'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Showdown Looming In The Senate

[TomCADem]

Source: TIME

The Pentagon launched Operation New Dawn on September 1, purportedly signaling the end of combat operati0ns in Iraq after seven years. This week, those backing the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law -- clearing the way for openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. military -- are pinning their hopes for their own new dawn after 17 years under a law that makes them hide their sexual orientation. They're hoping their daylight may break Tuesday afternoon when the Senate, following the House's lead, is slated to hold a key vote towards abolishing the law. But opponents, fearing that scrapping the ban would lead droves of service personnel to abandon the military and hurt the nation's fighting forces amid two wars, are fighting back and may be on the verge of prevailing.

If both houses pass the law and it wins President Obama's signature as part of the 2011 defense authorization bill, all it would take to end the ban is a certification by Pentagon leaders that allowing gays to serve openly would not hurt military readiness. That decision would likely come around year's end following a Pentagon study, now underway, into the impact of lifting the ban.

Both backers and opponents of the change say the outcome remains too close to call, although late Sunday backers of repeal said they believe they don't yet have the 60 votes they need to halt an expected filibuster and push ahead with the repeal effort. Pop star Lady Gaga is headlining a rally at the University of Southern Maine in Portland on Monday to convince the state's two GOP moderate senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, to join the Democrats in shutting down Republican efforts to cut off the debate. "We need at least one or two Republicans to help," one pro-repeal strategist says. "Senators Snowe and Collins are the best chance we have." Those pushing repeal know that now may be their last opportunity for awhile -- GOP gains in the Nov. 2 election could make passage next year far more difficult.

* * *
The language repealing the law is an amendment to next year's defense authorization bill, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled for debate Tuesday afternoon. Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican and one-time Navy pilot, has pledged to "fight every way we can" to preserve any decision on the ban until the Pentagon concludes its study into the impact of lifting it. Tuesday's vote will be to shut down any filibuster aimed at preventing debate to proceed on ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." If backers of repeal get the 60 votes need to continue the debate, they believe they'll also have the votes to overturn the ban.




Read more: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/09/19/dont-ask-dont-tell-showdown-looming-in-senate/?xid=rss-politics-huffpo

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Big surprise! After McCain said that he would follow the recommendations of the military, he is now leading a filibuster to preserve DADT.

Will the media give McCain a free pass on another flip flop!

[saltpoint]

1. I haven't paid all that much attention to Lady Gaga, but

on the other hand, I think I like her politics just fine.

Come on, you two Maine Senators: Do the right thing here.

[Ken Burch]

6. The question is, will Collins and Snowe pick up the "Telephone" when Gaga calls

or are they caught in a "Bad Romance" with the religious right?

[saltpoint]

7. Hi, Ken. What a good question on Maine's two

Senator gals.

I'd like to see them vote a lot bluer. Snowe in particular has been disappointing, not personally, but just wanted to give her more credit for being closer in step with her bluer constituents.

But she does wear red an awful lot of the time.

I hope a lot of us will call and email their offices to add our voices to their issues polling.

[RKP5637]

2. I have zero respect for McCain. n/t

[Libertyfirst]

3. Snowe has announced she will oppose repeal. n/t

[johnnyplankton]

4. Let 'em filibuster. Really filibuster. Remember when

Jim Bunning decided to filibuster an unemployment extension?
He caved in no time.

[mindwalker_i]

5. "But opponents, fearing that scrapping the ban would lead

lead droves of service personnel to abandon the military..."

Bullshit. In fact, BULL-FUCKING-SHIT. They are afraid of no such thing. What they care about is that their base will get pissed off if they don't do everything to fight the repeal. It has absolutely nothing to do with what's right or wrong, what will help or hurt the military, or any of that crap. All it has to do with is whether the tea-baggers will get pissed off and how much that will, in turn, hurt their re-election.

[LynneSin]

8. Here's my 2 cents about DADT and 'Sex in the Military'

It's the Military, not match.com and definately not some cheap club where you can look for taudry sex.

The policy about sex in the military should be simple - no unwarrented sexual advances against another person. Those found doing that should be punished.

I mean we're so worried about gays serving in the military that we overlook the high number of women in the military who have been raped or sexually harassed by other solders - male soldiers. And from what I've read it's even worse for those women who are serving overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan. THAT is an issue to me, not someone who is serving our country who happens to be Gay. BTW those are STRAIGHT men committing the rape! Where is the outrage from the public over women who have devoted their lives to the military only to be abused by their STRAIGHT MALE co-workers.

:grr:

[COLGATE4]

9. K&R. My daughter recently served as a Navy Doctor deployed

in the Mid-East. She told me that by far and away the greatest health problem suffered by female military personnel, both enlisted and officers was urinary tract infections stemming from retaining urine in the bladder too long. The explanation: female personnel preferred to 'hold it' rather than go to the head at night for fear of being raped by their fellow servicemen. But to all our fearless congresscritturs, teh Gay is the only problem.:mad:

[LynneSin]

11. I also heard that dehydration was an issue since many women would stop drinking anything after lunch

Too many liquids after lunch means a great chance of an overnight bathroom trip and a risk of getting raped.

Why is THIS not the most important issue when it comes to sex in the military. How does this rank as less of a threat than gays serving in the military?

[RKP5637]

12. +1000 +++ n/t

[COLGATE4]

10. McLame never misses an opportunity to

embarass himself. And to think that it was possible that this senile ball of rage was considered to be qualified to be President.

[RKP5637]

13. Frankly, I think dementia has set in with McCain, but he has not yet exhibited

enough really outward symptoms for all to take notice. Most of the time I hear him anymore I wonder WTF.

Exactly as you say, "senile ball of rage."