Nine Republican Senators ensure gays can serve openly in military

Tim Montgomerie

The DREAM Act may have been blocked but it looks almost certain that the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy - that has prevented gay Americans from serving openly in the US military - will be repealed.

Six Republicans voted for a procedural motion that will limit debate and therefore ensure that the substantive motion is voted upon. With the Democrats fully supporting repeal and a handful of GOP Senators also on side, repeal will happen.

The six Republicans who voted to stop a filibuster were:

• Freshman Mark Kirk of Illinois;
• Scott Brown of Massachusetts;
• George Voinovich of Ohio;
• Lisa Murkowski of Alaska;
• Olympia Snowe of Maine;
• Susan Collins, also of Maine.

Three more GOP Senators sat on their hands: Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Orrin Hatch of Utah.

John McCain opposed the change until the last moment. Resisting legislation fronted by his close ally Joe Lieberman, the Arizona Senator said “I hope that when we pass this legislation that we will understand that we are doing great damage." "Today is a very sad day," he concluded.

Log Cabin Republicans issued this press statement welcoming repeal.

Comments

[Elaine Turner]

Where is Arizoine?

I am so pleased that there are a few enlightened Republicans out there. This is a subject that ought to be put to bed (is that a Freudian slip?) and ignored now I think.

Gay men don't fancy all men, the same as women don't fancy all men. I daresay occasionally a straight man will be hit on by a gay man - but if the gays are prepared to go and lay down their lives for their country, then good on them I say.

I am happy that the 'don't ask, don't say Bill is being repealed' - but presumably they are moving forward and not backwards?

[Libertarian]

Hmmm... I wouldn't call myself a fan of these senators, I would consider them all RINOs. However, I believe they've made the right call here. DADT is pretty difficult to defend simply for practical reasons, anyone worth their salt with regards to limited government should oppose federal bans and that's all it was. I'm glad it's being repealed.

[FTP Topcliff]

Agreed. The war against gays is over.

[Englander]

Why is it that people these days have to be either 100% in support of gay people or 100% against them?

[Andrew S]

This is great news. Finally, a highly discriminatory federal law has been overturned.

Those who voted against should perhaps have their 'backs against the wall' for another reason.

;)