Lieberman: DADT Repeal Has The Votes If Republicans Get The Debate Time They Want

The Advocate:

Sen. Joe Lieberman said Thursday that repealing "don't ask, don't tell" as part of the National Defense Authorization Act is no longer a question of votes, it's a question of process.

"I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the defense authorization with the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' if only there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process, in other words, whether we'll take enough time to do it," Lieberman told reporters at a press conference, naming GOP senators Susan Collins and Richard Lugar as yes votes. "Time is an inexcusable reason not to get this done."

Lieberman, an independent, was flanked by 12 of his Democratic colleagues -- a core group that seemed intent on urging the Democratic leadership to allow enough room in the Senate schedule for a debate that would be amenable to Republicans. The senators talked about working over the weekends, and Sen. Mark Udall offered to go straight through until Christmas Eve.

Read the whole story: The Advocate

Comments

[Elizabeth Cazarez]

01:21 PM on 12/01/2010

After the repeal of dadt, there is still more to this struggle of gays/lesbians, like what about their partners benefits? Has anyone heard about passing military benefits to gays/lesbians also, just as the straight counterparts have...I believe that if benefits are spread across like it should be, gays/lesbians are going to adopt or conceive there own children, and prosper even more in the military as a family, like everyone else.

[Kris Bui]

10:11 AM on 11/19/2010

How much time and OUR money has this cost? Study? Ridiculous... Why has this (a person's private preference) EVER been an issue? HOW IS IT NOT BIASED/PREJUDICED?

[gman87]

10:09 AM on 11/19/2010

zzzzzzzzzzzz

[sean6886]

10:03 AM on 11/19/2010

It doesn't matter the debate or evidence brought in to show that DADT should be repealed, McFlipFlop will find a way to say it wasn't an approved study or a certain military officer didn't personally tell him that it should be repealed, or...

[newtom]

09:45 AM on 11/19/2010

I don't trust him at all. This is a bunch of posturing and distraction. He was asked by the administration months ago to lead the repeal effort and this is the first we've heard from him on the topic since then. He's one of the obstructionists and his statement is just a way for him to build a case against the repeal being included in the defense bill. "They wouldn't give enough time" will be the next thing out of his mouth when the bill is torn apart. He'll blame it on anyone else. This is just setting up the failure.

[Apathy Man]

09:31 AM on 11/19/2010

I've said it before and I'll say it again. this is not about the repeal of DADT. This is lieberman helping the republicans to screw the Dems again. They're going to use this to tie up the lame duck secession so that nothing gets passed and then vote down DADT.

[westreal]

09:31 AM on 11/19/2010

I want to p!mp slap Joe Lieberman. He is such an arse!!!!

[danusgram]

09:09 AM on 11/19/2010

Hope her people are reading these posts about her she is coming out swinging go get that old boys network Lisa that tried to step on you go get them...congratulations we may not agree on a lot of policies but on this we can agree ...you step on me I shall remember now you have to deal with me....

[Kevin Atlanta]

09:07 AM on 11/19/2010

With the dinosaur McCain howling all the way the repeal of DADT is going to happen this year.  This Kabuki of studies and delay is obscene when the law is declared "unconstitutional."

There have always been Gays in the Military.  General George Washington's Chief Training Officer, Von Steuben, the man who wrote the Standard Military Training Manual used by the French and Americans for 100 years was a GAY MAN!  In the military since before there was a USA.

This obscene prohibition against a 10% segment of our society is disgusting in a free nation.  The roots for this are deeply buried within the McCarthyism and Bigotry of the Catholic, Evangelical and LDS/Mormon Cults of Jesus who, when the Black Man went away as an object to be reviled just inserted the LGBTQ Community thinking that we would never self-identify and stand up to their Missionaries of Hate.

These Missionaries of hate were wrong in the 40s and 50s and even more wrong now.

We are not free until all of us are free.

"Civil Rights, Equal Rights are not like a pie to be divided up, they are like the tides that when set in motion overcome, overwhelm and exponentially uplift all."  Great Aunt Hattie's wisdom.

[IreneNH]

09:05 AM on 11/19/2010

I don't trust Lieberman. Wish I lived in CT so I could help whatever Dem runs against him in 2012.
Maybe I'll take a little vacation during that election and put in some time and money.

Sen. Joe Lieberman said Thursday that repealing "don't ask, don't tell" as part of the National Defense Authorization Act is no longer a question of votes, it's a question of process.

"I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the defense authorization with the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' if only there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process, in other words, whether we'll take enough time to do it," Lieberman told ...

How much time do they need? This issue has been played out for a very long time. Taking enough time means stalling it for as long as they can.

Anyone who falls for the R's "as long as the process is fair", has amnesia.

[Reito Hikari]

08:58 AM on 11/19/2010

And Lieberman starts the campaigning for his reelection in 2012... Sorry Lieberman, CT is not going to fall for this smoke screen again.

[JayJonson]

09:22 AM on 11/19/2010

I am no fan of Lieberman, but he has been far more of a "fierce advocate" on this issue than Obama has. Maybe he can finally get this done if Obama will just get out of the way since he has not lifted a hand to help.

[Stanley]

08:58 AM on 11/19/2010

Joe Lieberman is actually not on the wrong side of an issue? Huh. This is incredible. Maybe there is hope for Joe?

[RainbowPhoenix]

08:59 AM on 11/19/2010

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. I say since his in the senate for another two years anyway, take advantage of it and give him the boot once he's up for reelection.

[Monrocsol]

08:52 AM on 11/19/2010

Lieberman looks like a light bulb.

[Firehorsegirl]

08:54 AM on 11/19/2010

With a cheesy grin. Please let's repeal this horrible piece of legislation and then hope his constituents repeal him in two years.

[Firehorsegirl]

08:52 AM on 11/19/2010

Mods delete my posts for seemingly no reason and people like this guy can run hate rampages unchecked? Where's the justice on HP? I don't get it!

[h23154]

08:50 AM on 11/19/2010

Seems like a reasonable way to make everyone happy but nooooooooooooooo. We want it our way and we want it now and if we can't get what we want we don't want anything. Grow up. Who cares about the process?

[JayJonson]

09:25 AM on 11/19/2010

Uh, I think it is Obama who has been so concerned about "process." He refused to accept yes for an answer when DADT was declared dead by a federal court allegedly because of "process." He insisted on the absurd "study" to ask soldiers AND their spouses whether they approved of repeal. Even the bill that they will vote on does not actually repeal the policy: it just outlines the process by which DADT MIGHT be repealed if the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs all agree. Look for the Republicans to offer an admendment requiring that all the service chiefs have to agree. Obama will probably cave on that too.