Posted on 12/17/2010 11:32:21 PM PST by Libloather
Fate of Arms Treaty Tied to Policy on Gays
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: December 17, 2010
WASHINGTON — Vexed and cornered, Republican opponents of the advancing effort to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military pulled out a final card Friday, suggesting that the future of an arms treaty with Russia was endangered by Democratic efforts to repeal “don’t ask don’t tell” at the end of the lame-duck session.
“It poisons the well,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, on the floor of the Senate during debate on the New Start treaty. Mr. Coker said he did not think “the future of the Start treaty over the next several days is going to be successful” if Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, continued with his plans to pursue the repeal, as well as an immigration bill.
Other Republican senators echoed the view.
Mr. Reid announced Thursday that the Senate would begin voting Saturday on a measure to repeal the Clinton-era military policy that prohibits gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the military from serving openly. The Senate will also take up an immigration bill that would allow young people who were illegally brought into the country to earn legal status through education or military service. Its passage, which is considered unlikely, would fulfill a campaign promise that Mr. Reid made to Hispanic voters.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
National Security Sacrificed for Political Ambition
That is an absolute sellout of this country
The Repubs better play the cards up their sleeves to stop DADT.
I don’t know why the left and mushy middle didn’t try to pass these bills earlier when they still technically had the mandate from the 2008 election. Now that the people have clearly rejected the liberal house, the Democrats want to rush these bills. What’s up with that? I mean, I understand them rushing to get things done before they lose control of the house, but they had two years to pursue this crap. Is it due to procrastination or some other political advantage I’m not aware of?
DADT and DREAM are scheduled for Senate cloture votes around 9 AM Eastern on Saturday.
I, for one, don’t understand why the party lets senators like Snowe and Collins do whatever they please. What good is any organization if its members join the other side on the big issues.
There’s no doubt the new House will oppose a homosexualized military. “Republican” senators who join with the left against the Republican platform, a clear majority of their fellow senators, and the will of the people expressed last election deserve no loyalty or support from us, no party chairmanships, no cash donations, NOTHING!
If these radical Republican senators aren’t reigned in soon, the Republican party itself might be in jeopardy. People are sick and tired of this reaching across the aisle crap. Don’t like it, Olympia? Then go join the other party and make it official. You and your ilk may be all comfy in your state, but you’re costing the Republican party both donations and enthusiasm on a national level. Your centrist crap is going to tear us apart to the detriment of all!
>> I, for one, don’t understand why the party lets senators like Snowe and Collins do whatever they please.
Good point.
Both items should be defeated
I vote for whatever it takes to kill all three — DADT repeal, START, and DREAM. Kill ‘em all and let the next Congress sort ‘em out
I vote for whatever it takes to kill all three — DADT repeal, START, and DREAM. Kill ‘em all and let the next Congress sort ‘em out
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