Why Does Jim Webb Oppose The Repeal Of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

~

[jobycom]

1. Politics.

The answer is always politics. Maybe his polls show he'd lose if he supported it. Maybe he made some promise to someone with a lot of money and/or influence not to support it. Who knows?

One thing, though, and I'm always surprised when people don't realize this. Votes in Congress are for show. The decisions have already been made before it makes the floor 95% of the time. Reid knows who will vote with him, who will vote against him, and who he can sway. More than that, there's a lot of vote swapping going on. If Reid knows (hypothetically--I don't know if it's true in this case) that he has enough votes to win without Webb, he may free Webb up to vote against the bill if Webb's numbers show he would be in trouble otherwise. That way the bill still passes and Webb gets to keep his seat (again, that's hypothetical--I don't know what the actual numbers are in this case). Naturally, if the bill will lose anyway, Reid could free up more people, and if it's very close, Reid will monitor the votes until the end to be sure there aren't any surprises before freeing up such votes.

LBJ told a story about his first term in Congress. Sam Rayburn (I think) came to him asking for support on a bill, selling it hard, and LBJ agreed to vote yes. He then learned that his district was overwhelmingly against the bill, so he went timidly back to Rayburn and asked if he could get out of his promise. Rayburn spoke sternly, called him a promise-breaker, asked if he expected loyalty from the party at election time when he showed none to them--all the usual tactics. Finally, Rayburn sighed deeply and said "Lyndon, you are much too promising to throw away like that. Tell you what. You sit in the front row, and I'll monitor the votes, and if I see that we don't need your vote, I'll give you a sign that you can vote no."

So Lyndon sat on the front row, nervously watching Rayburn and the vote, when he glanced around, and realized there were a dozen or more other freshman Representatives all sitting on the front row, nervously watching Rayburn and the vote, and he realized that Rayburn had all the votes he needed or wanted. He was just making the freshmen think they owed him something, so he could use it on them later.

That's how politics works. Who knows what Webb really believes, or what is agreed to behind the scenes?

[GodlessBiker]

2. Because a part of his brain doesn't work, which unfortunately increases his stupid quotient.

[Oceansaway]

3. bigotry is usually the reason....nt

[DefenseLawyer]

6. So President Clinton was a bigot?

After all he created DADT in the first place.

[krabigirl]

13. He was pandering to bigots.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. just as bad. nt

[DefenseLawyer]

22. Agreed, but wouldn't you assume Webb was doing the same?

I'm not defending anybody, but most of these kind of policy positions are dictated by politics, not bigotry. And I'm not saying that that makes it okay or ever better. If you ask me, someone who won't stand up for what's right when they know it is right is just as bad as one who acts out of hate.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Have you read his reason? Its in Post #4

I have mixed feelings about it. Its quite rationale, but still does not sit well.

[blogslut]

4. Here is his statement on his "no" vote

"Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen have both stated that military men and women in all services and at all levels should be engaged as the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is reviewed. For this reason, in February DOD instituted a comprehensive review process that they viewed to be important in their roles as the senior leaders of the Department of Defense. The Obama Administration agreed with the importance of this process in its letter of May 24, stating that ‘ideally the Department of Defense Comprehensive Review... would be completed before the Congress takes any legislative action.’

"DOD reaffirmed this position in a statement on May 25: ‘Secretary Gates continues to believe that ideally the DOD review should be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law...’ The chiefs of all four military services also concur in this view.

"I agree with this viewpoint. I have met personally with the officials in charge of this review, and communicated my own observations regarding the comprehensive survey that will be a part of this review. I see no reason to pre-empt the process that our senior Defense Department leaders put into motion, and I am concerned that many members of the military would view such a move as disrespectful to the importance of their roles in this process."

link: http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/Senator-Webb-issues-statement-on-no-vote

[CreekDog]

24. would it have been right to have white soldiers weigh in before accepting black ones?

i don't think so.

[S_E_Fudd]

5. My Senator...I worked pretty hard for him in 2006....

While I can't see myself voting Republican in 2012...I certainly won't be putting the same effort in for him this time...

He has done some good things, but has been a major disappointment on several issues lately...

It was the activist Democratic base in Northern Virginia that worked so hard to get him in 4 years ago...if he continues poking them in the eye I don't think he will be able to count on the same enthusiasm again...

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Why? Virginia, is why.

The state that just elected a misogynist right wing, Liberty University governor and a teabagger AG. With that sort of electorate, what else do you expect? Bernie Sanders?

[freddie mertz]

8. It is a profile in craven, political cowardice.

I expected better.

[Tailormyst]

10. Either he is a bigot or he is a coward

[crazyjoe]

11. because he is representing his constituents

[awoke_in_2003]

20. and if his constituents...

favor the repeal of the Civil Rights act (which I am sure most of them do), then he should back that, too?

[awoke_in_2003]

21. dupe. nt

[FreeState]

25. Got the poll to back that up?

http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/new-poll-shows-8-out-of-10-americans-favor-repealing-dont-ask-dont-tell/


Washington, DC - A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released today shows 79% support for repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. Only 18% of respondents thought lesbian and gay service personnel should not be allowed to serve openly.

"The American people are fully in support of open service," said Steve Ralls, communications director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). "Today's poll is the latest showing broad support for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and reflects an overwhelming consensus among the public that national security is more important than federal discrimination. Now, it is time for Members of Congress to step up and lift the ban once and for all."

The CNN poll follows a 2005 Boston Globe poll also finding 79% support for repeal. That same poll found that large "majorities of Republicans, regular churchgoers, and even people with negative attitudes toward gays think gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military." A similar Gallup poll found 91% support for open service among Americans aged 18-29. A December 2006 Zogby poll found that 73% of troops surveyed are comfortable with lesbians and gays.

[crazyjoe]

28. then he will or course be easily defeated in the next election,

that's how our republic operates. Funny how polls around here are only reliable when they agree with our side. What's the term? oh yea
"bullshit poll"

[newtothegame]

12. I swear we were just worshipping this guy like 3 years ago...my memory fails me. nt

[Arkana]

19. Let's be honest...the guy he was running against was a lot worse.

Remember Senor Macaca?

[Hippo_Tron]

14. He says it's because he wants to give the Pentagon time to complete the study

Of course he knows full well that if they do that it will never get repealed because it doesn't stand a chance in the next congress.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Because he is a bigoted ingrate

He's a multi faceted hack who is now going to be flying without a net. If it were not for the kind words of others, he'd have been toast ages ago.

[Dont TS Me Brah]

17. because the majority of his constituents are redneck bigots? nt

[Arkana]

18. Because Webb is a former Reaganite

and even though he left the GOP that old hardline military conservatism is still alive in him.

[troubledamerican]

23. camel 6

[LaydeeBug]

26. He's not telling. nt

[LaydeeBug]

27. He's not telling. nt