Reid Backs Plan to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy

[ruggerson]

Source: The New York Times

With a possible fight brewing in Congress over repeal of the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, came down on Tuesday solidly in favor of eliminating the ban.

“We’re having trouble getting people into the military,” Mr. Reid told reporters when questioned about whether he could support an 18-month moratorium on enforcing a prohibition on gays in the armed forces. “And I think that we shouldn’t turn down anybody that’s willing to fight for our country, certainly based on sexual orientation.”

Mr. Reid said he would go the proposal, being considered by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, one better and support a permanent repeal of the ban.

Ms. Gillibrand, eager to court support from the large New York gay community and improve her standing with liberals prior to her election bid next year, is reportedly considering trying to add a moratorium to the Pentagon policy measure now being considered in the Senate.



Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/reid-backs-plan-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Great news!!!

K & R!!!

It will be interesting to see the Repukes twist themselves into knots trying to oppose bringing more troops, especially Arabic translators, into the military at a time when we need more troops to fight terrorists in the ME.

[Spazito]

2. Excellent news!

DADT was repulsive at the time of it's institution and it is well past time it is permenantly repealed.

[DainBramaged]

3. So Harry "I'm a Mormon in Democratic clothing" has woken up

to realize he will be defeated in the next cycle unless he makes gay rights part of the agenda???

[Skinner]

4. Good on ya, Harry.

Great news.

[myrna minx]

5. This is excellent news. K&R n/t

[MineralMan]

6. Very good. That should help.

[LynneSin]

7. This is the way it should be repealed

I highly doubt Obama would Veto is if passed. But I always thought this was something that should be initiated by Congress!

[No Elephants]

11. Since Clinton had DADT enacted by Congress, only Congress can repeal it. But,

Obama could have suspended DADT discharges on day one under the specific statutory authority Congress gave the President in 10 USC 12305. Almost 300 military careers would have been spared if he had done that. And no, he won't veto because a Democratic Congress will take the political heat of this issue off him before he has to run again, just like it took the heat for DADT Clinton when it enacted DADT at Clinton's behest in he first instance.

[Libertyfirst]

8. If Reid actually helps this happen, I will forgive him a few of his

past failures and even contribute to his re-election campaign.

[No Elephants]

12. I might help him get re-elected, but only if I couldn't primary him. And I would

no more forgvve him for his past than I will forgive the Senators who elect him majority leader.

But, that's just me.

[David Zephyr]

9. First Marie Osmond and now Harry Reid. Is the Mormon ice cracking?

?

[No Elephants]

13. People in show business tend to view GLBT issues differently. Ditto if

a close family member is known to be gay. In Marie's case, it may be both. Who knows? And, this is, after all, the military. And an especially ridiculous policy, namely, you are free to be in the military, as long as you are deceptive to your buddies. But, I would not bank on Mormons generally for GLBT issues. Or, for that matter, on any neo theo.

[Cha]

10. Good..I had

confidence in this going forward.