DADT Passes the Senate Armed Services Committee: 16-12

[Clio the Leo]

http://twitter.com/wonkroom/status/14863845356

Senate Panel Votes To End Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Brian Beutler | May 27, 2010, 6:45PM

Equal rights activists scored a major victory today, as the Senate Armed Services committee voted 16-12 to give the Pentagon the power to overturn Don't Ask, Don't Tell--a policy that bans openly gay people from serving in the military. However, numerous obstacles still remain, including an explicit threat from multiple Republicans that they'll filibuster the legislation when it reaches the Senate floor.

Maine Republican Susan Collins joined 14 Democrats in adopting the repeal plan as an amendment to the 2011 Defense Authorization Act, which should receive a floor vote next month. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) was the lone Democrat to vote 'no' with the Republicans. The House is expected to adopt similar language later tonight or tomorrow.

But key Republicans adamantly oppose the move, and are willing to take extraordinary measures to prevent the repeal from going through.

"I'll do everything in my power (to stop the repeal)," said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who serves as ranking member on the Armed Services Committee yesterday.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/senate-panel-votes-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell.php

Does John want to "Silence the danged gays!"

[jenmito]

1. K&R!!! n/t

[flpoljunkie]

2. The House is scheduled to vote on Murphy's DADT amendment tonight.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Updated with another article. NT

[Clio the Leo]

4. "Pelosi Predicts House Will Vote to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’"

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003673787

[PopSixSquish]

17. Pelosi Would Not Let the Vote Come Up, If She Didn't Have the Votes

as Speaker she's never lost a vote and after putting her personal effort into it, she's not going to lose this one either...

[racaulk]

5. Fantastic!

K&R

[racaulk]

6. ***Roll Call here***

Yes:

Carl Levin (Michigan)
Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)
Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)
Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
Ben Nelson (Nebraska)
Evan Bayh (Indiana)
Claire McCaskill (Missouri)
Mark Udall (Colorado)
Kay R. Hagan (North Carolina)
Mark Begich (Alaska)
Roland W. Burris (Illinois)
Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico)
Edward E. Kaufman (Delaware)
Susan M. Collins (Maine)

No:

Jim Webb (Virginia)
John McCain (Arizona)
James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)
Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Roger F. Wicker (Mississippi)
George S. LeMieux (Florida)
Scott Brown (Massachusetts)
Richard Burr (North Carolina)
David Vitter (Louisiana)

Source: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/senate-armed-services-committee-votes-1610-to-repeal-dadt-.html

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. Wow, Jim Webb.

Don't you think if you looked around and saw the only people on your side were morons you would say "Hmmm...maybe I'm on the wrong side of this..."

[Political Tiger]

11. Exactly, I was thinking that too. n/t

[racaulk]

12. Webb's vote was doubly insulting because he's a Dem AND a veteran!

He knows damn well that there are already gay people serving openly in our armed forces with no discernable negative effects on troop morale and readiness. I can't believe that he bought into the "gayz are gonna rape our soldiers in the showers" hysteria and other sundry bullshit fears that the RR are pushing. And now he's talking about aiding the Repukes in their filibuster when the Defense bill comes before the floor of the Senate. Just shameful.

I'm so glad Webb is in office instead of his predecessor George "Macaca" Allen, but damn has he been a disappointment in this.

:mad:

P.S. Kudos to Susan Collins on her vote! :thumbsup:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

18. The people who use their status as veterans to deny other service members their rights are a new low

They're good enough to fight with you, help you, save you...as long as they don't show you a picture of their partner or spouse.

[Cant trust em]

22. I’m not too surprised by Webb’s defection.

As someone who used to be pretty high up in the military chain, I’m not surprised that he wants to see the whole bureaucratic report process play out.

[zulchzulu]

9. Lindsey Graham voted against it? Oh....mmkay... n/t

[racaulk]

15. +1

That's curious, isn't it?

:hi:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. WTF is wrong with John McCain?

"I'll do everything in my power (to stop the repeal),"


:wtf:

[racaulk]

14. He's just trying to bolster his "conservative" credentials to placate the teabaggers in AZ.

He's facing one of his more difficult reelection campaigns, and considering the political clout, energy, and motivation that the teabaggers in Arizona seemingly have right now, it makes sense for him to try to move to the right to pick up their support. I think that's also why he wanted today's committee discussion and vote televised.

The "maverick" has become nothing more than a shameful panderer. And a complete dick to boot.

:argh:

[Phx_Dem]

10. Great news! I have to say I'm actually surprised.

It is the Senate after all, and the Armed Services Committee at that. But good on them!

[Dr Morbius]

13. 75% of the country supports repeal of DADT. In a nation that remains

deeply divided, it's pretty rare that 3/4 of the country agrees on anything. Republican politicians can read polls, so I think the Democrats in the Senate have enough votes to invoke cloture. The only way the GOP can filibuster is if they get up and start talking and don't stop, and I don't see any of them doing that.

The wheels are turning too slowly for many, but they are turning. The House and Senate leadership are making rather a politically clever move: if they pass the legislation as it is, their base can only grouse at the Pentagon for any delay in implementation. Then, hopefully, the left has one less reason not to turn out in November, and any anger gets directed at the administration, not Congress. Obama's approval rating is much higher than that enjoyed by Congress, and he's not running again until 2012.

Meanwhile, the nation is rejecting some 1000 soldiers and marines every year for the ridiculous reason that some people feel icky about homosexuality. This legislation lights a little fire under the military; I like it.

[msongs]

16. Bush's generals have final say, they can put off a report for 100 yrs if they want nt

[Cleita]

19. Guest on Ed Show said that our soldiers are serving side by side with

gay Brits and Aussies in Afghanistan. It's seems so stupid the brass here in the USA are that clueless or don't want to see the reality that Americans are already serving with other gay soldiers.

[Thrill]

20. Another gem from the "War Hero"

"I think it's really going to be very harmful to the morale and effectiveness of our military," said Sen. John McCain of Arizona


Does this guy really believe this?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

21. Again, as with Obama on marriage, does it really make it better if he doesn't?

If you know something to be right but take the opposite position for the sake of political expediency, is that better or worse than actually believing said horseshit?