Senator Harry Reid's Statement on DADT Repeal

[Tx4obama]

Reid Statement on Potential Senate Action on DADT Repeal

"This week, we have seen clear evidence that an overwhelming majority in Congress supports repeal of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. The House of Representatives sent a powerful message with its lopsided vote in favor of repeal. And Senator Snowe joined a growing chorus of Republicans in the Senate who support repeal.

"The time for action is now. We plan on considering the stand-alone bill to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ which was sent over by the House.

"But let me be clear. We are very quickly running out of days in this Congress. The time for week-long negotiations on amendments and requests for days of debate is over. Republican Senators who favor repealing this discriminatory policy need to join with us now to stand against those who are trying to run out the clock on this Congress."

Read more: http://thepage.time.com/2010/12/16/reid-time-for-dadt-action-is-now/#ixzz18IwNgbUp

[HillbillyBob]

1. Obama and the ds in congress should have been kicking the shit

out of the pukes from the get go instead of going limp every time they raise their whiny a## voices in plaintive filibuster bitching.

[DevonRex]

2. The timing of DADT repeal has more to do with Reid's election battle

than anything else. He wasn't about to push DADT to a victory until AFTER he was reelected.

[Tx4obama]

4. No it doesn't. It has to do with the timing of the release of the survey and

the report that outlines the implementation of the new procedures.

[DevonRex]

5. The survey did 2 things. It provided cover for Reid not to push DADT

repeal to a victory until after his reelection. It also provided cover for the more liberal Republicans to vote for repeal.

[Tx4obama]

6. It was Obama and the heads of the military that were behind the survey

not Reid.
So, saying that Reid waited to push the DADT repeal until after his election makes no sense, since he was not the one with control over the survey or it's release date.
I think you are trying to make a connection that just is not there.

[Radical Activist]

3. About time, Reid.

It's nice to see him being aggressive about this in the lame duck session. I know there were a lot of chicken little predictions that it would be dealt with at all this year.

[tishaLA]

7. If this effort bombs because of amendments and debate...

I am going to be pissed beyond belief.

And I can just see it happening.

[Tx4obama]

8. I doubt there will be any amendments, it's a short bill and to the point.

I think their plan is to vote on the 'exact' same wording/bill that the House passed yesterday.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. It'll be brought up, clotured, debated for 2 hours, clotured, and voted on

inside of 4 hours.

It's a short bill with no budget implications. The whole thing can be handled after lunch on any day this week or next.

[Tx4obama]

10. Update: More quotes from Senator Reid from this afternoon re DADT

Reid Still Vague On DADT Repeal Vote Timing

SNIP

At a press conference this afternoon, Reid said that the standalone bill will come up before the end of the lame duck session (which, he noted, could go on until Jan. 5 if necessary) -- but he didn't say when exactly he'll raise it, or where DADT repeal falls on the long priority list of legislation Reid wants to see considered before the 111th Congress ends.

"I don't know if I'll bring it before Christmas," Reid said. "But before this Congress ends, we're going to complete or have a vote on the START treaty, the DREAM Act, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, 9/11 -- and hopefully we can get an agreement on nominations, otherwise we'll have some votes on nominations."

Essentially, Reid said what he's been saying all along -- he's for DADT repeal, and he wants to do it, but he won't say where it falls on the list of agenda items. Repeal has the support of enough senators to overcome a GOP filibuster -- 61 have signed on so far -- but there's no guarantee when a vote will be.

SNIP

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/reid-still-vague-on-dadt-repeal-vote-timing-video.php?ref=fpi