Susan Collins was for the DADT repeal before she was against it

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



.........(snip).........


We are, by the way, talking about legislation that funds the U.S. military during two wars. It even includes money for a pay raise for Americans troops. But it also includes allowing servicemen and women to wear the uniform, even if they’re gay. Republicans would have had an opportunity to push an amendment to keep the DADT policy in place, but that wasn’t good enough, and every GOP senator on the floor today stood in lock-step to say, “No.”

They were joined by one conservative Democrat: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) of Arkansas, who may be under the truly ridiculous impression that joining Republicans to kill a military spending bill will help her salvage a re-election campaign she’s losing by more than 20 points.

Of particular interest was Maine’s Susan Collins, who voted in committee for the same bill she filibustered today. To hear Collins tell it, she supports DADT repeal, but had to kill the legislation anyway, because of procedural issues — she wanted the Democratic majority to promise to allow more amendments during the debate.

She wasn’t satisfied with the response, so Collins ensured that there won’t be a debate, and the policy change she claims to support is likely dead for the foreseeable future.

In other words, in Susan Collins’ mind, Senate procedure matters more than fairness, equality, and decency towards U.S. servicemen and women. Collins — and Olympia Snowe and Scott Brown, the alleged “moderates” — sided with far-right, anti-gay conservatives over procedural nonsense. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/21/breaking-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-blocked/

[benlurkin]

1. I agree with the former Gay Rights Advisor for the Clinton admin

This is way too important not to give this issue an up or down vote on it's own without slipping it through on the Defense bill

[Lyric]

2. Collins was carrying water for the RNCC with that vote.

She wanted Reid to "allow more amendments" because the Republicans wanted to score electoral points by forcing Dems to either vote for ridiculous amendments (like, say, English as the national language? $50,000,000 for promotion of "traditional marriage"? A national abortion registry? Just random potential examples) OR to vote against the bill. In either scenario, Republicans get new fodder for campaign ads.

That's all this was really about, folks. Susan Collins just proved that when push comes to shove, America's national security and civil liberties take a backseat to her party's electoral advantages. She knew exactly what she was doing. It makes me sick to think that peoples' lives mean so little to these out-of-touch elitist fucks on the right.

[Buns_of_Fire]

3. It's run more like a cult than anything else.

Therefore, Collins' priorities are:

(1) The Cult Party

(2) Everything Else

[Lyric]

4. Yep. I just wish that Reid would have called her out on it.

It's pathetically obvious what she was trying to do.

[LynneSin]

5. If Lincoln Chafee was beatable in Rhode Island then so is Collins

Nuff said.

[littlewolf]

7. true ... her polling must have told her if she wants to keep her J O B

she better vote with the gop

[thereismore]

6. This worked against Kerry, but will never work against a repuke. nt

[zbdent]

8. oh, come on now ... don't you remember?

negative things like "flip-flopping" only apply to Democrats/liberals ...