Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

[Zummie]

House Votes to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Patricia Murphy
Columnist

The House of Representatives voted 234 to 194 Thursday night to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the 17-year-old policy banning openly gay people from serving in the military.

Five House Republicans voted with the Democratic majority to lift the ban.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday, "It is the right thing to do."

"The legislation, the compromise that was worked out at the White House, is respectful of the fact that there is a review going on, speaking at all levels to the military across the country and in theater about how we should go forward," she said.

Hours before the House vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16 to 12 to end the policy.

The amendment, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and in the House by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), stipulates that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy will only be repealed after the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff certify that changing the law will not hurt the armed services' readiness, morale or cohesion. The Pentagon is studying those issues, with the results expected by the end of the year.

In the Senate, Susan Collins (R-Maine) crossed party lines to vote to repeal the policy, while Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) voted with the committee's Republicans to leave it in place. Webb, a Vietnam veteran, said this week that he wants to see the results of the military's study before deciding to change the law.

All of the Republicans on the committee except Collins and Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) took the unusual step of voting against the underlying Defense Authorization Act in protest of the plan to reverse Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Although the committee voted in a closed-door session, people familiar with the meeting said that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lieberman had a "heated discussion" about changing the policy. McCain argued that the Congress should heed the input of the military service chiefs, all of whom oppose changing the law now.
____________________________

Senate Panel Votes to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Patricia Murphy
Columnist

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16 to 12 Thursday to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gays from serving in the military.

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), stipulates that the policy will only be repealed after the president, the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that changing the law will not hurt the armed services' readiness, morale or cohesion. The Pentagon is studying those issues, with the results expected by the end of the year.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) crossed party lines to vote to repeal the policy, while Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) voted with the committee's Republicans to leave it in place. Webb, a Vietnam veteran, said this week that he wants to see the results of the military's study before deciding to change the law.

All of the Republicans on the committee except Collins and Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) took the unusual step of voting against the underlying Defense Authorization Act in protest of the plan to reverse "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Although the committee voted in a closed-door session, people familiar with the meeting said that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lieberman had a "heated discussion" about changing the policy. McCain argued that the Congress should heed the input of the military service chiefs, all of whom oppose changing the law now.

The measure must be approved by the full Senate. The House passed the bill Thursday night, 234-194, with five Republicans voting in favor.
______________




Americans, Military Leaders Support Repeal Of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
May 26, 2010

Military Officials Support Repeal of “Don't Ask Don't Tell”

In addition to the following military officials, a recent poll shows that 73% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans said it is “personally acceptable to them if gay and lesbian people were allowed to serve openly in the military.”

Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that 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 an institution.” [Admiral Michael Mullen, 2/3/10]

General Colin Powell, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
“In the almost seventeen years since the ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed...For the past two years, I have expressed the view that it was time for the law to be reviewed by Congress. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” [Colin Powell, 2/3/10]

General John Shalikashvili, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
“‘Don't ask, don't tell’ is both a federal law and a Pentagon policy. The law ties the military's hands on this issue. If Congress fails to repeal it, the Pentagon's study process will be compromised because the Defense Department will not have the authority to implement its own recommendations…. Congress should repeal the law, providing the secretary and the chairman with enough maneuvering room that, when the time is right, they can implement policies that end discrimination and maximize military readiness.” [General John Shalikashvili, 5/22/10]

51 Retired Generals and Admirals and Former Army Secretary:
Repeal “don't ask, don't tell.” In a letter to Congress, 52 military leaders recommended that Congress repeal DADT: “We respectfully urge Congress to repeal the ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy. Those of us signing this letter have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish.” [Military Leaders Letter to Congress, 7/23/08]

“A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military…. ‘Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military…. There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups.’” [CNN Polling Director Keating Holland, 5/25/2010]

[Jiggin Junkie]

" Americans, Military Leaders Support Repeal Of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
May 26, 2010

Thats only because of what happens when you speak out against this Administration. They ship you off to the Gulag and have you making little rocks out of big rocks.

[Zummie]

" Americans, Military Leaders Support Repeal Of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
May 26, 2010

Thats only because of what happens when you speak out against this Administration. They ship you off to the Gulag and have you making little rocks out of big rocks.

So you think all those retired Generals and Admirals were worried about that?

You think those 73% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that said it is “personally acceptable to them if gay and lesbian people were allowed to serve openly in the military” were worried about that too?

Does this make sense when were trying to fight a war on terror ???????????

Gay Linguists Get The Boot
Military Dismisses 6 Gay Arabic Linguists Amid Shortage Of Translators

(AP) Nine Army linguists, including six trained to speak Arabic, have been dismissed from the military because they are gay.

The soldiers' dismissals come at a time when the military is facing a critical shortage of translators and interpreters for the war on terrorism.

Seven of the soldiers were discharged after telling superiors they are gay, and the two others got in trouble when they were caught together after curfew, said Steve Ralls, spokesman for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a group that defends homosexuals in the military.

Six were specializing in Arabic, two were studying Korean and one was studying Mandarin Chinese. All were at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, the military's primary language training center.

The government has aggressively recruited Arabic speakers since the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We face a drastic shortage of linguists, and the direct impact of Arabic speakers is a particular problem," said Donald R. Hamilton, who documented the need for more linguists in a report to Congress as part of the National Commission on Terrorism.

One of the discharged linguists said the military's policy on gays is hurting its cause.

"It's not a gay-rights issue. I'm arguing military proficiency issues - they're throwing out good, quality people," said Alastair Gamble, a former Army specialist.

Harvey Perritt, spokesman for the Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe in Tidewater, Va., confirmed the dismissals.

He said 516 linguists enrolled in the Arabic course this year at the Monterey institute and 365 graduated.

The military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy allows gays to serve provided they keep quiet about their sexual orientation.

Gamble and former Pfc. Robert Hicks were discovered in Gamble's room during a surprise inspection in April, Gamble said.

After their discharges, Gamble and Hicks applied for other federal jobs where they could use their language skills in the war on terrorism, but neither was hired, Gamble said.

By Margie Mason
© MMII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

[Avenger]

Here's an idea; how about it's nobody's G-D business what your sexual orientation is, gay or straight. Why can't private things just be private?

[seapower]

What's wrong with the way it used to be??? Don't be gay around me and I won't be heterosexual around you. I mean I don't want a guy and girl makin out next to me either. Screw around with a girl at your unit (don't know how it is now) and you're busted. I was stationed with my wife before we got married. Our relationship was after hour's, off base, no sign's of affection while on duty. Matter of fact I had to fill out a "chit" asking the C/O if I could marry her. This is all common sense. The Gov't can't stand common sense, must make new law's. Problem is they don't enforce the old law's. Frank

[Captain Michael Buffington]

What's wrong with the way it used to be??? Don't be gay around me and I won't be heterosexual around you. I mean I don't want a guy and girl makin out next to me either. Screw around with a girl at your unit (don't know how it is now) and you're busted. I was stationed with my wife before we got married. Our relationship was after hour's, off base, no sign's of affection while on duty. Matter of fact I had to fill out a "chit" asking the C/O if I could marry her. This is all common sense. The Gov't can't stand common sense, must make new law's. Problem is they don't enforce the old law's. Frank

is too damn many Dummies running their mouth. People like this polesmoker are what is wrong with america.

Mike

[Zummie]

is too damn many Dummies running their mouth. People like this polesmoker are what is wrong with america.

Mike

Mickeee it's OK, your true preference is obvious to everyone. Times have changed, you can come out of the closet now and you will find that the narrow minded, ignorant and bigoted homophobes like the one you are pretending to be are in a very small minority. That minority is getting smaller every day as the people that think like this realize that they are pathetic losers that everyone either laughs at or pities. Times have changed and you will find far less to fear today. Look at the polls; over 70% of Americans see no problem with people like you serving openly in the military. Mickeee, just think how much better you will feel about yourself once you have given up this self deprecating game you play and find a man you can truly love. We will all support you.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

people like you are the problem. To stupid to realize just how stupid they are.

I am ignore listin' ya *****.

Mike

[megabite]

This is exactly why soap on a rope was invented.

[Zummie]

Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Would Honor Gay Veterans
By DAVID SCHEPP

Last week's votes in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives to repeal the onerous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy governing lesbian and gay members of the military is a hopeful sign. But it's far from a done deal, and only time will tell whether the federal law that prohibits gay and lesbian service personnel from disclosing their sexual preference will finally end after nearly two decades.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," or DADT for short, was a compromise worked out in 1993 between the Clinton administration and Congress after then-President Bill Clinton failed to deliver on on a campaign promise to lift the military's outright ban on gays and lesbians, imposed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

Standards Imposed on Gays Alone

Simply, DADT is unfair. It imposes a set of standards of conduct upon one small, definable group that isn't required of the rest of the military. Heterosexuals aren't required to keep mum about their own sexuality nor are they prevented from asking fellow heterosexuals about their sex lives.

Gays and Lesbians Serve in Militaries Around the World

Thousands of gays and lesbians have seen their military careers cut short because of who they are. Under DADT, more than 13,500 lesbian and gay service members have been removed from military service since the law went into effect in 1994, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy organization.

It doesn't have to be that way, as other nations have proven. The militaries in Australia, Israel, Great Britain and Canada allow lesbians and gays to serve openly and studies have shown that allowing "open service" has no adverse effect on enrollment or retention.

Millions of lesbian and gay Americans have served in the nation's armed forces. Many of them have died doing so, and their service should be honored as much as anyone's on this Memorial Day holiday, which recognizes our country's fallen heroes. It's time to honor their contributions with an additional gesture by repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Whether members of Congress have the courage that gay and lesbian service members have displayed through the years remains to be seen. But it's time for lawmakers to do the honorable thing and let lesbians and gays serve openly and proudly.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/9bvKOJ