In an historic vote, the United States Senate has passed an act repealing the ban on openly gay soldiers serving in the armed forces, 65-33. Eight Republicans sided with the mostly Democratic call for repeal. The ban, called “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” or “DADT,” has been in effect since 1993. President Barack Obama has expressed opposition to the ban since his presidential campaign.
“As commander in chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known,” said the President, after the vote.
Organized opposition to allowing openly gay people to serve in the military has mostly been limited to those on the farthest fringe of the right wing, among groups recently classified by the SPLC as “hate groups,” like the American Family Association and Peter LaBarbera’s Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. Poll after poll and study after study showed the public, politicians, and veterans support its end. Even the National Organization for Marriage supports lifting the ban.
In a pathetic and somewhat unexpected lurch to the fringe right, Vietnam War veteran and once-dubbed “maverick” Sen. John McCain (AZ-R) fought repeal all the way, calling today’s vote “a sad day in history.”
Another historic aspect of the repeal is the fact that it is a stand-alone bill, and not one attached to a “can’t-lose” measure. The previous attempt to repeal DADT was attached to a bill that bitterly divided Congress along party lines, causing many would-be supporters to vote “no.” Politicians voting for repeal of DADT this time around so voted based on whether or not they supported equality. History will not be kind to those who voted “no.”
Thank you to all who serve, including homosexuals. This vote needed to happen and pass and somehow Obama did it. Please do not forget that thepresident spent so much politicasl capital to get this through, just as he promised. Please LGBT community do not forget that or him in 2012. Thank you.
That’s the biggest thing that amazes me. As intentionally obstructionist as they’ve been over the past two years, to have eight Republicans break ranks, on this issue especially, makes it seem like it was a landslide victory.
Not that this is completely over yet, but what a kick in gut to the extremists.
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Well, Joe Dallas*, It looks like you won’t be needing this scurrilous allegation anymore:
That quote makes Joe Dallas look not only incredibly stupid, but callous as well. I would expect something like that to come from Peter LaBarbera or someone else at the bottom of the barrel.
I think Bryan Fischer over at AFA has the best quote from the looney right on this:
I think there’s a certain special forces soldier that the President referenced during the signing that can have a conversation with Bryan Fischer. Somehow I don’t think he’ll appreciate hearing Mr. Fischer thinks the Army is emasculated by his presence.
Actually Dan, he’s managed to top himself (so to speak)
Somebody cache this page QUICKLY before it disappears:
https://www.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147501429
Thanks, Boo, there were some real keepers in there.
This one took the cake:
I’ve read the report he’s talking about, it was overwhelmingly in favor of repeal. Color me surprised that Fischer, et al, would distort the data. The National Review made essentially the same clueless statements (without the gratuitous tripe that comes standard with Fischer). This one really seems to stick in their craw for some reason.
It sticks in their craw for one major reason: It threatens their sense of masculinity.
One of the major themes I’ve seen from the religious right, and the ex-gay movement is that homosexuality is less than masculine. To be gay means you are lacking in masculinity. An Army that has big, strong special forces soldiers who are the meanest killers on the battlefield, and who happen to be gay, is a direct threat to this world view. We cannot be gay and masculine at the same time, and to be proven otherwise by an open and accepting military threatens their world view in a way equalled by few other issues.
I appreciate what you say, Dan. I think it’s a factor that too often goes unnoticed.
From Wiki, hypermasculinity:
Given that, it’s no wonder they (the guys, anyway) consider themselves to be “oppressed.”
How dare society consider “Nancy-boys” to be equal to me!