GOP Senator to Dems: If you try to pass DADT, Republicans won't pass START

Sen. Bob Corker: If You Bring DADT Up, The GOP Will Walk Away from START
Last night Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) made a threat to Sen. Harry Reid. What’s happened is it’s poisoning the well on this debate, on something that’s very, very important….I’m just hoping that saner minds will prevail and that these issues that have been brought forth that are absolutely partisan, political, issues, brought forth to basically accommodate Activist groups around this country. I’m hoping that those will be taken down or else I don’t think the future of

US senator: Gay ban tied to Russia treaty
The White House's Democratic allies in the US Senate should drop plans to Repeal a Military ban on gays serving openly or risk the fate of a nuclear pact with Russia, a Republican senator said Friday. Republican Senator Bob Corker, who has played a key role in debates on the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), urged Democrats to scrap plans to hold a key vote Saturday on ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" prohibition. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Corker said that procedural vo...

Sen. Bob Corker: If You Bring DADT Up, The GOP Will Walk Away from START
Last night Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) made a threat to Sen. Harry Reid. What’s happened is it’s poisoning the well on this debate, on something that’s very, very important….I’m just hoping that saner minds will prevail and that these issues that have been brought forth that are absolutely partisan, political, issues, brought forth to basically accommodate Activist groups around this country. I’m hoping that those will be taken down or else I don’t think the future of

Reflections on DADTs Repeal
Today truly is an historic day for the Military. As Dan posted earlier this morning, Cloture was reached on a bill sponsored by hawk Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) (<--notice no "D" in there) and minutes ago the full Senate voted 65-31 to enact the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010". I’m very pleased for a few reasons: First of all, this happened fairly. While there’s an argument that this was thrust into the waning (and flailing) moments of a lame-duck sessi...

Collins snubbed on 'dont ask, dont tell?
At a Saturday Press Conference, Joe Solmonese, the prominent gay-rights Activist, lavished praise on Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) for taking leadership roles in the effort to Repeal the Military’s “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy banning gays from serving openly in the military. One problem? Collins wasn’t there. Collins seems to think she was snubbed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who led the laudatory press conference. Ask...

Senate Passes DADT repeal
Today is one of those days where I'm reminded why I've spent years putting in so many long hours and sleepless nights trying to see change for the better. In an historic vote this afternoon, the Senate voted 65 to 31 to Repeal DADT. As the resolution has now made it through both houses of Congress, we are watching a great step forward in the fight for Civil Rights. The passage of the Repeal is largely a result of the Grassroots Activists who simply wouldn't give up on their right to openly serve...

Social conservatism fades in 'generational transition'
Jonathan Martin notes a remarkable statement from Richard Burr: Given the generational transition that has taken place in our nation, I feel that this policy is outdated and Repeal is inevitable. However, I remain convinced that the timing of this change is wrong, and making such a shift in policy at a time when we have Troops deployed in active combat areas does not take into consideration t...

Dont Ask, Dont Tell Heroes are the Soliders
One step closer to Civil Rights history. Harry S Truman would be proud today of all the brave gay men and women serving who waited patiently 17 years for this Clinton era policy to be overturned. Many Democrats fought diligently to get the job done. The Senate today voting 63-33 to advance DADT so a final vote can be taken, likely later this weekend. So close. From the New York Times, with a really beautiful picture at the link that says so much: Capping a 17-year political struggle, the Sena...

Dont Ask, Dont Tell Heroes are the Soliders
One step closer to Civil Rights history. Harry S Truman would be proud today of all the brave gay men and women serving who waited patiently 17 years for this Clinton era policy to be overturned. Many Democrats fought diligently to get the job done. The Senate today voting 63-33 to advance DADT so a final vote can be taken, likely later this weekend. So close. From the New York Times, with a really beautiful picture at the link that says so much: Capping a 17-year political struggle, the Sena...

Obama to sign law ending military gay ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a historic vote for Gay Rights, the Senate agreed on Saturday to do away with the Military’s 17-year ban on Openly Gay Troops and sent President Barack Obama Legislation to overturn the Clinton-era policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Obama was expected to sign the bill into law next week, although changes to military policy probably wouldn’t take effect for at least several months. Under the bill, the president and his top milit...

Senators clash on arms treaty as pressure grows
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers debating the New START nuclear arms treaty with Russia clashed on Friday over whether the pact would improve or hurt U.S. National Security as pressure mounted for a vote next week before the U.S. Senate breaks for Christmas. The treaty, one of President Barack Obama's top priorities for the current legislative session, would commit Russia and the United States to cut deployed strategic Nuclear Weapons to 1,550 for each side within seven years. Althou...

Graham: I Was Forced To Ignore START, Because Other Major Issues Were Wearing On The Body
Last night on the Senate floor, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) complained that it had been a “week from hell” due to having to work on “big issues.” He then grumbled that he had been too busy “stopping some bad ideas” and therefore had no time “to think about START.” Nevermind that the New START Treaty was completed in April, giving Graham and his staff eight months to “think about” the treaty. Graham stated: In conclusion to my collea...

Senate Passes DADT Repeal, Sending Bill To Obama For His Signature
Senate Passes DADT Repeal, Sending Bill To Obama For His Signature Moments ago, by a 65-31 vote, the Senate acted to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the policy banning gays from openly serving in the Military. The same six GOP senators who broke with their party during the Cloture vote earlier today also voted for repeal: Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, George Voinovich, and Mark Kirk. Two more Republicans — John Ensign and Richard Burr — ...

Bob Corker hints: If Reid pushes DADT vote, well vote no on START
And almost as quickly as he dropped the hint, he picked it back up and put it in his pocket. “I felt like momentum was growing for START,” Corker said, adding that since Reid announced he was holding votes on DADT and DREAM, it has had a “chilling effect.” “I’m watching support for the treaty erode, because of highly partisan political issues being brought up solely because Activist groups in the Democratic Party want this done,” he continued. Corker s...

Better DADT Repeal than New START
Greg Sargent has Sen. Bob Corker being frank: “I felt like momentum was growing for START,” Corker said, adding that since Reid announced he was holding votes on DADT and DREAM, it has had a “chilling effect.” “I’m watching support for the treaty erode, because of highly partisan political issues being brought up solely because Activist groups in the Democratic Party want this done,” he continued. Corker said he wasn’t issuing a personal threat, a...

Closing the deal on 'Don't Ask'
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal vote today culminated years of advocacy, campaigning, and lobbying, but it also involved a last-minute tactical scramble after the failure to attach the Repeal measure to the Defense authorization bill failed on December 9. That approach, championed by Barney Frank, had been the central strategy this Congress. Advocacy Groups like Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund and the rest of their coalition, and staff and members in the S...

Gay GOP group to White House: Act fast to carry out DADT repeal
The Log Cabin Republicans are calling on Obama Administration officials to quickly implement the bill to Repeal the Military's “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that’s on the cusp of clearing Capitol Hill. “Log Cabin Republicans urge Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and President Obama to move with all deliberate speed to implement the measures necessary for open service so that certification can proceed and gay

DADT Repealed 65-31
Armed Forces hardest hit… (NY Times) — By a vote of 65 to 31, with eight Republicans joining Democrats, the Senate approved and sent to President Obama a Repeal of the Clinton-era law, known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy critics said amounted to government-sanctioned Discrimination that treated gay and Lesbian Troops as second-class citizens. Mr. Obama hailed the action, which fulfills his pledge to reverse the ban. “As commander in chief, I am also absolut

Six GOP-ers push DADT over the top
Six 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. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, George Voinovich of Ohio, Mark Kirk of Illinois, plus Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe voted to end debate on the bill that would Repeal the policy that bans openly gays ser...

Democrats Avert a Government Shutdown For Three More Days
President Obama signed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) on Saturday in order to avert a government shutdown at midnight. The House and Senate passed the CR on Friday. The CR will keep the government running until Tuesday, giving the Democrats three additional days to figure out how to fund the government. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) was not said how he intends to proceed with the Government Spending process in the waning days of the 111th Congress. On Thursday evening, R...

Democrats Avert a Government Shutdown For Three More Days
President Obama signed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) on Saturday in order to avert a government shutdown at midnight. The House and Senate passed the CR on Friday. The CR will keep the government running until Tuesday, giving the Democrats three additional days to figure out how to fund the government. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) was not said how he intends to proceed with the Government Spending process in the waning days of the 111th Congress. On Thursday evening, R...

Bob Corkers Definition of Activist Groups in the Democratic Party
Sen. Bob Corker threatened to kill START if Senate Democrats went forward with the DADT Repeal Legislation (emphasis is mine): In an interview with [Greg Sargent] just now, Senator Bob Corker doubled down on his contention that if Dems move on DADT, Republicans will be less likely to support START.”I felt like momentum was growing for START,” Corker said, adding that since Reid announced he was holding votes on DADT and DREAM, it has had a “chilling effect.” “IR...

Senate passes cloture motion on repeal of DADT, final vote in hours
Today the Senate passed a Cloture motion stand-alone bill to end the Military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) policy.  The passage of the motion means the debate on the bill has ended which means it can move on to a final vote.  A super-majority of 60 votes is needed to pass a Cloture motion, and the Repeal of DADT cleared that threshold with 63 "yeas" and 33 "nay" votes.  A full roll call of the votes can be seen below. Those opposed to the Repeal of DADT had the right to demand ...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Advances In Senate — Final Vote Likely This Weekend
The Senate took a big step toward ending the Military's ban on Openly Gay servicemembers today. By a vote of 63 to 33, the Senate voted to end debate on a bill repealing the Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The move opens the door for a final Senate vote on the standalone Repeal bill passed by the House Tuesday. That means a simple majority of 51 Senators can now bring the legislative fight on repealing DADT to an end. That vote is expected to come — and expected to succeed &mdas...;

Final DADT Vote: 65-31
Two Republicans switched their "no" Cloture votes to "yes" for Repeal: Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Labels: DADT, LGBT History, Senate New! Share this on Facebook: Share ...