Posted on 12/11/2010 10:55:58 PM PST by onyx
Next week will be crucial for gay rights advocates and congressional supporters of repealing the “Don't ask, don't tell” law.
Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are working to garner support for a standalone bill to repeal the Clinton-era ban on openly gay people serving in the military. Lieberman and Collins formally introduced that bill on Friday.
The Senate this week dealt a severe blow to repeal when it fell short of the 60 votes necessary to start considering the defense authorization bill, which contains the repeal provision.
At this point the standalone repeal bill is a last-ditch effort. The strategy has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is on standby to facilitate a successful vote in the House. Pelosi is part of the negotiations with the Senate to try to figure out the best and easiest way to pass repeal in the face of Republican opposition and a very crowded last week in session.
“Since the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has broad support among Senators, our troops, and the American people, it is my hope that that the Senate will move forward with an alternative legislative method," Pelosi said in a statement on Thursday. "The bipartisan proposal from Senators Lieberman and Collins provides renewed hope that progress is still possible in the Senate; an army of allies stands ready in the House to pass a standalone repeal of the discriminatory policy once the Senate acts."
If the bill is considered as a freestanding piece of legislation, it will most likely require 60 hours of debate because of the lack of unanimous consent and two possible cloture votes.
Republicans might very well stick to their pledge to block any bills until they see approval of a tax-cut deal and legislation funding the government in 2011.
It is possible Reid, who backs repeal, will have to keep the Senate in session beyond the target adjournment date of Dec. 17 to complete the legislation. There would also be pressure on the House to stay in session to get it done.
They only had around 33% of the surveys returned. I wrote McCain and said the return numbers were probably low because those surveyed felt the same way about the last election, they didn’t like their choices.
They have to ask the simple question of repeal: yes or no. Period. No number fudging psychobable survey.
Sometimes the judges let the survey question be twisted like, should we allow the DADT law to remain, or however they want those saying no to vote yes if they miss one word.
I wonder how those in the top rungs of the military or congress are. Personally I wonder if any of those guys would like to be subject to the scanners and pat downs we are faced with should we go through airport security, or truly walk through their own home and not want some discretion from family members’ activities.
"I have received several calls and visits from constituents who, in spite of the heavy investment in their training, have been forced out of the military simply because they were discovered to be homosexual," Paul said Friday. "To me, this seems like an awful waste. Personal behavior that is disruptive should be subject to military discipline regardless of whether the individual is heterosexual or homosexual. But to discharge an otherwise well-trained, professional, and highly skilled member of the military for these reasons is unfortunate and makes no financial sense."
Makes NO FINANCIAL SENSE?
That's his reason!
I've heard it all.
Legalize and condone sodomy because it makes no "financial sense" to discharge homosexuals for such deviant sexual acts!
Oh, FGS. This damn lameduck needs to adjourn.
This damn congress ruined Christmas last year with obamacare and they’re going for two in a row.
Yes, I will also make the same pledge. TEA Party Collins.
I’d rather go with a TEA Party patriot and risk losing the seat to a rat than to have her sit one more day in the Senate.
She’s a disgrace.
Exactly so. DADT fails in the new congress and these traitors and homosexual sodomy carriers know it.
I wonder how many are closeted homosexuals themselves?
For example, I’ve not found any evidence of a Mrs. Mullins.
Interesting comment below the article:
? FYI If a guy is married with children he is not gay but rather bi-sexual. Very prevalent among macho narcissistic types lacking a father figure or positive male role model. There is a high rate of bi-sexual activity among black men due to the lack of male role models, dominant female roles, social-stigma and drug use. Black women have traditionally raised their children alone, and have created dominant female roles. The stigma of being a “black homosexual” is largely socially unacceptable in black communities and even among homosexuals themselves. It remains well hidden behind the skirt of a trophy dominant female and children. Statistics show that black women were at the largest risk of contracting HIV from their males, due to black male bi-sexuality and clandestine relationships. The prevalent drug use has brought out the very worst moral-cultural groups this nation has ever seen, race being a very small factor in comparison to the rise in promiscuity, prostitution, crime, and taboo sexual practices.
Would it surprise me if Barry was bi-sexual? Not in the very least, he fits the profile to an absolute T. In fact, It would be more of a surprise if he wasn’t.
Yep...as usual, Ron Paul tends to align more with the left than he does with the right.
*facepalm*
When I sugned up in 1996, Bubba Gump Clintons “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was newly minted.
Gays were signing up with the fantasy that the military would be an all you can eat meat market.
They didn’t understand that “Not asking” meant we weren’t going to ask, and “Not telling” meant they were supposed to STFU about it.
Well, one particular person we referred to as Banannasack had a habit of jumping into the shower with people.
Yes, he got his face kicked in a couple times, but he refused to learn.
Yes, he grabbed my butt.
Yes, I did beat him unconscious.
I will not apologize for it, he deserved it.
If it had been hetero sexual harassment he’d have been booted.
As you can guess, I am against gays serving.
I haven’t met one yet that could keep their hands to themselves.
“This damn lameduck needs to adjourn.”
I fully concur. I would rather let the tax rates go up temporarilly than to accept the repeal of DADT or to accept all the pork attached to the current bill to extend the Bush tax reductions.
I KNOW that the new congress will be able to get the Bush tax reductions extended and without all this other trash thrown in. Mr. Obama will have to deal from a much weaker position in January.
“This female is both a liar and a traitor to our straight military men and women.”
A snake is always a snake...it is in its nature.
Right. He’s definitely gay and likely fakes it with women because of the stigma. He *had* to get married and produce children for his political career.
Absolutely and this is an outrage.
For financial reasons!!!
Outrageous! UGH. Good on you!
Then you well know what will go on during showers if this repeal goes through. It’ll be “anything goes” - it’s all condoned and sanctioned.
Every senator voting for repeal is unfit for office.
Exactly.
Those who claim there won’t be a problem are deluding themselves, or worse -purposefully evil.
Yep. This corrupt congress has no business being in session. Congress will still be corrupt, but the House has a chance to straighten up and fly Right.
Well, the two pushing for this stand alone bill to repeal DADT, have never served in the military, have they?
Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins!
Yeah, they wouldn’t have to worry about homosexual sex assaults, AIDS, Hep C and such.
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