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Snowe and Murkowski Vow To Vote For DADT Repeal

12/15/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The Democrats are three votes short in the Senate of being able to outright pass the stand alone bill repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but it looks like that obstacle has been overcome. Word has come down that not only will Senator Susan Collins be voting for it, but so will Senators Olympia Snowe and Lisa Murkowski. These three would be enough to break the filibuster that has been promised by Senator John McCain, who has decided to continue to throw a tantrum over the fact that he lost the 2008 Presidential election. Their support comes as almost eight in ten Americans support repeal, and the majority of service members do as well.

Olympia Snowe said in a statement today:

“After careful analysis of the comprehensive report compiled by the Department of Defense and thorough consideration of the testimony provided by the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the service chiefs, I support repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. However, as was stated in the letter I signed along with all of my Republican colleagues to the Majority Leader on Dec. 1, we must first fund the government beyond Dec. 18, and prevent the largest tax increase in our nation’s history from affecting all Americans on New Year’s Day before addressing other legislation.”

Senator Murkowski’s spokesman Michael Brumas said:

“Sen. Murkowski will support a stand-alone repeal of the DADT law. With the tax package out of the way, and legislation to fund the government on a glide path to passage, Sen. Murkowski will vote to move to DADT when it is brought to the floor.”

Since the omnibus legislation to keep the government funded for the next year is already in the works, and the tax bill has already passed the Senate, it should not be a problem for the vote on this to occur despite threats to keep this held up until after world peace has broken out. What is more, it is disingenuous to claim that the Senate cannot do two or even three things at one time. It does that all the time. Of course, given that Senator Jim DeMint is planning on keeping the Senate in session through Christmas by doing as many delaying tactics as possible in order to prevent DADT from being repealed, perhaps Snowe and Murkowski would like to just go ahead and get this over with so that Senate business can be wrapped up as quickly as possible.

Senators Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins have been leading the push for the stand-alone bill to repeal DADT, and they believe that they have the sixty votes to do it. Senator Scott Brown has also voiced his support for repealing DADT as a stand-alone, as has Senator George Voinavich. Of course, the Democrats have Senator Joe Manchin who is opposed to repeal on the grounds that he feels that this legislation will repeal the bill as soon as it is signed rather than in about a year when it is certified by the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defense. In other words, Manchin opposes the bill because he has not actually read it.

Senator Blanche Lincoln missed the vote last time because of a dentist’s appointment.

Until the votes are cast and the bill is cleared, it is not over. We have heard these promises before.

Representative Tammy Baldwin offered her own statement regarding the passage of the bill in the House. She stated:

“It’s an historic day.

As founder and Co-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus in Congress, I can tell you that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been one of our Caucus’ top priorities and we have educated and cajoled and counted votes. Our Equality Caucus of 91 bipartisan Members has been moved to action by the stories of gay and lesbian military professionals whose lives and livelihoods have been damaged by ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ We have been moved to action as discharge after discharge have deprived our Armed Forces of the honorable service and needed skills of patriotic Americans who want to serve their country and be honest about who they are.

Integrity is a hallmark of military service. Yet for 17 years, we have had a statutory policy that requires some in our military to conceal, deceive, and lie. In my opinion, that policy is un-American.

This is also an important step in the march to full equality for LGBT Americans. Particularly so because ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ represents an instance where discrimination is written into our nations laws-a constant reminder of second-class citizenship.

I want to extend my gratitude to my colleagues here today: Mr. Murphy for his role in shepherding this bill through today; Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer for their tenacity in pushing this not just once, but twice, because it is the right thing to do; Major Almy, for your courage, your service to your country, and your willingness to tell you story.

Now, let’s talk about the Senate. Our vote today is indeed an historic occasion, but we’re holding the celebration until the Senate takes up this bill and we’ve sent it to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

Make no mistake: the House made a bold and very strong statement today that we’re ready to move forward and see this repeal through. The President is ready to move forward. The military is ready to move forward. The American people are ready to move forward. It now falls to the Senate to do the right thing!

The arguments have been made, the evidence has been proffered, and, now, the House of Representatives has voted twice! The time is right for Congress to end this discriminatory policy once and for all!”