Rep. Patrick Murphy, Iraq Vet, Takes Charge of DADT Fight

So, look back at the presidential campaign when President Barack Obama promised to do away with the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" regulation, which forces everyone in the armed service to pretend that there are no gays and lesbians serving our nation with distinction. From time to time, the regulation even requires the military to discharge perfectly capable soldiers from their duties. Since the campaign, however, Obama has been tenacious in his passivity, opting to not take direct action to end the regulation, preferring to let Congress decide the matter. I wonder what James Pietrangelo II, who was discharged from the Army under DADT, thinks about all of this?

"He's a coward, a bigot and a pathological liar...This is a guy who spent more time picking out his dog, Bo, and playing with him on the White House lawn than he has working for equality for gay people...If there were millions of black people as second-class citizens, or millions of Jews or Irish, he would have acted immediately."

That about sums it up! Luckily for Pietrangelo, someone has decided to take lead on this issue: Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.). Brandon Friedman, over at VetVoice, has an email that Murphy sent out to supporters this morning:

In less than an hour [10:00 AM], we will officially announce that I am taking over as the chief sponsor for The Military Readiness Enhancement Act -- the bill that will finally repeal the policy known as "Don't Ask,Don't Tell." I have been speaking out against for many years against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- first as an ROTC cadet, then as a professor at West Point, and later as a candidate and a congressman. To now take the lead on such an important piece of legislation is an honor and a privilege beyond words.

This is going to be a busy day full of meetings and interviews. We'll even be launching a new website dedicated to this issue: LetThemServe.com. But before it all got started I wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to stand up and fight for the values we all believe in. I couldn't do this without you, and I'll never forget that.

Friedman writes: "Given that the troops have been harmed by this law, it's good to see a soldier leading the way on the repeal."

I just think it's good to see anyone leading the way on this.

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Comments

[IronValkyrie]

You guys bashin Obama ACTUALLY think Murphy isn't his man on this? Come on, look at the guy. He's frakkin perfect to lead on this. He's gotta be the man the Big Dog picked to do the deed.

Ex Military. West Point Professor. Underdog hero.

Nah, sorry to those who say Obama isn't doing anything. I think it's pretty obvious he is, and this is the man he picked to make it happen.

I like Murphy's style, and I'd vote for him for President in a wink.

Fear not my fellow Gay American's. Our time of equality is coming. I can see it now.

[cminca]

When the repeal of DADT passes let's make sure that the DNC and President Obama understands that the LGBTQ community knows who are friends TRULY are.

Patrick Murphy--you're getting unsolicited contributions from me.

The rest of you "fierce advocates" can ask until you're blue in the face. This gAyTM is still closed to you.

[annie g]

I am disappointed that Obama has backed down from his promise of changing DADT. To tell the American people that we need Congress to change this directive is an insult to the people who serve this country with honor and dignity,
I hope with someone like Murphy who is pursuing this with so much compassion, that Obama will do the right thing.
Obama's decision to keep stalling on this matter is wrong on so many levels.

[foxbat]

While I can appreciate that people want Obama to just jump in and change the laws, Murphy himself pointed out last night that Congress passed this law and it needs to be Congress who changes the law. Murphy stated, and rightly so, that for Obama to just ignore the law, as Bush did in several instances, would send the wrong message about the respect of power between the branches of government.

With that said, I do wish that Obama, without overstepping his legal bounds and the respect for the other branches of government, would be a more vocal/forceful about his backing for repealing DADT. I know he's got a lot on his plate and he's weghing which battles to fight at which times, but this seems like one where he could, at a minimum, light a fire under some folks to speed this thing up.

I will say that, having seen Rep. Murphy speak last night, I have EVERY confidence that he's the person to make this happen in the House. He was quite impressive and spoke not only with passion, but more importantly with facts and statistics. I hope that there's an equally passionate­/competent counterpart in the Senate to pick up this ball and run with it.

[cminca]

It would have been as simple as a meeting and an announcement.

"Today President Obama met with Rep. Murphy on taking the lead on legislation to repeal DADT. The president has every faith in Rep. Murphy, as an Iraq veteran, to take the lead in repealing this discriminatory policy. The president want the bill on his desk before XXX"

That would be the appropriate actions of a true advocate who wanted a legislative solution. It would have been welcome proof to the LGBTQ community that the Presdient was indeed advocating for them.

The President has DONE NOTHING to move this legislation.

[cocl]

It seems to me there is a fast and simple way to get this done:

Choose a symbolic day in the fall, spread the word, and then, on that same day, all gay and lesbian service members with some guts walk into their commanders' offices and tell them about their disposition. My bet would be that if Congress and the Joint Chiefs suddenly had to face loosing thousands of soldiers at the very same time, and right in the middle of two wars, the law would change pretty fast...

[manlambda]

Again I would like those on here who have defended the president to show me how he has shown leadership on this and other GLBT issues. Making speeches and proclamations and giving partial rights to federal employees is not leadership. He could show real leadership by:

1. Using the power of stop gap to suspend the discharge of GLBT soldiers. This accomplishes a few things. One it stops good soldiers from being discharged. Second in the interm it shows that the sky does not fall when soldiers are able to serve openly which clears the way for Congress to repeal DADT

2. He should get together the Democratic leadership in Congress and make it clear he wants these bills on his desk. I hated Bush but one of the things he was great at was coming the Republican leadership to the White House and telling them this is what I want accomplishes. Anyone who thinks the president doesn't influence legislation is n.aive.

[Musiker]

Rep. Murphy: Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[JackWhistle]

:D
Woots! Murphy is my congressman and my congressman rocks! Go get em Murphy!

[weatherwaxx]

Barack Obama has always maintained that DADT should be reversed by an act of Congress.

What one Executive Order can decree, another can undo--see the stem-cell and gag-order EOs that were changed on Day 1.

I think DADT is ridiculous, but I think legislative change has a better chance of being lasting change. The President's Stonewall anniversary declaration was a good beginning. I am willing to wait to see what else he's going to do.

And I DO think, even if he isn't fixing everything as fast as everyone might like, that he is still infinitely better than Flipflop McCain and Mrs Mooseburger.

[mplogan]

Here is my fear. Obama is so paralyzed by Raum and other Clinton era people about the religious right, that he continues to say things to the Congress like "if you send me this bill, I'll sign it." instead of "Send me this bill, so I can sign it!" I elected him to be my President now, not to worry about re-election now. Do what's right! Or do what will get you re-elected? I'm tired of this ...

GET IT!

[jcwtts1]

Nice theory but wrong. The way all of these bills work is that the congress takes the lead. They took the lead on the stim bill. They took the lead on health care. They take the lead and he pushes it over the top. If you want it now, then call congress. Call Harry Reid, or better yet, call your congress people and tell them what you want to tell Obama. You think this is Rahm running the show, it isn't. This is his call. For a lot of reasons, most of them political, but some of them strategic. You want a bill passed now. If you can find 60 senators with the guts of Patrick Murphy then you'll get it. Short of that. It isn't going to happen now.

J

[mplogan]

Nice theory, but you're wrong. If you think the President doesn't lead legislation, you have no idea how Washington works. I was a political science major in college. I have always paid attention to this stuff. It's not a theory it's a fact.

issuing an Executive Order sends a message to Congress and the nation about where he stands. He's a politician and a far more savvy one than any of us suspected. He's so busy trying to keep the religious right from being empowered by this that he's not leading.

[mick7191]

Nah

[jcwtts1]

I just realized where I know Murphy from. He is the Bucks Country Dem. Wow. Ok, people he barely won. I can't remember the last time a dem won in bucks county, but it had to be like the 1930s. I can't remember how close it was but I'm thinking less than one percent. This is a defining moment for the LGBT community. I've had tons of conversations on here about political skill and political will, well it is put up or shut up time. This is a guy who was targeted anyway. A guy who was going to face a serious challenge no matter what he did. But now, he is going to go up on the GOP wall as a must get. He needs money. He needs lots of it. He needs to be one of the most seriously funded dem house races in the country. He is going to need millions of dollars to hold his seat. Philadelphia media is the 4 or 5th most expensive in the country. If the LGBT community lets this guy go down you won't get another person like him to champion your cause. He is doing this because he believes it is right. He had to lobby to get the position. Wow. I'm going to have to write the guy a check.

[mplogan]

Me too, I grew up in Conshohocken (Montgomery County). But Obama should be leading this fight and he's not.

[jcwtts1]

Seriously, his leadership extends to saying he'll sign the bill, to telling people explicitly that he won't sign any bill that further erodes LGBT rights. His leadership is demonstrated by his celebration of gay pride month, stonewall, his order that federal employees not be discriminated against and that all rights not denied by law should be theirs. Further, that transgender federal employees are entitled to the same rights as everyone else and that foreign service employees with partners are entitled to the same benefits not denied by law, all the way up to and including LGBT ambassadors. That is leadership. That is a clear signal. But Obama isn't going to whip the bill until the end. The last ten votes are the hardest to get. Your community has to get it close and Obama can twist the last arms necessary to do it. But no one is doing anything before midterms.

J

ps - I'm a main line guy myself.

[tangelan]

The President doesn't make law. You know that, right?

[IronValkyrie]

On that note.. if someone, I dunno, at Huff Post, could make sure we all know how to reach this boy's website so we can make a donation, that'd be great.

A solid show of solidarity is what is needed now to help Murphy change the world we live in.

[springsm]

Congress has to make this decision. I watched Rep. Murphy on Rachel's show tonight. He was very passionate. Gosh, a young turk comes in and immediately started doing something.­..last year. Now this. Hats off to this young man. Gads...my representative is a GOP so he votes "the way John wants me too" and has not done one thing in either term. And he will no doubt go back next year. Makes me wanna throw up. Especially when we see someone who is willing to take a risk and do what is right.

[mplogan]

But Obama is the leader of his Party. He needs to lead.

[hapiday]

Hughwynn, speak your mind. Don't let anyone here bully you. If you don't believe in DADT that's perfectly alright. Some people get into the name calling when you say you don't believe in gay marriage or DADT. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. However, if it is the law that gays can get married I will respect the law and the people.

[mplogan]

Or if it's the law that women can vote. Or if it's the law that black people can use the same restrooms. I'd say you're missing the point, but the one on your head is so obvious.

[weatherwaxx]

I believe in separation of church and state. The government should not base its laws on ANY religion's interpretation of religious BELIEF.

Personally, I think all unions should be civil, people should hold their own religious marriage ceremonies--if they want them--in private, and any church should be free to refuse to marry same-sex couples.

But I also believe that churches should "render unto Ceasar" and not be given a tax-free ride when they're trying to impose their religion on all US citizens.

[hapiday]

For the people who are insistent on calling the president names because he hasn't waved a magic wand within 6 months to make all your dreams come true stop tripping. These people can't be taken seriously. Jason Linkins, something isn't quite right about him. I can't put my finger on what it is yet. But, keep writing your intentions will become apparent to me.

[mplogan]

Ummm ... he hasn't done anything, including give much more than a nod of the head. You must be straight.

[hapiday]

I'm impressed with Patrick Murphy. He's someone I think the president will be able to work closely with to get the votes needed. He as well as many others have stated DADT has to go through congress. Mr. Murphy stated one of the problems with Bush is that he bypassed Congress and used executive order which wasn't appropriate. Yet, people want President Obama to do the same. Of course Rachel asked the same ridiculous question; can President Obama just put a stop loss on dismissals until congress repeals the law? No, because DADT is still the law, whether people like it or not. Besides that President Obama needs time to consult with the military on how to handle the backlash, because there will be backlash immediately after it is repealed.

Rachel's g o o f y question is the equivalent to asking if the president can extend health care to all uninsured people until a bill is passed because people are suffering. It sounds good and it may show the president cares, but it's not practical or logical.

[hughwynn]

This has to do with Rep Murphy and the " dont ask dont tell" issue. He goes on Maddows show, who is a lesbian and tells her he is going to get this matter taken care of. If I disagree with Rep Murphy and Maddow, does that mean I am wrong or I am a homophobe or hater of gays and lesbians. I dont agree with Rep Murphy on this and I believe I still do have a right to my opinion. Our country is falling apart and this is all our senators and congress people have to worry about. Why do gays and lesbians join the armed forces if they know what the rules are already. There must be a reason for these rules. How about asking our Generals and other officers to see why they dont want gays and lesbians in the service. Just because Maddow and Olbermann and others want this doesnt mean we should let it happen.

[potrerohillman]

guess what you are a homophobe if you think gays and lesbians are unfit for military service. alone among democratic countries does the usa ban gay or lesbian citizens from military service. if generals and service people objected to african americans or chinese americans would you feel the same way. gimme a break. there is absolutely no rational basis for exclusion of homosexuals except for homophobia. passing reference to the "country is falling apart" is a non sequitur. if it is falling apart is, it is because we deny others equal rights.

[jcwtts1]

My understanding is that the military is split on this issue. That there are people who are currently serving and who have served who believe DADT should be repealed. Rep Murphy, and Iraq War Vet, is one such person but there are others.

J