In blocking the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal, Senate Republicans continue to hide behind disingenuous national security claims. In the long run, Senate Republicans, who are keen to turn this into a political charade, can't stop reform.
When the top military brass, such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, favor a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," noting that a "solid majority" of service members say the repeal will have no negative impact, the deal is nearly done. They join the president and a majority of Americans who have rallied behind repeal and a federal judiciary that is likely to overturn the policy on its own.
Senate obstructionists have joined the wrong side of America's civil rights history. U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Philips declared the policy, and its deliberate exclusion of openly gay service members, a violation of the Constitution.
As an elected body, Congress has a great responsibility to move on a legislative repeal, without conditions. It is my hope that this discriminatory policy is ended soon. Whenever anyone serves our country, regardless of their race, sex, socioeconomic status, religion, or sexuality, we should honor and support their service, not force them to hide their identity in shame.
I am very disappointed that Senate Republicans failed to guarantee civil rights for those LGBT individuals who serve in our armed forces. As vice-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I have ardently supported legislation that advances the rights of LGBT individuals, and I will continue to do so in the future.
Rep Honda is the vice-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
I support Repeal of DADT (and same sex marriage) so don't get me wrong but there are priorities and right now that is to stop Every American who pays federal income Tax from having a tax raise.
Several senators that filibustered it said they would support it but couldnt because they pledged to take care of the more urgent requirement to stop the tax raise FIRST.
All focus should be on THAT and then other stuff can happen. To put it in a military analogy you shoot the "25 meter" targets first because they will hit you sooner.
While any civil rights or prejudice is bad and an affront to ALL Americans the DADT bill DIRECTLY effects a few hundred people each year and the looming Tax raise DIRECTLY effects tens of millions. The Tax raise issue is time sensitive and while we cant wait for ever on DADT there is no time wall we are about to hit.
I don't understand what the fuss is about. It comes down to the fact that a group of brainwashed old men and women in the Congress want to go against popular opinion in order to show their predjudice while pushing through Bush tax cuts for the rich (which 70% of the public is against). What folly hath the Tea party wrought?
So, how much more indifference are you planning to pile on me in the next two years. Unlike you, I am a Veteran. I served as an open gay man from 1968 to 1974. I did my job and did it well. I received an honorable discharge. Make an executive order ending this embarrassment to our citizens and to our country. Thank you.
Agreed. And the Senate Republicans are a political charade as well.
As to the appeal of the District Court's ruling, if the appeal had been to another Circuit Court, I wonder if the ruling would have been appealed. Even then, it would have been difficult to use a District Court's ruling as precedent, and thus I can intellectually understand the appeal.
The law has been ruled unconstitutional. Filing an appeal to uphold a law that both he and the courts agree is wrong, goes WAY beyond the scope of his duty. If he's against DADT, he should have agreed with the court and let the ruling stand. It would then have been up to a Democratic majority in Congress to decide whether to file an appeal themselves.
And is anyone else outraged that, rather then being defeated in an actual vote, we are being defeated by preventing the vote in the first place?
1. Be heard by the 9th Circuit;
2. The 9th has to issue its ruling;
3. The losing party has to appeal to SCOTUS;
4. SCOTUS needs to accept the case.
At THAT time, the DADT case makes it to SCOTUS, but NOT before.
...Without invoking one HELL of a lot of cynicism regarding the practitioners of religion.
Perhaps there will be an opportunity next year when the congress starts compromising. Since DADT proponents vote nearly straight Democratic concessions will need to be made in other areas. I can almost smell the pork.