Posted on 12/18/2010 3:34:32 PM PST by Brices Crossroads
Eight Republicans bucked their party in backing the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy, potentially risking a backlash from the conservative base while giving the historic vote a stronger bipartisan finish than many expected.
The Republican senators voting “yes” with the Democrats on repeal were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Mark Kirk of Illinois, John Ensign of Nevada, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, George Voinovich of Ohio, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska – and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine.
Burr, Ensign and Kirk did not announce their support for repeal before the Saturday vote. Burr and Ensign initially sided with Republicans in a procedural vote to bring the measure to the floor; they voted for repeal on the final vote.
But while Kirk and Ensign had previously indicated they were open to voting for repeal, Burr’s vote came as a surprise even to the sponsors of the legislation. Collins, who led the charge for repeal in the Senate with Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, said she lobbied every other GOP senator who voted for repeal, except for the North Carolina Republican.
“I was confident going into the vote today that we had six to seven votes. I didn't not expect eight,” said Collins. “I was delighted but surprised with the vote from Sen. Burr. I think that was a gutsy vote and I was delighted. But he was not someone who I thought to lobby on the issue.”
Burr explained his reasoning to reporters after final passage.
“It's just that we’ve had a generational change and I have vehemently objected to making a policy change of this magnitude at this time. When cloture was passed, that settled that,” Burr said. “It’s not accepted practice anywhere in our society, and it only makes sense. But again, I was vehemently opposed to the timing of this.”
Another surprise of the day was Kirk, who was just elected to the Senate. As late as Thursday, the newly elected GOP senator told reporters that he was undecided and still combing through the long report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the issue.
Yet, in a 400-word statement released after the vote, Kirk explained in detail why he voted for the repeal of the policy.
“Following their exhaustive and considered military judgment, I support the Joint Chief's recommendation to implement the repeal of the current policy once the battle effectiveness of the forces is certified and proper preparations are complete,” said Kirk. “The legislation before us provides our military leaders with the time they requested to change the policy.”
Known for his moderate voting record as a congressman from the northern Chicago suburbs, Kirk was elected in the typically Democratic state of Illinois last November and was sworn into the Senate just three weeks ago.
But since arriving in Washington, Kirk has stood firmly with Senate Republicans. He was vocal in his opposition to the Democrat-backed $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, which Majority Leader Harry Reid yanked, voted against the defense reauthorization act that including the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ and voted against the DREAM Act earlier Saturday.
Two of the Republicans — Brown and Snowe — are up for reelection in 2012.
“The vote speaks for itself,” Brown told POLITICO, before an aide added that he had explained his position in prior published statements and the elevator doors closed.
Voinovich, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, told reporters that he was “convinced, based on all of the experts who have looked at this, this is something that should be done.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46578.html#ixzz18VZMt3Em
“Why was Kirk a surprise??? He’s gay.”
Right you are.
Kirk was a Naval Intelligence Officer.
Now we can ask; now he can tell.
I think the Senate isn’t as running scared with the results of the last election as is the House of Reps. Most think they are safe seats with the reelection of Ole Harry, Boxer, Murray, Murkowski, etc. They all have the “it’s my seat” mentality. Not surprised that Snowe led the R campaign with Lieberman, she worships the guy, does whatever he tells her to do.
I agree these worthless Senators are living in denial. We will kick their asses out in the primaries. I will take a Dem any day over an untrustworthy liberal Republican. We will take more scalps in the 2012 primaries.
well I can’t agree with you on taking a Democrat over any Republican. Whether we like it or not, numbers do count with committee selections, chairmanships, etc. But, then I will never vote for a Dem for any reason. We need to work harder to elect more true conservatives. It will take time and we do have a good start. I am sick of the word RINO tagged on any R that we don’t agree with. Lots of issues to consider instead of vowing to vote for any Democrat
I miss Jesse Helms ! I like how e really pissed off the liberals and stood his ground on things. He also despised the UN globalists as well.
> Instead, why not recruit a primary challenger and get rid of him. North Carlina used to produce the likes of John East And Jesse Helms. It can do a lot better than Burr.
Burr was just re-elected
We need to burn those names into the record, I`d with hold my vote for any Republicrat who voted for this crap.Vote against him in the primary and (assuming he won) not vote for him in that election in the general. We need to cleanse that stinking party or start a third. NO MORE LESSER OF TWO EVILS!
OK. Been thinking too. Main thing is not to give in & give up.
Thanks for contact info. I would love to see or make expanded contact list to express opinion to leadership in Republican Party. Each can contact their own state reps as well.
I think getting our own house in order is a priority. House divided against itself...
Not Saying Republican Party is perfect, but it seems only viable option at this time.
No sense going into a fight having to worry about your back.
Can a Senator be kicked out of the Republican Party ?
No I believe he will be Senator until 2017.
GRRRRR! I voted for Burr this time. NO MORE. I am DONE with him. I will CONTRIBUTE to his opponent’s campaign in ‘16.
I would begin in the states and repeal “gay marriage” law where ever such laws exist to make “gay marriage” legal. At the federal level I would like to see all laws that protect sodomy repealed. And all laws prohibiting religious expression, where ever, repealed too.
I think so too.
“Any wonder that it was the usual suspect RINOS voting for this atrocity? All of them must be replaced.”
Toomey also said he would have voted YES. It’ll take 6 years to get rid of Toomey and Kirk.
Not sure about Kirk.
“Burr was just re-elected”
Well, that just means plenty of time to get a primary challenge started, doesn’t it?
He denied it but I see Leftist activists tried to paint him as gay during the year. I wonder if the claims had an effect on his vote.
He denied it but I see Leftist activists tried to paint him as gay during the year. I wonder if the claims had an effect on his vote.
He denied it but I see Leftist activists tried to paint him as gay during the year. I wonder if the claims had an effect on his vote.
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