Failure of Bill Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Could Hurt Democrats in Midterms

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Tue Sep-21-10 10:02 PM
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Failure of Bill Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Could Hurt Democrats in Midterms

Failure of Bill Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Could Hurt Democrats in Midterms
by Eve Conant
September 21, 2010

In the wake of a Senate vote not to advance the Defense Authorization Bill, the current iteration of which included an amendment that would have repealed "don't ask, don't tell," the 17-year-old ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, some gay-rights advocates predicted grim ramifications for Democrats in November.

Speculation has turned to how the vote could affect Democratic prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, with LGBT advocates saying that today's disappointment could hurt voter turnout. "The problem with what's going on here is that younger activists are not going to volunteer," says Lt. Dan Choi, who was formally discharged this summer and has been a leading activist in the fight to repeal DADT. He adds that the LGBT community has long expected a fight with Republicans on the issue, and that today's shock and disappointment are directed at the other party: " are going to come to us in November and say, 'We did our best,' and how they do more for us than Republicans. we are facing a schoolyard bully, and we expect him to punch us in the face, but we don't expect our friends not to face him down."

Richard Socarides, a former adviser to Bill Clinton on gay and lesbian issues, says the administration will need to act quickly to repair relations with the LGBT community, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in the 2008 presidential election and has since been disappointed by the president's inaction on gay issues. "Clearly, from Obama on down they waited too long and miscalculated what the benefits of going slow motion on this would be," says Socarides. "Now they are seeing the consequences. We'll be looking to Obama to make good on his promise to end the discharges. If Congress is not ready to act, then the president needs to."

Socarides suggests an executive order to end the discharges: "The gay community wants to continue supporting the administration, but we are looking for Obama to acknowledge that things have gone badly and to change course." While the LGBT community would be unlikely to turn out for Republicans in November, Socarides says the disillusionment is sure to dampen enthusiasm. "The Democrats are certainly better than the alternative," he says, "but this was not a profile in courage today. It's hard to understand what anyone was thinking here in terms of strategy."

Former Democratic strategist Paul Yandura, who has worked closely with the gay-rights advocacy group GetEQUAL to fight for repeal of DADT, also sees a need for Democrats to win back the support of the LGBT community. "At the beginning of 2009, many in the community were chastised for being impatient and demanding that our friends and allies set the groundwork necessary to pass repeal of DADT immediately," he says. "Instead, the Democratic leadership and President Obama decided to kick the can down the road, and we are now paying the price for their lack of leadership."

Yandura adds, "The debate within the community has centered on whether the Democrats are truly unable or just unwilling to make good on their campaign promises, but no matter which you believe, there is no scenario where it gets easier for them after the midterms, so we need to seriously reconsider where we put our resources moving forward."

Read the full article at:

http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/09/21/failure-to-repeal-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-could-hurt-democrats-in-november.html

The Senate Democrats and the White House have lots of options to pass the repeal of DADT in this session of the Senate.

1. Democrats can and should allow the debate continue in the Senate. Don't withdraw the bill and keep the Senate in session until 60 votes are obtained to end the debate. In fact, Senator Reid has the power to use Senate Rule 22 to force Republicans to engage in a real filibuster on the Senate floor if he so chooses.

2. Senator Reid has the power to end his "two-track" procedure whereby the Senate can take up other Senate business while a bogus pretend Republican filibuster is taking place in opposition to repeal of DADT. Don't limit the debate! Let the Republicans tie up the Senate until hell freezes over. Don't let them go home! Bring out the cots. Let's test their resolve.

3. Senator Reid has the power to keep the Senate in session around the clock and can call upon Democratic Senators to take and hold the Senate floor in support of repealing DADT until such time as Republicans decide they want to end the "debate" so they cango home.

4. Senator Reid can use the "Constitutional Option" to prevent any kind of Republican filibuster and have an up and down vote on the repeal measure.

5. President Obama can weigh in and work hard to support the repeal of DADT. He can sign an executive order. Tokenism isn't acceptable.

BBI