Amendment Authorizing End to DADT Passes

The House of Representatives voted 234-194 yesterday to approve an amendment repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The amendment will be attached to the 2011 Department of Defense Authorization Bill. Five Republicans, Charles Djou (HI), Joseph Cao (LA), Judy Biggert (IL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) and Ron Paul (TX), joined 229 Democrats in approving the measure. Djou was just sworn in days ago after a special election to fill the seat of Democrat Neil Abercrombie (resigned to run for governor). Cao, who succeeded the corrupt William Jefferson, was the lone Republican to vote for the draft Affordable Health Care for America Act; but, citing objections to public funding for elective abortion, he joined the rest of his party in opposing the final version, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Paul, of course, is the Libertarian who ran for president in 1988 and 2008. 26 Democrats joined the remaining 168 Republicans in opposition to the bill. Those Democrats, grouped by state, are: Bobby Bright (AL); Marion Berry and Mike Ross (AR); Sanford Bishop Jr., Jim Marshall (GA); Jerry Costello and Frank Lipinski (IL); Joe Donnelly (IN), Collin Peterson (MN), Ike Skelton (MO); Travis Childers and Gene Taylor (MS); Bob Etheridge, Mike McIntyre and Heath Shuler (NC); Earl Pomeroy (ND); Christopher Carney, Mark Critz and Chet Edwards (PA); John Spratt Jr. (SC); Gene Green and Solomon Ortiz (TX); Lincoln Davis and John Tanner (TN); Rick Boucher (VA); and Nick Rahall II (WV). The Republican representing my home district, Paul Ryan, did not vote. The New York Times has the roll call here. President Obama issued this statement this morning:

"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."

The full defense appropriation bill still needs to be approved by both houses of Congress; right-wing lap dog John McCain is threatening a filibuster. 

Paul Berge
Q Syndicate
Feb 24, 2010

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