Richard Burr Slammed By Fellow Republicans For DADT Repeal Vote

North Carolina Republican Senator Richard Burr is weathering blows from fellow Republicans this week, following his decision to vote for the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James, a Republican, was particularly upset by Burr's action. He portrayed the acceptance of openly gay servicemembers in harsh terms and announced that he wouldn't support the senator in his future reelection efforts.

"I think there are a lot of things that people of all political stripes tolerate from their politicians," James said, according to The Charlotte Observer. "But endorsing immorality and allowing military recruits to be preyed on by homosexuals is not one that I will tolerate."

Richard Thomas, chair of the Mecklenburg Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Political Action Committee, responded to James's characterization of the decision, asking The Observer, "When are we going to stand up and say that this type of hate speech is not acceptable?"

The Observer reports that other Republican county commissioners expressed their opposition to Burr's final decision, but hesitated to loft such strong criticism.

Republicans Karen Bentley and Jim Pendergraph also say they disagree with the repeal, which passed the Congress on Dec. 18. Bentley said she was disappointed in Burr, but acknowledged she didn't know the full rationale behind Burr's vote. Pendergraph did not criticize Burr directly, but said he opposes the repeal.

At the time of the vote, Burr said he was not in favor of enacting a large shift in military protocol during a cumbersome time of war, but clarified that he believed such a system of institutionalized discrimination was inherently wrong.

"I have vehemently objected to making a policy change of this magnitude at this time," Burr explained of his initial vote to filibuster the measure. After the blockade failed, however, his tone changed.

"A majority of Americans have grown up at a time that they don't think exclusion is the right thing for the United States to do," Burr said. "It is not accepted practice anywhere else in our society, and it only makes sense."

Burr joined seven other Republican senators in voting to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Comments

[Renifer]

10:14 PM on 01/01/2011

"How can I continue to feel superior if there is no one left to look down my nose upon?"

[Rangergirl]

10:06 AM on 01/01/2011

This is the first vote of this man's that I agree with... Finally a good vote to repeal DADT.

[Jaladeno]

08:11 AM on 01/01/2011

Forget "don't ask, don't tell." Bill James should have lived by the even older guideline of "don't think? then, don't speak."

[DougSmith]

11:11 PM on 12/31/2010

Republicana like to talk about how the represent the REAL Amerucun Paeple but when the polls show that over 70% of the Americn People were in favor of repeal, it's back to the same old bigotry.

[whyus]

06:42 PM on 12/31/2010

A Republican with a sense of what is morally right and wrong, and acting on it. Why, for G's sake is that not the norm anymore? Congress has turned into crazies; Spector called them cannibals on his way out the door. Time to tell it like it is, lefties.

[T2inDC]

07:53 AM on 01/01/2011

Equal protection under the law is what is morally right.

[JackNasty]

05:29 PM on 12/31/2010

Can anything be wrong with upseting those southern, christoholic theocrats in the GOP who use the law to deny freedom to others

Congratulations to Sen. Burr for protecting the Constitutional principles of equal protection and free speech. It was the right thing to do.

Someday we all know what it feels like to have equal protection under the law. The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell was a step toward that goal.

[KevinFitzz]

05:13 PM on 12/31/2010

"Preyed upon by Homosexuals..." ??? CAn you hear me LAUGHING all the way from California?
Our troops are going to be preyed upon by homos? HA HA HA

[johnmorgan]

07:12 PM on 12/31/2010

The funny thing is, a HUGE number of female soldiers have been raped or sexually harassed by male soldiers. Apparently Bill James is not concerned about THAT too much. Maybe heterosexuals should not be allowed to serve!

[mthespian]

03:10 AM on 01/01/2011

Having lived in Mecklenburg County, I can tell you Bill James is not concerned about much of anything except getting publicity, tearing down anything Democrats like just because they happen to be Democrats, and staying loved by the bigoted pocket of the county that continues to put his useless, obnoxious a&# in that seat.

[Jaladeno]

08:17 AM on 01/01/2011

There is nothing like a "man of the cloth" promoting outright defiance of the commandment against bearing false witness. Isn't it weird that lying made the big guy's (or gal's - no one knows) top ten list on the two stone tablets while homosexuality (in any form) did not? Why wouldn't a Reverend realize that?

[robphilnz]

02:27 PM on 01/01/2011

Vengeance is mine saith the . . . . Rev Mark H. Creech????

Where do these people come from? He certainly does not promote the message of Jesus, yet he appends that title to his name.

I thought that lawmakers were elected to serve ALL the people, which (in a democracy) means that he must listen to and act for the majority, not for minor special-interest groups such as political parties and those who represent a god of hate.

[LeftLeanWing]

02:30 PM on 12/31/2010

Sen Burr... more than likely has a Gay family member he isn't bringing up....

To buck the GOP on a social issue of this magnitude....was personal...

Maybe a Son or a Daughter or sibling perhaps.

[Hpotterfan77]

02:50 PM on 12/31/2010

I would have to agree with you on that one.

[LeftLeanWing]

04:30 PM on 12/31/2010

In 1984, Burr married Brooke Fauth; the couple has two sons.

[T2inDC]

07:55 AM on 01/01/2011

Or maybe he did this because it is the right thing to do.

[Jaladeno]

08:18 AM on 01/01/2011

But that would mean a Republican did something on principle...?!?!?

[LeftLeanWing]

09:27 AM on 01/01/2011

T2inDC....  that is possible.....


But if you look at this man's record, his previous votes and his comments on LGBT issues, he is about as far right as a conservative as a conservative can get. Up until this vote his Human Rights Commission Rating was 0% - meaning he was no friend of us Gay Folk.


src: http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Richard_Burr.htm

[QuintinJordon]

02:17 PM on 12/31/2010

"I think there are a lot of things that people of all political stripes tolerate from their politicians," James said, according to The Charlotte Observer. "But endorsing immorality and allowing military recruits to be preyed on by homosexuals is not one that I will tolerate."

Interesting, Mr, James, that I do not see any mention of heterosexual rape. I am sure it is immoral to have male soldiers raping female soldiers, but you are only concerned with your homophobias "preying" on others.

Get a clue, Mr. James. I am sure that means an education to go along with it.

[Lexie]

01:25 PM on 12/31/2010

He did the right thing.

[JimMeck]

11:24 AM on 12/31/2010

Burr what can I say. Mr. James......Right on.

[MauriceM]

11:43 AM on 12/31/2010

The Observer thread on the latest Bill James story were closed down due to abusive comments, so we might see more of Mr. James' supporters--such as JimMeck--on this thread today.

[Larkhill]

12:59 PM on 12/31/2010

I think people who want to violate the civil rights of another group are immoral. So I guess you and others like you should be excluded form the military as well. Fair?

[tjconkster]

11:12 AM on 12/31/2010

"I think there are a lot of things that people of all political stripes tolerate from their politicians," James said, according to The Charlotte Observer. "But endorsing immorality and allowing military recruits to be preyed on by homosexuals is not one that I will tolerate."
***********************************************************************************************************
First I have to ask...what century is this guy living in.....I've not read one documented case or read of one study that backs his claims....however there is plenty of evidence showing that so called "Christian Fundamentalists" are preying upon our recruits...

Secondly...where is his condemnation of the Catholic Church? A supposed safe place for all....but as it turns out...it is actually a place where self proclaimed "Men of God" prey on boys for their own sexual gratification....

The hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me...

[roxiehart]

04:17 PM on 12/31/2010

homosexual "men of god"

[ellexmarie]

10:00 PM on 01/04/2011

Let me first say that I DO NOT AGREE WITH HIM. I just want to provide you with his response regarding your first question. According to the report he wrote and that he sent me on the subject, and I quote:
"Go down to the Dowd YMCA and let them show you the ‘red phone’. They had to put it in to stop homosexuals from ogling straight business men in the showers and changing rooms. The same upper-crust of Charlotte who claim to be for diversity have to install special equipment to protect themselves from the predatory behavior of homosexuals in a place that should be safe, if homosexuals were not predatory...Charlotte’s red phone isn’t the only one. All across the US there are procedures in place to prevent homosexuals from preying on men at the Y. Take a look at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police records and they will show you that the police run ‘sting’ operations to target homosexuals who gather in parks...250 homosexuals have been arrested each year by the CMPD for ‘soliciting a crime against nature’. Homosexual conduct is still illegal in NC but...the red phone and sting operations are still necessary....the County had to spend big bucks redesigning Kilbourne Park so that it did not attract homosexuals. The County Commission spent your tax dollars to protect you and your kids from homosexuals and joined with the police to run a sting operation to identify and arrest them.

[bobo5]

10:10 AM on 12/31/2010

Thank you Senator Burr for doing what is best for the military and listening to its leadership.

[IWantTofu]

09:55 AM on 12/31/2010

Dear Senator Burr,

While you might be taking political heat now for your vote to repeal DADT, and my even lose relection, please be comforted by the fact that your vote will be looked back upon as being on the right side of history.

[DUSAA-1775]

11:52 AM on 12/31/2010

Dear Senator Burr,
While you might be taking political heat now for your vote to repeal DADT, and may even lose reelection, please be comforted by the fact that your vote will be looked back upon as being a non-issue and in fact, your vote will probably not even be remembered.

[Cacey]

01:42 PM on 12/31/2010

It will be remembered when he receives a Profile in Courage Award.

[johnmorgan]

07:14 PM on 12/31/2010

Who cares if he's remembered? He did the right thing. I WILL remember!