Obama's statement on tonight's DADT votes

No one voted for repeal tonight. A lot of the media is getting this wrong, including the NYT. And titles like this one, on the President's statement, don't help.

Statement by the President on Votes to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

I have long advocated that we repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’, and I am pleased that both the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee took important bipartisan steps toward repeal tonight. Key to successful repeal will be the ongoing Defense Department review, and as such I am grateful that the amendments offered by Representative Patrick Murphy and Senators Joseph Lieberman and Carl Levin that passed today will ensure that the Department of Defense can complete that comprehensive review that will allow our military and their families the opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process. Our military is made up of the best and bravest men and women in our nation, and my greatest honor is leading them as Commander-in-Chief. This legislation will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity.

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John Mcain (R-Whiner)

We hear via a Senate Armed Services Committee staffer that during the closed mark up today before they voted on DADT repeal McCain said:‬ “I’m ready to vote and I’m ready to lose.” And lose he did. Read More...

DADT compromise adopted by House 234-194

More speeches. First up, John Lewis:



Patrick Murphy:



Patrick Murphy closing the debate:

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DADT amendment debate live in the House, right now

CSPAN1 or houselive.gov

Fabulous speech by Steny Hoyer during the DADT debate in the House:



And here's Pelosi:

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Senate Armed Services Committee pass DADT compromise

Now on to the full Senate, and also a vote on the House floor within the next day. The vote was 16-12. Webb (D-VA) voted against us. Collins (R-ME) voted with us. Webb really is an idiot, considering how many of us worked our asses off to put him into office.

Yes:

Carl Levin (Michigan)

Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia)

Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut)

Jack Reed (Rhode Island)

Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii)

Bill Nelson (Florida)

Ben Nelson (Nebraska)

Evan Bayh (Indiana)

Claire McCaskill (Missouri)

Mark Udall (Colorado)

Kay R. Hagan (North Carolina)

Mark Begich (Alaska)

Roland W. Burris (Illinois)

Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico)

Edward E. Kaufman (Delaware)

Susan M. Collins (Maine) - only Republican

No:

Jim Webb (Virginia) - only Democrat

John McCain (Arizona)

James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma)

Jeff Sessions (Alabama)

Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)

Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)

John Thune (South Dakota)

Roger F. Wicker (Mississippi)

George S. LeMieux (Florida)

Scott Brown (Massachusetts)

Richard Burr (North Carolina)

David Vitter (Louisiana)

Here's SLDN's take:

Senate Armed Services Committee Passes “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Amendment
Critical House floor vote expected within hours

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a national, legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), released a statement today after the Senate Armed Services Committee voted in favor of the repeal amendment. The final vote was 16 to 12. The full House is expected to vote on the same amendment shortly.

Statement by Army veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:

“The Senate Armed Services Committee passed a historic roadmap to allowing open military service, but it doesn’t end the discharges. It is important for all gay and lesbian, active-duty service members, including the reserves and the national guard, to know they’re at risk. They must continue to serve in silence under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that remains on the books. Congress and the Pentagon need to stay on track to get repeal finalized, hopefully no later than first quarter 2011. The bottom line: gay and lesbian service members remain at risk for discharge and cannot serve openly.

“Chairman Carl Levin and Senator Joe Lieberman showed remarkable courage and steadfastness in the face of unprecedented and inappropriate last minute lobbying by the Pentagon service chiefs who seemed to have forgotten that they are not the policy makers here. That role in our government rightly belongs to Congress and it was properly exercised today, and is being exercised now as the full House debates to dismantle ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

“Repeal is moving forward with the support of the President and the Pentagon, including JCS Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The repeal amendment allows for legislative action that respects the ongoing work by the Pentagon on how to implement open service for lesbian and gay service members. Nothing would happen until the Pentagon Working Group completes its report and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President certifies repeal.”

Read SLDN’s warning to gay and lesbian active-duty service members, including the reserves and the national guard: http://bit.ly/ds7JAL

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GOP bigots lose it over DADT on the House floor

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GOP prepared to filibuster troop funding to stop DADT compromise

Funny, I thought the Republicans loved the troops. I guess they hate the gays more. From Steve Benen:

Just so we're clear, consider exactly what Senate Republicans are saying here. The GOP is prepared to refuse an up-or-down vote in the Senate on a bill that funds the troops during two wars because Americans will eventually be able to serve in the Armed Forces, regardless of their sexual orientation. That the policy has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- both Republican appointees -- is irrelevant.

What's more, as Dante Atkins added, "The funny part about this whole ordeal? The compromise that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster allows the Pentagon to have the final say in the issue, which is precisely why it is not receiving the broadest support in activist circles. And yet, despite the fact that the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs get to be the ultimate arbiters of whether the policy is repealed, that's not good enough for today's homophobic Republican Party. Today's Republicans don't want gay people to be able to serve in the military -- even if the Pentagon says it's okay."

I seem to recall Republicans screaming that those who oppose funding the troops during two wars are necessarily unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers, aiding and abetting the enemy. Now these same Republicans are boasting about their intention to prevent the Senate from even voting on troop funding.

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Two of the four joint chiefs wrongly think DADT compromise repeals the law immediately; send letters to Congress about the wrong legislation

I'd like to think that you have to be pretty smart to be chosen to run an entire branch of the military. But yesterday, Army Chief of Staff General George Casey and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz brought that assumption into question when they wrote letters to GOP Senator John McCain suggesting that the compromise "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation being debated today before Congress would immediately repeal the anti-gay law, before the Pentagon's implementation study is completed.

That is utterly false. And a simple read of the rather short amendment, even by a non-lawyer, would clarify this point beyond a doubt.

So why did Generals Casey and Schwartz pen letters to Congress opining about legislation that doesn't even exist? Here's Schwartz:

I believe it is important, a matter of keeping faith with those currently serving in the Armed Forces, that the Secretary of Defense commissioned review be completed before there is any legislation to repeal DA/DT.

Ah those troops, they're so sensitive you know. But putting aside the apparently soft sensibilities of our fighting men and women in uniform, the legislation doesn't repeal DADT until after the review is done, and then repeal will only happen if Gates and Mullen sign off. So Schwartz in fact, and rather embarrassingly, just wrote a letter in favor of the current compromise.

Then there's Casey:

I also believe that repealing the law before the completion of the review will be seen by the men and women of the Army as a reversal of our commitment to hear their views before moving forward.

That's great, General, since the proposed language wouldn't repeal the law until the completion of the review. So with all due respect, what's your fucking point general? Other than the fact that you just wrote a letter mistakenly endorsing legislation that you claim to oppose. Do you fight wars this way sir? (Bomb Iraq! Oh, I'm sorry, I meant Iran. Those n's and q's are so confusing once you make general.)

It's possible that both gentlemen don't pay attention to details, and simply signed letters that McCain's stuff mistakenly (or intentionally) wrote for them in error. Or it's possible that the Generals simply can't handle detail work. Or that they chose to lie to Congress in order to under the desires of their commander in chief.

Either way, it's extremely disturbing when two of the four service chiefs weigh in on legislation, and then take a position based on something the legislation doesn't even do.

One hopes they pay more attention to detail when bombing Afghanistan. Because this is simply embarrassing. Read More...

Center for American Progress caved on DADT, on behalf of the gay community, two months ago

For the past 24 hours, the liberal Center for American Progress has been on a rather public campaign to take credit for the entire Don't Ask, Don't Tell compromise that has much of the gay community in an uproar.

CAP's effort to claim the mantle of glory for the amendment is odd for a number of reasons. Perhaps most importantly, it's not entirely clear who invited CAP, a non-gay think tank, to the table in the first place - let alone who anointed them the head of the lgbt civil rights movement, granting them the authority to cave on our demand for the full repeal of DADT. Just as odd is the extent to which CAP has repeatedly tried to take credit for the deal in the past 48 hours. Even by the standards of our actual national gay groups, who have raised taking credit for things they didn't do to an art, CAP's repeated efforts to hog the limelight, when our actual gay representatives have been rather quiet about just how we came up with this compromise, are unusual to the say the least.

From the Gay City News:

The amendment, put forward formally the same day by Senator Joseph Lieberman, had been drafted by CAP and circulated among legislators starting roughly two months ago, Stachelberg said.

Stachelberg is Winnie Stachelberg, a former HRC employee and senior official at CAP. And we now find out that she caved on our demand for the full and immediate repeal of DADT two months ago. Two months ago. While SLDN and Servicemembers United were still lobbying the Hill for the votes for full repeal, CAP was apparently telling legislators not to worry about full repeal this year - at least that's what CAP is now claiming, in an effort to get credit.

This isn't the first time CAP has tried to claim credit for the compromise. In an email sent out two days ago, the Center for American Progress Action Fund wrote the following:

The repeal language Congress is currently considering explicitly acknowledges the Pentagon’s review by delaying implementation of repeal until after the president, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that implementing repeal will not have a negative impact on military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, or recruiting. CAP Action provided the draft certification language, and we are very pleased to see it adopted as part of the amendment that will be considered this week.

I don't begrudge anyone who wants credit where credit is due. But there are at least two problems with CAP's apparent coup d'etat over the gay movement.

First, who died and made CAP queen?

Second, I seriously doubt that CAP was responsible for getting the Obama administration to move forward on anything related to DADT. Instead, it's fairly clear that the only reason we're seeing any movement at all is because of the coordinated efforts of the gay Netroots, the grassroots (in the former of GetEqual), and groups like SLDN and Servicemembers United who amped up their rhetoric critical of the administration. That's why we're seeing any movement at all. Though I suppose it is possible that CAP took advantage of the opportunity everyone else created, and caved on our behalf, without our knowledge.

If I were the powers that be at the Center for American Progress, I'd spend less time claiming credit for a compromise that everyone hates, and more time trying to improve it. Read More...

John McCain is the biggest hypocrite on DADT repeal and he'll show that again today

John McCain is in a tough primary battle against a neanderthal Republican, JD Hayworth. So, John McCain has morphed into a right wing whacko. The repeal of DADT is one classic example. As John reported back in February, old John McCain sounded almost sensible on DADT:

In October of 2006, John McCain said we should listen to our military leaders as to what to do on Don't Ask Don't Tell:

And I understand the opposition to it, and I‘ve had these debates and discussions, but the day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, Senator, we ought to change the policy, then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility to.

The military leaders came to him and said change the policy and McCain said no. Well, he didn't just say no, he turned this into an anti-gay vendetta.

Today, McCain asked Chairman Carl Levin to hold the Armed Services Committee markup on DADT in an open session. Markups are traditionally held in private -- and that's how this one was planned.

Why in public? McCain wants to put on a show for the hard-core right wingers whose votes he needs in the primary. It's just another political stunt from a guy who used to purport to abhor political stunts. Watch for it early this afternoon.

So, we'll witness another vivid example of the self-destruction of John McCain's reputation. It's pathetic. Really pathetic.

And, the hypocrisy is gross. McCain has long had gay senior staffers. He knows better than this. Read More...

Adm. Mullen: Compromise DADT language lets military leaders decide 'whether' repeal is implemented

Huh???

Pam Spaulding has this development and it's disturbing:

For those who were in that White House meeting when the "deal" was made on Monday, is this interpretation by the Chair of the Joint Chiefs working for you? (Defense.gov):

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday that he's comfortable with proposed legislation that seeks to repeal the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military because it includes "very clear language" that gives senior leaders the final say in whether it's implemented.

Here's more from Defense.gov:

Mullen said he’s particularly interested in determining how the law’s repeal would affect “readiness, unit cohesion and our ability to do our mission.” That, he said, requires input from the people directly affected.

“That was what was behind making sure we surveyed our people and our families -- to understand … the potential impact,” he told the group. “And I, as a senior military leader in the country, feel obligated to make sure I understand that, so should it change, I can lead that and understand what the impacts are.”

So should it change? We were led to believe it would change.

What happened to the Admiral Mullen from the February 2nd hearing?:

The big takeaway from the Senate Armed Services Committee's hearing was Admiral Mullen's stunning testimony. He was very impressive and very personal:

“It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do,” Mullen said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

“We have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals, and ours as institutions,” Mullen added.

And, he reiterated what he said after the hearing via his Twitter account:

Stand by what I said: Allowing homosexuals to serve openly is the right thing to do. Comes down to integrity.

Stand by what you said then now. We need some integrity. Read More...

A letter about DADT to Obama from Major General Vance Coleman

Here's the latest letter in SLDN's series, "Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama." There will be one last letter to the President tomorrow. I have to say that it's been a real honor to tell the stories of the men and women who have been impacted by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. These letters have been powerful and moving. As I've written many times, DADT is just another pesky political issue for the White House. But for the servicemembers, it's their lives. And, they're willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Congress will probably pass the compromise legislation. But, we still don't know when the discharges will end. That's just wrong. These men and women deserve better.

Today's letter isn't from a gay servicemember, but it is from someone who understands discrimination and wants to fight it:

May 27, 2010

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

I served my country for over 30 years. I enlisted in the Army as a private and retired as a Major General. During that time, I saw a great deal of change in the Armed Forces. Racial segregation was ended in the ranks, women were recognized as equals and we moved to an all volunteer force.

My father was a laborer, my mother a domestic worker. I knew that there was no way I was headed for college. As a young Black Man I enlisted in the army long before President Truman desegregated the armed forces.

I served in segregated units (all Black) before being selected for Officers Candidate School. I then attended an integrated Leadership Academy and then Officers Candidate School which was also integrated. After graduation from OCS I was assigned to a combat arms unit for which I had been trained. I was reassigned to a service unit (Graves Registration) that was all Black.

The message was clear: It did not matter that I was qualified to serve in a combat arms unit that happen to be all white. It only mattered that I was Black.

Mr. President, I know what it is like to be thought of as second-class, and I know what it is like to have your hard work dismissed because of who you are or what you look like. I also know what a difference it made to me and others when President Truman eliminated segregation in the Armed Forces and placed qualification ahead of discrimination.

As a retired Army Commander, I also know how disruptive it is to remove a trained skilled member from a unit. In Korea, I had a Sergeant First Class in my unit who was gay. it was no secret. He was in charge of the unit’s communication. He was essential to our performance and our survival and he was dam good at his job. If I had to remove him, our unit’s effectiveness, as well as morale, most certainly would have been harmed.

Military leadership is about being able to constantly adapt to change, and I have seen the Army implement significant change and react to new directives since I enlisted. Perhaps the greatest military change is that we are now an all volunteer force. I cannot believe that we could have made that transition successfully if the services were still segregated or if the roles of women in the ranks had not been greatly expanded.

The services have, for the most part, kept pace with changes in American society as to matters of race and gender. Likewise, they must now keep pace with the changed attitude among the American people, especially younger generations, concerning sexual orientation. If they do not, military service will become a less viable option for more and more young people, and the quality of our forces will suffer. I suggest that the warriors of tomorrow will not want to become a part of an institution that does not respect their peers.

The men and women who volunteer to serve, especially in dangerous times, are the most important resource of our armed services. This includes the lesbian and gay troops who have served – and – are serving honorably. Just like their heterosexual service members, they risk their lives to defend our country. Our country owes it to them, and to all our troops to treat all who serve with respect and gratitude.

Our armed services believe in, and promote, the idea that one person can make a real difference. To commanders on the ground in Iraq, an Arabic linguist can make a difference. To a parent, whose son is bleeding on the battlefield, one lesbian nurse can make a difference.

You, too, Mr. President, can and will make a real difference here. You can make a difference in whether “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed this year, and whether implementation comes shortly thereafter.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Mr. President, do all you can; stand with us and work with us to end this denigration of our American values.

Respectfully,
Major General Vance Coleman
United States Army (Ret.)

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