Fate of Arms Treaty Tied to Policy on Gays

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Vexed and cornered, Republican opponents of the advancing effort to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military pulled out a final card Friday, suggesting that the future of an arms treaty with Russia was endangered by Democratic efforts to repeal “don’t ask don’t tell” at the end of the lame-duck session.

“It poisons the well,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, on the floor of the Senate during debate on the New Start treaty. Mr. Coker said he did not think “the future of the Start treaty over the next several days is going to be successful” if Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, continued with his plans to pursue the repeal, as well as an immigration bill.

Other Republican senators echoed the view.

Mr. Reid announced Thursday that the Senate would begin voting Saturday on a measure to repeal the Clinton-era military policy that prohibits gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the military from serving openly. The Senate will also take up an immigration bill that would allow young people who were illegally brought into the country to earn legal status through education or military service. Its passage, which is considered unlikely, would fulfill a campaign promise that Mr. Reid made to Hispanic voters.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/us/18military.html?_r=1&hp

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Of course, I am sure that a lot of folks will give Republicans a free pass on their willingness to jeopardize national security and limits on nuclear proliferation in order for some payback for passing DADT. Of course, we have been conditioned to blame the Democrats. Heck, I bet the Log Cabin Republicans will promptly announce a fund raiser for Jim DeMint, while blaming President Obama and the Democrats for the possible failure to repeal DADT due to the artificial linkage with the START treaty.

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Poisons the well?

Okay...our nation is gone...we no longer lead in democracy at all. We are a nation that will shadow and hide rather than lead. I am ashamed of our government.

[gateley]

4. When do we begin the Kill The Gays initiative? After all, it's to protect "the children". nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Have I said today how much I hate Republicans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWzPka0Wk1Q

[gateley]

5. It's a constant, nad, always assumed and understood. :-) nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. But the song is a classic

[bluestateguy]

3. "poisons the well?"

Well by all means, not hurting the feelings of the Gentleman from Tennessee is MUCH more important than the civil rights of gays, who have waited 17 years for this policy to be repealed.

Some of us still haven't forgotten the tax raising Chattanooga mayor's nasty ads against Harold Ford in 2006, you know.

[drm604]

6. What a bunch of assholes.

These jerks are using the safety of the country; the safety of their constituents; the safety of themselves and their families; as bargaining chips for their own agendas.

This is a freaking national security issue. To play politics with it; to link it to other issues for political purposes; is treason plain and simple.

Why the hell do the American people think Republicans are strong on national defense? The only thing they're strong on is manipulating issues for political power so they can continue to cater to the wealthy and appease their narrow minded base.

[savalez]

10. According to the story it only needs two-thirds to pass.

So hopefully they are just smack talking.

"A treaty requires a two-thirds majority for approval; Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has said he feels confident the votes will be there."

[msongs]

8. let's don't be picking on obama's new best friends ok? He needs them desperately nt

[TomCADem]

20. Once Again, Give Republicans A Free Pass, And Equate President Obama With Republicans...

...and spread the myth that DADT would have been repealed even with a Republican congress and a Republican president.

Heck, even the Log Cabin Republicans drank the Kool-Aid, why not DUers:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/03/Log-Cabin-Republicans-endorse-McCain/UPI-20521220439614/

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A group of gay men and women say they have endorsed U.S. Sen. John McCain as their nominee for U.S. president because he is an "inclusive Republican."

The Log Cabin Republicans endorsed McCain, R-Ariz., Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., CNN reported.

"He's a very inclusive Republican, a different type of Republican," said the group's president Patrick Sammon. "At the same time, we have honest disagreements on some issues."

While McCain opposes same-sex marriage, he also opposed a federal constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[smuglysmiling]

11. Someone needs to..

go through that place with a ball bat and whack the ignorant into fear or unconsciousness...

[Tunkamerica]

12. It's cool everybody! We'll negotiate to keep gays out of the military and California.

It's a compromise, but we really need that treaty.

[Nossida]

13. But of course.

When all else fails for a republican
Gay Bash.

[Turbineguy]

14. It's those phallic missiles again.

those things make repubs go all wobbly at the knees.

[webDude]

15. They are like any schoolyard bully.

[RBInMaine]

16. Republicans again do evil shit like this, then some have the gaul to bash Obama & D's. There are

HUGE differences between D's and R's any blind person could see.

[Gore1FL]

17. I bash them all

The GOP sucks.

The Democrats are enablers.

[mbperrin]

18. Thank gawd the tax cuts passed! Without that, we could not get

Repub stupport for DADT or START!

THANK GAWD we caved on the tax breaks!














I knew it all along and opposed the tax cut extension all along. But for those who like to play with snakes, this is how it actually goes.

[David__77]

19. I would prefer that START not pass.

These treaties are bullshit to enforce US strategic superiority, which is actually internationally destabilizing. The US pissing on them would be fine with me - let the Republicans weaken the US posture, ok with me.