Collins says she's on board with repeal of DADT ... "Once the tax issue is resolved."

[jefferson_dem]

SENATOR COLLINS' STATEMENT ON 'DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL'

December 3, 2010

Following the conclusion of today's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Senator Susan Collins released this statement:

"Like our closest allies, the United States' Armed Forces should welcome the service of any qualified individual who is willing and capable of serving our country.

"After hearing powerful testimony from Secretary of Defense Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, and reviewing the results of the Pentagon report, I remain convinced that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy," implemented under President Clinton, should be repealed. And, I agree with Secretary Gates that the issue should be decided by Congress, not the courts.

"As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I voted, last May, to include in the Defense Authorization bill language repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, subject to certification by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that there would not be a negative impact on combat effectiveness and military readiness. It is especially reassuring to learn from the Pentagon report that, after extensive interviews and feedback from service members, nearly 70 percent say that having a gay service member in their unit would have a "positive, mixed, or no effect" on the unit's effectiveness.

"Once the tax issue is resolved, I have made it clear that if the Majority Leader brings the Defense Authorization bill to the floor with sufficient time allowed for debate and amendments, I would vote to proceed to the bill."

http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=ade8649d-010d-40c0-99f8-43ec52366ef0&CFID=64149682&CFTOKEN=1368978

[CakeGrrl]

1. "Give the rich their money and THEN we'll talk."

Smart Dems would hammer them over the head with this extortion repeatedly.

[great white snark]

7. Oh, exactly.

And come on Harry, do what Obama does and make DADT also a national security issue. That defending the homeland crap really pulls on the Repub's heartstrings.

[CreekDog]

2. Yeesh! What a fool

does she have any idea how unprincipled she looks?

[Deep13]

3. So, she'll hold the military hostage unless the Ds agree to screw...

...people who actually work for a living and unless we guarantee that the Federal government stays in a whole so deep it can never hold the rich responsible for anuything ever again.

[pinto]

4. Aggh. Holding a bill hostage on the tax cuts issue. Obstructionism is the (R) game.

I'm sorry to see Collins go with it.

:grr:

[cyr330]

5. Fuck her

She can peck the corn out of my shit.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Can't believe we put up with this shit

[Radical Activist]

8. "with sufficient time allowed for debate and amendments"

There's always an excuse.

[ruggerson]

11. that's the same language she used last time

and then proceeded to vote to block cloture.

I remain optimistic, however, that repeal will pass with about 3 or 4 republican votes.

[AlinPA]

9. Don't trust "Lucy" Collins. She is one of the slimiest republicans in the Senate.

[Jennicut]

10. One has nothing to do with the other. Pitiful.