" in the end? Please, your bigotry is showing.

[greymen]

Well, I guess Ms. "Impeachment is off the table" (but we will keep funding Fuckie McShrub's illegal wars!) isn't a TOTAL piece of shit.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

While I admire Pelosi standing up to Gates my question is simply this. Why are US taxpayers footing the bill for a member of congress to take a vacation with their significant other?

[nick1936]

how about getting tough on Bush

[skepticalindenver]

That is the point lost while many grind their sexual orientation axe.

[signifyingnothing]

Actually, they are both valid points. It's possible to have multiple gripes about a single story.

[falco]

And we though Pelosi wasn't doing anything to help the American people. Boy did she show us! Thanks. We finally got someone in the White House to do something besides move their lips. No pun intended.

[BOfever]

Why are we paying for Congress to take significant others on a trip to Europe? Does anyone here work for a company that pays for your wife to go on trips with you?

[johnfoirdfw]

Actually, I do...

[skepticalindenver]

I would think that point is illogical. What a company does is VERY different from what out government does with our money. I get the point you try to make (and agree), but your logic is flawed. Who cares what a company provides for perks (legally). However, this whole "needed for protocol is stretched beyond any reasonable expectation of the taxpayer.

[IAM4CLINTON]

Of all the burning issues that the nation faces, Pelosi chooses to get busy on something so trivial as this--speaks volumes on what these ultra liberals do when elected to a national office :-) If Obama teams up with Pelosi- that would be a disastrous course for our nation

[steamboat]

I agree with you.........And let me be a 'devils-advocate' and ask this to everybody:

Why should our TAXPAYERS money be used to transport a congressperson' s partner all over the place?

[DesertLight]

About par for the course isn't it?

[Kodachi]

Unless your only job experience has been flipping burgers, surely you understand that it's possible to attend to both major and minor issues at the same time.

[skepticalindenver]

Well said Kodachi!. Of course that could very well be IAM4CLINTON's entire resume, based on polls telling us which demographics are flocking to her.

[DesertLight]

IF she teams up with Obama? You mean that is not clear to you yet?

[Ashall]

I guess my question would be what is the purpose of taking spouses on military planes on government missions? Don't we taxpayers get stuck for way too many of these unnecessary expenses? A "fact-finding" trip shouldn't require a spouse along....unless it's a veiled way of taking a vacation.

[speakyourmind]

I agree. I don't think taxpayers should be paying for spouses at all. No spouses on these pretend "fact-fnding" missions.

[BlueAsh]

Ahhh, since the letters from donors didn't work, let's see if we can do something else to knock her down.

The Clintons are known for their vengeance, but so soon?

[rachaelisacancer]

Crazy. You're just crazy.