DADT and DOMA comments from a live-blog with Senator Gillibrand.

[TheWraith]

Thought people would find this interesting.

First part, she was asked about Don't Ask Don't Tell, and what the timeline might be on the repeal that her and Kennedy are working on.

No new info on timing -- we are working with Senator Kennedy's office to build support for repeal leg in the Senate. Congressman Patrick Murphy and I are working together to get a vote on both sides. I was really moved by my meeting with Lt Choi -- he said to me, "we are trained never to lie in the military, but they ask me to lie every day about who I am...." Pretty powerful.

Second comment was in response to a question about DOMA and it's relation to DADT repeal.

I am also working on repealing DOMA -- i think that will come next year, after ENDA and hate crimes.

She's always been careful not to offer too firm a committment on things that are subject to outside forces, but I thought a lot of people here would find it interesting that talking about DOMA as being something for as soon as "next year."

[GodlessBiker]

1. I can live with that. She said next year. But at least she had the guts to say it herself.

[TheWraith]

2. "But"? I think next year for DOMA repeal is really, really good.

Way ahead of where I'd have expected it to be.

[GodlessBiker]

3. I think it's good, too.

[TheWraith]

4. It sounded a little different.

It sort of sounded to me like you were saying that getting it done next year was a letdown.

Of course, any excuse to give this thread another kick. It's like DUers are allergic to good news.

[GodlessBiker]

5. Sorry. I was impressed that she would put a date on it. Other politicians don't give us that.

[TheWraith]

6. Cool. And yeah, I'm kicking this AGAIN...

Because I like good news.

[Toasterlad]

7. How Is This "Good News"?

"Good news" is "President Signs Bill Repealing DOMA" and "President Signs Bill Repealing DADT". Until that happens, it's all just talk. The same kind I've been hearing for decades.

Some people are a little too politically gullible and believe anything they're told by a politician they happen to believe in. Some people need to remember that ALL politicians are liars.

[TheWraith]

8. And some people are testy, angry pessimists.

Who look for any excuse to seek the negative.

Oh, by the way, Gillibrand's apparently introducing an amendment to put DADT on hold for 18 months some time in the coming week.

[Toasterlad]

9. I'd Say 45 Years As a Second Class Citizen Gives Me More Than Enough Excuse to Be Angry

When your precious congressman gets his precious amendment to your precious president and he signs it with his precious pen, THAT will be news.

Not that your precious president shouldn't have already suspended DADT on his first day in office.