[quote=CNN]The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to overturn the ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers serving in the U.S. military, passing legislation repealing the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
[B]The bill -- a so-called "standalone" measure not tied to any other legislative items -- passed 250 to 175 in a virtual party-line vote. It now advances to the Senate.[/B]
The House previously passed a repeal of the ban as part of a larger defense spending authorization bill, but the measure stalled last week in the Senate.
"Now is the time for us to act," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California. "We should honor the service of all who want to contribute" to America's security. "Repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' makes for good public policy."
"Discrimination is wrong," declared Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia. "On the battlefield it does not matter who you love. Only the flag that you serve."
Conservative Republicans argued, among other things, that a repeal would place an unreasonable burden on the military at a time when it is already facing severe strains in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
This is "an imposition of somebody's social agenda," said Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri. It's an "eclipse of reason, an eclipse of common sense."
"The United States military is not the YMCA. It's something special," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California. This is "a liberal crusade to create a utopia."
[B]Top Democrats on Capitol Hill are trying to find a way to push through a repeal before the end of the current lame-duck congressional session. A Republican filibuster in the Senate has forced Democrats to find GOP support to get the necessary 60 Senate votes required to proceed. The Democratic Senate caucus has 58 members, meaning they need at least two Republicans to join them to overcome the filibuster.[/B]
Several centrist Senate Republicans have expressed support for a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," but are pushing for more time to debate the initiative. They have also stood by a GOP pledge to block all Senate business until a resolution is reached on extending the Bush tax cuts and authorizing government spending for the rest of the fiscal year.
The more conservative incoming Congress -- which will be seated the first week of January -- is considered far less likely to overturn the Clinton-era ban.
[B]A Pentagon study released earlier this month concluded that allowing openly gay or lesbian troops to serve in the military would have little lasting impact on the U.S. armed forces. Opposition to the change appeared to be much higher in Army and Marine combat units than in the military as a whole.[/B]
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned that court challenges to "don't ask, don't tell" could force an abrupt repeal of the policy, rather than the process in the legislation that would allow the military to manage the change on a longer timetable.
Last spring, Gates made changes that required any fact-finding inquiries about a possible "don't ask, don't tell" violation in the ranks to be started by an officer with the rank of colonel or Navy commander or higher. He also initiated rules that made it more difficult for a service member to be removed because of a third-party "outing."
The number of military discharges made due to the policy has since dropped sharply.[/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/15/gays.in.military/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1[/url]
This is good.
Brought in under on democrat, possibly removed under another.
Personally, If they want to go fight in a war, I say go ahead, just leave me out.
[QUOTE=Glaber;26718561]Personally, If they want to go fight in a war, I say go ahead, just leave me out.[/QUOTE]
what are you trying to say?
1 step forward 2 steps back.
I didn't ask for this news. Why are you telling it to me?
[editline]16th December 2010[/editline]
[quote][B]The bill -- a so-called "standalone" measure not tied to any other legislative items[/quote]
[/B]I like how congress is so fucked up now that that's a strange thing to have happen.
[QUOTE=Jewsus;26718648]I didn't ask for this news. Why are you telling it to me?[/QUOTE]
What news were you asking for?
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFaXTcR4dtE[/media]
I'm trying to say 2 things.
One, let the Homosexuals go and fight, and two, Leave me out of any war.
[QUOTE=Glaber;26718670]I'm trying to say 2 things.
One, let the Homosexuals go and fight, and two, Leave me out of any war.[/QUOTE]
so you support repealing DADT?
but we caint have dem faggits faggottin up aurr stars n stripes this is mercuh! :patriot: :patriot:
The House is 100% irrelevant as long as the Senate's filibuster rules are still in force.
[QUOTE=Glaber;26718670]I'm trying to say 2 things.
One, let the Homosexuals go and fight, and two, Leave me out of any war.[/QUOTE]
This isn't a draft, stop being a baby.
[QUOTE=Jewsus;26718648]I didn't ask for this news. Why are you telling it to me?
[editline]16th December 2010[/editline]
[/B]I like how congress is so fucked up now that that's a strange thing to have happen.[/QUOTE]
Yea
[QUOTE=JDK721;26718695]so you support repealing DADT?[/QUOTE]
I think that he doesn't want conscription.
[QUOTE=Kalibos;26718697]but we caint have dem faggits faggottin up aurr stars n stripes this is mercuh! :patriot: :patriot:[/QUOTE]
chea fuck homos
wait
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;26718703]The House is 100% irrelevant as long as the Senate's filibuster rules are still in force.[/QUOTE]
that's why I bolded that part in the op
[QUOTE=JDK721;26718623]what are you trying to say?[/QUOTE]
He's saying he's too much of a pussy to go and fight for his country, but if a gay guy has the guts to go and fight for his country, he's cool with that.
[QUOTE=JDK721;26718695]so you support repealing DADT?[/QUOTE]
If they were fighting in the military before DADT I see no problem with repealing it.
[QUOTE=Nikota;26718745]I think that he doesn't want conscription.[/QUOTE]
That too.
[QUOTE=Glaber;26718796]If they were fighting in the military before DADT I see no problem with repealing it.[/QUOTE]
13000 or so discharges because of it and consider the fact that gay people have always been fighting in some form of military.
Congrats if this pulls through, I support anyone willing to fight for our country and protect their loved ones, regardless of who is into what. Like it says.
"On the battlefield it does not matter who you love. Only the flag that you serve."
Damn straight.
I am a Bill. I am a only a Bill.
Watch the Republicans filibuster the hell out of this in the Senate.
[QUOTE=Prismatex;26719009]Watch the Republicans filibuster the hell out of this in the Senate.[/QUOTE]
They've done this twice already
[QUOTE=Prismatex;26719009]Watch the Republicans filibuster the hell out of this in the Senate.[/QUOTE]
They plan too anyway, they're stopping EVERY bill from passing in the senate. Even a fucking bill that gives benefits to 9/11 responders, 9/11 responders, doing shit we should have done 5 years ago, and they're stopping it, because they want tax cuts for the rich "which will stimulate the economy", like they've been doing since bush was in office.
Piece of shit Politicians.
[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;26718948]I am a Bill. I am a only a Bill.[/QUOTE]
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;26719062]They plan too anyway, they're stopping EVERY bill from passing in the senate. Even a fucking bill that gives benefits to 9/11 responders, 9/11 responders, doing shit we should have done 5 years ago, and they're stopping it, because they want tax cuts for the rich "which will stimulate the economy", like they've been doing since bush was in office.
Piece of shit Politicians.[/QUOTE]
The tax cut thing was passed today so hopefully they'll stop holding everything fucking hostage
[quote]This is "a liberal crusade to create a utopia."[/quote]
Because obviously even trying to create a utopia is a fool-hearted endeavor that should not be tried because, fuck it, why should we try to make this country better?
Also the argument that this isn't good for combat troops is absolutely stupid. First of all soldiers would have already made large bonds with their fellow soldiers to reduce homophobia if one of them comes out and second of all because openly gay troops won't even be put in to the military for awhile because:
A) The repeal is not instant.
B) Gay soldiers would have to go through boot camp/training.
Maybe when the Democrats stop holding things hostage too.
[QUOTE=Glaber;26719341]Maybe when the Democrats stop holding things hostage too.[/QUOTE]
Such as?
[QUOTE=Glaber;26719341]Maybe when the Democrats stop holding things hostage too.[/QUOTE]
i like the part where you say what the democrats are holding hostage
[editline]15th December 2010[/editline]
Oh, and the Republicans have a minority, the Democrats have a majority.
60/100 votes should not be needed to pass something, a simple majority should suffice.
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