Repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is either “barely hanging on with life support” or the effort “could still get 60 votes in the Senate.” Which might mean the same thing? Apparently what’s needed is a big push from Democratic leadership, and Obama supposedly offered that today by calling up Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to tell him to keep repeal in the Pentagon spending bill, and a presser tomorrow from Sens. Gillibrand, Udall, and Lieberman will publicly push Democrats to support the effort. Update: An announcement from Gay Inc. claims Reid will bring the National Defense Authorization Act (with repeal attached) to a vote during the lame duck session after Thanksgiving. Sen. Harry Reid says in his own statement, “During the work period following the Thanksgiving holidays, I will bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor, including a repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Our Defense Department supports repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ as a way to build our all-volunteer armed forces. We need to repeal this discriminatory policy so that any American who wants to defend our country can do so.”
DADT Repeal Is Dead! DADT Repeal Is Going To Pass! The Sky Is Blue! Then It Turned Black! (Update: At The Very Least, It’ll Be Voted On After Thanksgiving)
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SpiffyShindigs
I’ve gotta say I’d rather the Dems focus their legislative power on not compromising on the Bush tax cuts issue.
AndrewW
DADT Repeal has been dead for a while. It is only the LGBT Advocacy orgs that want you to believe otherwise, so they can raise money. They pretend there is a chance at the same time they ask for a donation. It is pathetic.
We only have 55 LGBT-supportive votes in the Senate. Calls, emails, protests or silly stunts won’t change that reality. We need 5 more US Senators willing to support us – that can only be done by their constituents. That’s who we need to be talking to.
As GetEQUAL has proven this year, we don’t get anywhere with confrontation, it requires conversation. We need to get people to join us, not run from us.
rainfish2000
@AndrewW:
Yeah, I know. All those silly marches by Women’s Suffragettes fighting for the right to vote in 1920, and those useless demonstrations by Black people in 1960’s regarding equal rights — what did those unruly people actual achieve?
…Oh wait, hmmmmmm, the public and the media actually started to pay attention…then the politicians did.
So no, Andrew, public protests for equal rights never work.
reason
@SpiffyShindigs: That is almost an impossibility, the public loves tax cuts so much that their worries about it adding another 2.3 trillion on to the deficit goes out the window. With all of the democrat seats that just went out the window, I find it hard to imagine that they wont be extended. The compromise might be a 2 year extension.
To correct the article, I believe Obama called Sen. Levin, the Chairman of the Armed Services committee, to reinforces his knees. The chairman was thinking about dropping it so if the GOP sticks to its guns and sends the military into a financial tailspin it doesn’t get pinned on his back. There is also talk about releasing the DADT study early as well.
AndrewW
@rainfish2000: Grow up, it is 2010. The world has changed. We need to enroll people and get their support, not piss them off with childish publicity stunts that nobody cares about.
Senators don’t change their minds because a few nut cases make trouble – they poll their constituents.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
As GetEQUAL has proven this year, we don’t get anywhere with confrontation, it requires conversation.
“Oh pretty please, Mr. Powerful Politician, may I PLEASE have my constitutional rights now? Pretty please? I’m begging you! On my hands and knees! Why I’m just like you, can’t you see this?!? Let’s have a respectful discussion where I prove to your all-powerful self that I am worthy of dignity and respect!”
Talk about pathetic.
randy
WOW! Obama made a phone call! That’s just terrific! Now our rights are secured.
You know, it makes me damn proud to have a president who will really do the heavy lifting required to get something done.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
Senators don’t change their minds because a few nut cases make trouble – they poll their constituents.
Quite true. That’s why TARP, opposed by over 80% of Americans, was decisively defeated. That’s why the bailouts of the automakers, opposed by 77% of their constituents, never happened. And it’s why DADT, opposed by over 70% of US citizens, has been decisively repealed.
Hey, wait a minute!
AndrewW
@Brian Miller: Nobody said “begging,” although now that you mention it GetEQUAL has been begging for attention and today the White House dismissed them. They wouldn’t even talk to Ms. Crazy Robin.
If you think pissing on people works – piss away.
randy
“We need 5 more US Senators willing to support us – that can only be done by their constituents. That’s who we need to be talking to.”
Of course. But there are a few Republicans who can be swayed, and a few more Dems. But it takes work — you have to the phones (and no, one phone call to Reid isn’t going to cut it), you have to twist some arms, you have to cajole and threaten. Real pols know how to get it done (Republicans are masters at this). But they only do it on legislation that is important to them. That’s the bottom line.
This isn’t important to Obama unless we MAKE it important.
AndrewW
@Brian Miller: You are apparently as stupid as GetEQUAL. National Polls don’t matter – Senators poll their constituents. Constituents means the voters in their State. Go poll people in Alabama or Oklahoma on DADT, the majority are against DADT.
When you get a chance, will you please explain that to Robin?
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
If you think pissing on people works – piss away.
Seems to me that more has been done in ten years through court than in the fifty years of “please Mr. Politician, give me my rights” approach.
And if GetEQUAL makes the political whores uncomfortable, good! I want anti-gay and do-nothing politicians to worry that every time they give a speech, or go outside, or wake up in the morning, they’ll be confronted on their record until they finish the job. The more worried they are, the better.
It’s obvious that the “please give me my rights” quisling strategy you support has failed, miserably.
AndrewW
@AndrewW: 64% are against DADT repeal in Oklahoma. 71% are against DADT repeal in Alabama.
That’s how the Senate works.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
Go poll people in Alabama or Oklahoma on DADT, the majority are against DADT.
Sure, there are outlier states. They’re not a significant problem.
I love how you demand “respect and conversation” yet then insult me, too.
And by the way, where are the states with populations that passionately supported TARP and helped push it through? Where are the states that had so much support for the auto bailouts that they pushed it through despite supermajority opposition?
Oops, you’ve been caught in your own bullshit again.
AndrewW
@Brian Miller: Uhhh, politicians are not worried about GetEQUAL – they’re laughing, like the rest of us.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
64% are against DADT repeal in Oklahoma. 71% are against DADT repeal in Alabama.
Yeah, the reason the filibuster wasn’t broken was because of Alabama and Oklahoma.
(Are you retarded?)
AndrewW
@Brian Miller: LGBT-issues are “moral” issues. You want to compare them to TARP? How naive.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW: politicians are not worried about GetEQUAL – they’re laughing, like the rest of us.
They’re clearly not worried nor respectful of you, either. I do find it funny that you’re lecturing people on effectiveness when the quisling “beg on your knees” strategy you advocate has literally produced nothing after four decades.
Activism on AIDS got results, and I see no reason why marriage and military service will be any different. Time to step up the pressure.
reason
@AndrewW: The vote was actually at 57, Reid changed his vote to no so he can bring it up again in the lame duck session. The Log Cabin claims that they have, and can deliver the other three votes. It might be Collins, Snowe, and Obama’s friend Lugar.
AndrewW
@Brian Miller: What “pressure?” You are delusional. GetEQUAL and Robin McGehee are a laughing stock. Senators care about polling in their states, not toddlers yelling in the streets.
Go piss on people. That’s your strategy. Maybe you can get a job with GetEQUAL, if they can raise any money.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW:
LGBT-issues are “moral” issues. You want to compare them to TARP? How naive.
TARP is a moral issue too — theft of everyday Americans’ wealth to prop up corrupt crooks and their billion-dollar bonuses.
I love how you constantly bob and weave and change the “rules” when your simple so-called “truths” are pointed out to be utter bullshit though. 🙂
The reality is that the Senate couldn’t care less what ordinary citizens think ON ANY ISSUE. That’s why your strategy of “put on your knee pads and beg” has been such a failure.
AndrewW
@reason: And we have four new Senators in the lame duck session – we lost two votes (WV and IL). We have only 55 right now. It goes down to 53 in January (next session).
There are no Republicans leaning our way. Not even Snow and Collins. There is no DADT repeal that is obtainable.
The House will be holding “hearings” on the military study in February. Nothing will happen before then. It won’t even be brought up after those hearings.
This is 1994 all over again.
Brian Miller
@AndrewW: delusional… laughing stock… piss
Very childish, but rather par for the course. It’s interesting to see the very same people who passionately defend the inaction of their sacred Senators, and who say “we cannot be discourteous,” stoop to incivility.
GetEQUAL is just one piece of a very viral movement. You can insult them, mock their inability to procure large amounts of cash to “buy access” to the corrupt political system, etc., but the one thing you’re not going to be able to do is shut them down.
It’s obvious they’re effective, because you spend so much time on this site and a half-dozen others launching endless attacks on them. If they were such a joke that nobody cared about, you’d not be spending anywhere near the energy you’re spending attacking them.
We’ve tried your kneepads-and-blowjobs-in-the-cloak-room strategy. It failed. Time for you to either lead, follow, or get out of the way.
You’re certainly not “leading,” so seems to me that options 2 or 3 are more appropriate.
Ronbo
Let’s give credit where it is due. Obama made a single phone call! OMG! A phone call. Alert the press to this man’s powerful push for, well… including it in the bill. Note that the Obamainator did not call anyone to change thier mind. But, He did make a phone call. And although it was less than the 28 he made to the college womens basketball chamnpions, it was still a phone call. Alert the media to this mans “fierce”-ness. He is approaching Mr. Magoo.
Fire this Bitch and let’s get some real balls on the job…Mrs. Clinton? Calling Mrs. Clinton.
B
No. 24 · Ronbo wrote, “Let’s give credit where it is due. Obama made a single phone call! OMG! A phone call.”
Hint … a president doesn’t get Congress to go along if he/she browbeats them. Senators in particular have big egos and have an extremely negative reaction to being shoved around, particularly by other branches of government.
If a president wants something to happen in the Senate, often the best approach is to be low key in public and let senators take a lot of the credit.
Matt Ford
@Brian Miller: You don;’t make any sense Brian, I mean Robin.
reason
@Ronbo: How ironic, that you bring up calls and Mrs. Clinton. She made several calls down to capital hill when she tried to force that health care bill down their throat, if I recall she was called out and thrown out. She is a much wiser women these days. The president has his house in order and called the person who he need to in order to make sure that they stand strong, the republican issue is up to the log cabin republicans. He has no sway in their camp what so ever, I am sure he has more important things to do then waste his time. Calling over there may just push them to dig in harder, make him look desperate. Your like a broken record with this fierce talk, move on or at least come up with something new.
jason
There are too many timid people within the gay community. Instead of getting out there and rattling cages, we think everything will be alright if we simply stay at home and converse with each other.
My view is that conversation never achieved anything. You need to get out there and be visible. You need to take the situation by the scruff of the neck and shock the politicians into taking you seriously. At the moment, the Democrats take us for granted. They see us as having no choice but to vote for the lesser of two evils – ie the Democrats.
Well, I’ve got news for the Democrats. If you don’t pass DADT repeal, we will never vote for you again. You will be swept out of power at the next election. You will lose the Senate in a landslide. We will never come back to you ever.
jason
By the way, what is Obama’s plan B. If anyone knows, I’m all ears.
Assuming DADT repeal doesn’t pass the Senate, what is Obama going to do next?
Matt Ford
@jason: Plan A is 60 votes in the Senate. Plan B is victory in the courts.
Matt Ford
@jason: Don’t confuse “timid” with thoughtful. It’s easy to express anger but that doesn’t help. We need to build an army of support. I’m afraid the activist stunts of the last year have made people believe we are crazy lunatics.
dizzle
AndrewW is an idiot. Afraid of making waves? Then get the hell out of our way because we have a job to do. BTW, this sounds snarky, but it’s true: I would love for marriage equality/DADT repeal/ ENDA all to be realities…except for gay republicans. There needs to be an apologist clause.
Carla
@dizzle: Your job is to make “waves?” What does that mean? Piss people off? Robin is an angry lesbian and her “waves” are just making people avoid us. As much as i want to make trouble and complain in the streets, I know it doesn’t do any good.
I spend my time working with local groups that help our children and I talk to anyone that will listen about the unfairness of our struggle. Most of the time people are supportive. We should all be reaching out, not freaking out. McGehee and her fellow queers are just angry wannabee celebrities.