DADT Repeal - A Last Chance to Make History

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has indicated that the House will vote today, Wednesday, December 15, 2010, on a stand-alone bill to repeal “don’t ask , don’t tell” introduced by Rep. Patrick Murphy. If passed, the bill will move to the Senate where John McSenile and others will have to face a straight up or down vote with no excuses such as seen on the voluminous Defense Authorization Act. In short, it will be a come to Jesus moment when the bigots of the GOP will be forced to approve something the military and the American public are ready to see happen. The New York Times has a editorial that calls on the Senate to do the right thing and end something that is religious based discrimination against LGBT service members. Sadly, reports are that the Liar-in-Chief has been silent on this new approach to repeal and Obama has done nothing to censure Marine Corps Commandant, General Amos for his inflammatory anti-repeal remarks. Like many in the LGBT community I am holding my breath. Meanwhile expect major batshitery eruptions from Elaine Donnelly and anti-gay hate groups. Here are highlights from the Times editorial:
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The chances of ending the military’s ban on open service by gay and lesbian soldiers improved significantly on Tuesday when House Democratic leaders said they would introduce a fast-track repeal bill and quickly send it on to the Senate. Once the House bill is approved, the onus will be on Senate leaders to act swiftly, and on a handful of moderate Republicans to fulfill their promise to bring long-denied justice to the military’s ranks.
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The House’s decision means that Senate Republicans will have no excuses left. This is no longer an issue of priorities — the tax bill was headed toward approval in the Senate on Wednesday — or process. Any lawmakers still on the fence should listen closely to all of the military leaders who say this discriminatory policy drives out far too many talented, and expensively trained service members.
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Several Republican senators, including Ms. Collins, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Scott Brown of Massachusetts, have said they would join the Democratic majority in reaching those 60 votes, and the test of their promise could arrive very shortly. . . . If Congress can put an end to the military’s discriminatory policy and support these other vital measures, an often ugly political year could end with some historic successes.