Posted on 02/01/2010 9:38:15 AM PST by jazusamo
President Obama's pledge to lift the military's ban on openly gay service members this year seems at best headed for extremely close votes in the House and Senate, according to Congress watchers.
The president's proposal needs 218 votes in the House. A bill to repeal the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell" has fewer than 190 co-sponsors.
What's more, a number of Democrats representing conservative districts, led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri, are set to buck the president and vote against repeal.
In the Senate, senators who support the ban could filibuster the 2011 defense authorization bill if it contains a repeal, giving opponents of the ban an uphill task of gathering 60 votes. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, has announced that he opposes a change, allowing conservatives to rally around a war-hero senator.
Gay rights forces are also facing a ticking clock. If the GOP gains House and Senate seats in November, as national polls indicate, chances for repeal would diminish further next year.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a leading opponent of the ban, said last week: "We very much need a sense of urgency to get this done in 2010."
Potential votes are being counted as Mr. Obama asks moderate and conservative Democrats — already nervous about an electorate that now favors Republicans in generic polling — to back a gay rights initiative in an election year.
Mr. Skelton said on C-SPAN on Jan. 15 that his full committee, unlike its Senate counterpart, will not hold a hearing on repeal, instead assigning the issue to a subcommittee. His opposition likely means that Democrats will have to muster a committee majority to insert language in the budget bill and send it to the floor.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Sincerely, W. Mitt Romney
You’re exactly right and Romney can shove it where the sun don’t shine.
It doesn’t matter to him whether it is implemented or not.
JUST WORDS
These stupid democrats just don’t know when to sit down and shut up. I think this will be another issue that will work in our favor.
I understand your trying to be funny with that picture you posted, but it’s far from funny. It’s very offensive in so many ways. Joe Rosenthal’s photo of the flag raising on Mt Surubachi on the island of Iwo Jima has become an iconic symbol of the United States Marine Corps. As a Marine your picture makes me ill. There are just certain things you don’t mess with. But in the end it’s your God given right to do this. I just ask that you educate yourself on what the Iwo Jima photo means to Marines.
Our US military has done well with the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. It discourages disruptive behavior such as open hand holding and other displays of affection. It asks homosexuals to conform to military discipline and avoid public statements on sex orientation issues. Those who are heterosexuals are not openly confronted by homosexual sex practices which they may find upsetting. Sexual restraint in the ranks and in barracks is mandated for all personnel. To change and let homosexuals start acting up on base or in the field would not add to military readiness. Sexual politics, and all politics should be kept to a minimum in our military.
Two ways for Lib Presidents to succeed:
1) Sign lib policy into law
2) Say you hoped to sign lib policy into law
Agreed, I think it may work in our favor and am surprised the Dems are pushing it at this time.
Well said. Sexuality doesn’t affect morale if people keep it to themselves. DADT has worked fine and the people discharged have been discharged for disobeying regulations, nothing more.
Not trying to be funny at all. I think what he is trying to do is sick. I did not create the flag image itself, I only added Obamas face to an already disgusting creation. It would be the same as adding Obama’s face to a flag burning photo-(that would also make people ill). In no way would it be a joke on the flag or what it represents.
I’m well aware of what the Iwo Jima photo means to marines as my father was a Marine drill sergeant in WW2.
p.s.
Thank you for your service.
Yep, Zer0 could well be hurting his Dems by pushing this but he can say to the leftists he tried.
This is 1994 all over again.
Only this time it will be MUCH BIGGER!
Looks to me like it’s shaping up that way.
Do you hear anything about the possibility of Murphy being ousted in PA 8, Smooth?
I found this...
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/77661-fitzpatrick-puts-old-seat-in-play-for-gop
Thanks, I goofed in asking you that. I got Tim and Pat Murphy’s districts mixed up, was thinking Pat’s was next to the twelth.
It’d be nice if this backfired on Pat and Fitzpatrick would unseat him.
I havn’t heard anything on Tim Murphy(R), although it would be welcome by me if a more principled conservative challenger emerged.
Tim Murphy is too cozy with John Murtha for my liking, but otherwise he’s OK.
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