An Unlikely Hero for GLBT Rights

Joe Lieberman has been a worrisome type of  Democrat and a cantankerous Independent.  In many ways, Lieberman represents the Blue Dawg type of Democrat that frustrates many of us that are more liberal.  What really has amazed me, however, is how he’s really sticking up for the repeal of DADT.  Lieberman’s always been pro-choice, which makes him unlikely ever to be successful in the Republican party even with his hawkish stances on the war, Israel, and key economic issues. This is despite his status as a senator from the North East where those kinds of things tend to be more tolerated.   Lieberman can still surprise.  Take this headline from The Hill: Lieberman wants Senate to stay in session until it repeals ‘Don’t ask’ policy.

“Sen. Lieberman believes that there are at least 60 votes to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year, provided that leadership allows time for sufficient debate and amendments,” Lieberman spokeswoman Erika Masonhall said. “Wanting to go home is not an acceptable excuse for failing to pass a bill that provides essential support for our troops and veterans and failing to take action that the president, the secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have called for.”

The senator also appeared to endorse Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart’s demand that the Senate stay in session in a tweet on Monday.

Democrats appear to have the 60 votes necessary to overcome any GOP-led filibuster of the defense bill, because some Republicans — like Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Scott Brown (Mass.) — have said they support the repeal.

But all 42 GOP senators have vowed to block any legislation from moving forward until the Senate passes an extension of expiring Bush-era tax cuts for all income brackets.

Ah, yes, those Republican defenders of the uber wealthy.  This time they’re standing in front of progress for our troops.  Proponents of the repeal have activated their calling trees and letter writing campaigns.

But Nat Butler, a gay Vietnam veteran who lied about his sexual orientation to serve in the military, was more pessimistic. He said that although eight out of ten respondents on Wednesday agreed to take action, he feared that the repeal would ultimately fail because Senator John McCain of Arizona is determined for DADT to remain in place.
Other veterans at the emergency phone bank were more optimistic about the chances of repeal. Michael Young, a straight former Marine, said that he served with a bisexual man during his time in the military. When his comrades first found out about the man’s sexual orientation, they were surprised, but once the initial shock wore off, business proceeded as usual. Given Young’s comrades’ response, and the responses of other people he has spoken to, he said that he thinks people generally support repeal.

“But it’s always important for me to remember that I live in a rare cross-section, in Boston, Massachusetts. I’m optimistic, but I’m also prepared to do more,” said Young.

WAPO has an article up explaining how the clock is ticking for the repeal.

But the biggest barrier is the calendar. Although a repeal bill passed the House in May, and there appear to be enough votes for it in the Senate, there are only two weeks left in the lame-duck session. Other priorities, such as negotiating a compromise on extending Bush-era tax cuts, have consumed congressional leaders.

Repeal advocates are growing convinced that time may be running out. “The rules of the Senate can capture you when you end up in the 12th hour,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

The White House summoned repeal advocates for a private meeting Friday at which, sources said, administration officials told them they would not trade this priority for others. The officials were bullish, saying that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen would not have testified this past week if they did not believe the bill could reach Obama’s desk before January.

That could be critical. The repeal effort would have to start over next year with the new Congress, which is decidedly more Republican and less energized to get rid of the policy.

It’s time for the Senate to take action on this and put it to rest.  At this point, it can only be causing undue stress on gay service men and women and the military itself.  Having an outstanding issue that should be solved by now just creates a weird environment in any organization.  This is especially true since the release of the study showed there was no particular reason to support the DADT edict.    Good for Joe Lieberman for finally standing up for one issue that truly represents the Democratic Party.