With Democrats likely to add a provision to the Pentagon appropriations bill to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Republicans are moving forward with Plan B: blocking the vote on troop funding.
Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain said Thursday that he would "without a doubt" support a filibuster if the bill goes to the floor with language that Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) plans to offer as an amendment during today's markup.
"I'll do everything in my power," the Arizona Republican said, citing letters from the four service chiefs urging Congress not to act before a Pentagon review of the policy is complete. "I'm going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military [unless they happen to be gay] and to fight what is clearly a political agenda."
Another Armed Services Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker, also said he would support a filibuster if the repeal language makes it into the version of the bill that goes to the floor, possibly during the post-Memorial Day work period.
Just so we're clear, consider exactly what Senate Republicans are saying here. The GOP is prepared to refuse an up-or-down vote in the Senate on a bill that funds the troops during two wars because Americans will eventually be able to serve in the Armed Forces, regardless of their sexual orientation. That the policy has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- both Republican appointees -- is irrelevant.
What's more, as Dante Atkins added, "The funny part about this whole ordeal? The compromise that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster allows the Pentagon to have the final say in the issue, which is precisely why it is not receiving the broadest support in activist circles. And yet, despite the fact that the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs get to be the ultimate arbiters of whether the policy is repealed, that's not good enough for today's homophobic Republican Party. Today's Republicans don't want gay people to be able to serve in the military -- even if the Pentagon says it's okay."
I seem to recall Republicans screaming that those who oppose funding the troops during two wars are necessarily unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers, aiding and abetting the enemy. Now these same Republicans are boasting about their intention to prevent the Senate from even voting on troop funding.
It's funny how GOP standards change, isn't it?
This is awesome, where are the right wing(nuts) who called any Democrat who questioned troop spending, "unpatriotic"?
Yes, please, let's really HAVE a filibuster. I'm tired of the Democrats in the Senate just caving in at the mere threat of one. Make them do it and bring the entire legislative process to a complete halt for weeks and see how the public likes the party of "NO" after that.
Come on John, put your mouth to work to support your new positions.
Quote from: Dog Walker on May 27, 2010, 12:41:06 PM
Yes, please, let's really HAVE a filibuster. I'm tired of the Democrats in the Senate just caving in at the mere threat of one. Make them do it and bring the entire legislative process to a complete halt for weeks and see how the public likes the party of "NO" after that.
Come on John, put your mouth to work to support your new positions.
LOL... Do you think the Democrats have the spine?
McCain is becoming a joke.
One can only hope. This is the perfect issue too; troop funding and the public is ready for the end of DADT. They can really gain politically on this if they will grow a (Sorry!), get tough.
Quote from: Dog Walker on May 27, 2010, 12:47:36 PM
One can only hope. This is the perfect issue too; troop funding and the public is ready for the end of DADT. They can really gain politically on this if they will grow a (Sorry!), get tough.
I agree DADT should end, however, my real fear is that there will be an immediate cost and some young people are going to get hurt and may lose their lives over its repeal. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and I know how people who were suspected of being gay were treated, and I was in the air wing (typically considered more laid back) not a grunt.
Actually being open about the issue is better than DADT. Rules and regs about behaviors can be put in place then to control any hostile treatment.
These same issues were talked about when the armed forces were desegregated by Harry Truman back in 1948; unit cohesion, morale, hostile treatment, etc. The military was/is actually very capable of dealing with the possible behavioral problems created by both.
Quote from: Dog Walker on May 27, 2010, 01:00:58 PM
Actually being open about the issue is better than DADT. Rules and regs about behaviors can be put in place then to control any hostile treatment.
These same issues were talked about when the armed forces were desegregated by Harry Truman back in 1948; unit cohesion, morale, hostile treatment, etc. The military was/is actually very capable of dealing with the possible behavioral problems created by both.
I think your right but I am guessing there will be some immediate backlash, I have seen some pretty horrible things happen and am under no illusion that the homophobia will stop when the policy ends.
This is where people against the repeal of DADT don't get it. Most gays in the military will not be all open and such about their sexuality if repealed. They just want to be able to go out, be with their friends, go to bars, etc. w/o worrying about being ratted on and turned in for violating the law. I was open, to the extent where most people knew but I didn't flaunt it around and such, and people didn't care, they jsut wanted me to be careful.
A few years back, it literally used to be a witch hunt outside the gay establishments here to spot and report the vehicles that had DOD stickers. Most gays in the military won't act differently once DADT is gone, but a lot of Republicans think the military will become a f*cking pick up scene and such, when that is totally not the case.
John McCain needs to be gone, hell, he should've been gone years ago. He flip-flops on the issues constantly, no wonder most don't take him seriously and call him a crotchety old bastard with nothing better to do.
"I'm going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military and to fight what is clearly a political agenda."
Got it.
Throwing dedicated American servicemen and women out in a time of war, based on arguments of morale and unit cohesion which the creators of the policy now admit were based on no evidence whatsoever is principled patriotism.
Ending discrimination that serves no purpose, weakens our military and has the support of 80% of the public is "clearly a political agenda."
Get off my lawn, Grandpa McCain!