Posted on 12/18/2010 9:27:04 PM PST by onyx
In a surprising move, after voting against cloture earlier in the day, Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) and Sen. John Ensign (R., Nev.) both voted to repeal the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on homosexuality. The measure passed by a 65–31 margin this afternoon. Other Republicans voting in favor of repeal: Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.), Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.), Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and the Maine ladies, Sen. Olympia Snowe and Sen. Susan Collins.
Burr said it was not a difficult vote to cast, despite his state’s being home to Camp Lejeune, the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast. Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, had been one of the most high-profile opponents of repeal. “Hopefully we all think independently here and we listen; we don’t have to be lobbied or influenced,” he said.
Burr told reporters that he supported repeal because “this is a policy that generationally is right,” but said he “didn’t necessarily agree” with those who have characterized the issue as a civil-rights struggle.
“A majority of Americans have grown up at a time [when] they don’t think exclusion is the right thing for the United States to do,” Burr said. “It’s not the accepted practice anywhere else in our society, and it only makes sense.”
Burr explained that he voted against cloture because he “vehemently objected to making a policy change of this magnitude at this time . . . when we’ve got troops deployed.” He also wished Republicans had been allowed to offer amendments to the bill.
“Even though this bill has now passed, it should never be enacted immediately,” he said, expressing concern over how and when the bill would go into effect. Burr said he hoped the implementation process would address his concerns and those of military officials, like General Amos, who had come out against repeal. “The speed with which this was done ignores their input and their concerns,” he said.
After he left the Capitol, Burr’s office issued this statement:
“Given the generational transition that has taken place in our nation, I feel that this policy is outdated and repeal is inevitable. However, I remain convinced that the timing of this change is wrong, and making such a shift in policy at a time when we have troops deployed in active combat areas does not take into consideration the seriousness of the situation on the ground. But, the vote this morning to invoke cloture on this bill indicated that the broader Senate was prepared to move forward with a change, and despite my concerns over timing, my conclusion is that repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is the right thing to do.”
Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) told National Review Online he wasn’t surprised by Burr’s vote. And though he echoed his colleague’s concerns about bringing up the issue during a lame-duck session and in a time of war, Corker suggested that under different circumstances and after greater consideration, more Republicans would have supported repeal.
“It was something people knew was going to happen,” Corker said, pointing out that apart from Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), few other Republicans put up much of a fight to stop repeal. “You didn’t really see anybody in there talking about it much, right? It wasn’t impassioned at all.”
Ensign, for his part, departed quietly:
Before the vote, Ensign said the choice for him was a struggle between what he personally thought was the right thing to do, and the circumstantial concerns of various military chiefs.
That’s why, he explained, he had voted against taking up the measure.
But in the end, once the question on the table, it appeared personal conviction won out over political circumstance. “My personal feeling is that it should be repealed,” he’d said before the 65-to-31 vote.
Ensign left the Senate chamber quickly and quietly . . .
Blackmail involved?
Oh they showed their spine today. They outed themselves and they didn’t have to. Burr’s vote and Ensign’s were not needed, ditto for Kirk, but I’m now sure the rumors about him are true.
Ensign and Burr are sympathetic to the homosexual agenda, in spite of knowing, acknowledging (and agreeing with) the Army and Marine generals against it.
Proves Burr is as big a dumbass as Obama. He voted to allow a the bill to get to a vote but said it shouldn't be enacted immediately.
And how the hell are you going to stop it from being enacted immediately senator? Are you that much of a freaking idiot?
I anticipate you will do precisely that! :)
You're good people. Blessed and Merry Christmas, my FRiend!
Why not? Transgendered queers. Of course!
fyi
Not unexpected.
FUMK!!!
I have no intention of voting for either a corrupt Democrat or a corrupt Republican anymore. All of my time, money and efforts will go to Tea Party candidates or they'll stay in my pocket.
50% of elected Republicans vote against Americans' interests and for every pervert, scoundrel and foreigner that they can find. To me, this was a national security issue and the so called defenders of America, the Republicans fell on their frickin faces.
“It was something people knew was going to happen,” Corker said, pointing out that apart from Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), few other Republicans put up much of a fight to stop repeal. “You didn’t really see anybody in there talking about it much, right? It wasn’t impassioned at all.”
This says it all for me. The Republicans are not much better than the Dems. I think a lot of conservatives are going to be really disappointed with the house as well. It does us no good at all to get the majorities if 1/4 to 1/3 of them are squishy moderates who have no principles at all.
We don't vote for them to vote their personal feelings. We vote for them to represent US. We're supposed to live in a representative democracy. It's supposed to be OUR vote, not theirs.
We don't have a Congress, we have a nobility and we're nothing but serfs under their heel.
Well not me any more. Screw the republican party. I'm outta here.
Were blackmail involved, how do you explain Lindsey Graham’s NO vote? Several think he casts votes under blackmail pressure, and I do not. I just think he’s an arrogant RINO, who almost always gets it right on military issues, but he’s taking up a valuable US Senate seat in a Red Southern state.
I think Ensign and Burr just voted their *feelings*.
Shoot, I meant to ping you to my last reply to others. I don’t think blackmail is involved, but what do I know? I just think those two traitor idiots voted their *feelings* and Burr’s statements make NO sense at all. Both could be closet homosexuals, but for certain, they’re both sympathetic to the homosexual agenda and against our military.
Well stated! I agree with your every word! Burr is a *thoughtful* stupid, goofy-dumb, insulting idiot. The homosexual horse has left the proverbial barn, Senator Burr.
I feel there are some that believe we would lose this battle in the courts anyway, so are just going along with it now despite the fact that the military and majority of their constituents don’t want it.
If you remember the confirmed revelations about Gary Condit’s 20 congressional member (4% of Congress in that club alone) kinky bi sexual group sex club when Chandra Levy disappeared there are probably quite a few members of Congress with skeletons in a closet they want to keep the door to shut.
Gays are real good at digging dirt about this kind of stuff and know how to use it.
Sen Craig Livingston came forward and resigned rather than roll over to blackmail over a 20 year old affair with a woman during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Newt Gingrich resigned as well so this would not be the first time.
Extortion is also another potential motive. This bill requires not that the military allow homosexual behavior, it requires that military consider eliminating DADT as soon as they deem it feasible.
This gives some Republicans the ability to raise contributions to continually fight the implementation of DADT. It also will give both sides of the aisle a chance to keep their bases stirred up for 2012.
The Democrats have passed it, and the House Republicans will block it's implementation by denying funding and will try to repeal it ensuring a good fight over DADT to keep the money flowing to both sides
Join with our FReeperPAC! We'll have it up and running before too long. Fight back. Re-loading now.
See also, the first targeted in 2012. Jim's post #567
Then let the court decide. What’s the fear? Let the 2013 SCOTUS decide, provided our next president is a Consitutional conservative and Justice Kennedy retires, and that no deaths or more appointments in the interrim fall to the Marxist.
Also, *if* implementation takes a while (or not) it’s going to be a disaster, so is there anything to stop a new conservative president and congress from undoing this horrific repeal?
You mean riding her.
Hear,hear!
I doubt the House can block it, but I hope I'm wrong
Alaska must be so proud.
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