Durbin: Senate Too Swamped for DADT

Majority Whip Dick Durbin said the U.S. Senate may be too swamped to work on repealing the ban on openly gay and lesbian military personnel.

"We have a very heavy, busy agenda and a few months left to do it," Durbin said, according to Politico. "So it may not be now, but that doesn't mean it won't be soon."

Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war veteran who earned a Bronze Star, is the lead sponsor of the House version of the bill, which currently has 150 cosponsors. President Obama and members of his administration have indicated that they are interested in repealing the ban through Congress and not by executive order.

Murphy, 35, is a former prosecutor, West Point professor, and captain in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. In a 2008 hearing on "don't ask, don't tell," Murphy went toe-to-toe with Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, which is fighting to keep the ban in place.

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FILE UNDER: DADT

Reader Comments

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Name: Spencer Wulwick
Date posted: 9/25/2009 12:48:00 PM
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia

Comment:
What is mindboggling to me is not that politicians are not in favor of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Lord knows they worry less about the lives of Americans than they do about their own career. What is mind-boggling to me is that any decent American would continue to serve in the Armed Forces while this policy is in effect. What is the purpose of offering their own well-being and even their lives - for the sake of FREEDOM AND EQUALITY - while OUR OWN COUNTRY is DENYING FREEDOM AND EQUALITY to the very people fighting for it. EACH AND EVERY SERVICE MEMBER - STRAIGHT AND GAY - should LIE IF NECESSARY (just as Don't Ask, Don't Tell REQUIRES people to lie) and REPORT THAT THEY ARE GAY (whether they are or not) AND REQUEST IMMEDIATE DISCHARGE. We can't discharge our entire Armed Forces - so the only alternative would be to cease and desist implementation of this outrageously biased "law." DON'T FIGHT FOR FREEDOM - WHEN THE PEOPLE YOU ARE FIGHTING WITH - ARE BEING DENIED FREEDOM.
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Name: Adam
Date posted: 9/7/2009 11:23:07 PM
Hometown: Chicago

Comment:
God, I am so sick of this BS from the politicians. It's just proof positive that gay rights are not viewed as civil rights by Democrats or Republicans. No one is on our side.
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Name: Nate
Date posted: 9/5/2009 2:39:25 AM
Hometown: Tacoma

Comment:
This just makes me question why I should bother serving to keep these asses in their positions, who continue to let peoples' lives crumble because they have to worry about saying the right things so they dont lose their jobs.
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Name: Amanda Phillips
Date posted: 9/4/2009 7:40:21 PM
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA

Comment:
Sadly, there have been signs for some time that the legislative process is badly stalled. The only way for gays to serve openly and legally in the forseeable future is for the President to sign an executive order. Those who prefer to wait for Congress should not start planning for a victory celebration any time soon. The Palm Center released a report earlier this year discussing the implications of an executive order to end DADT. Check it out here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/mhugx8 Amanda Phillips Palm Center Digital Media Specialist http://www.palmcenter.org
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Name: man-e-faces
Date posted: 9/4/2009 11:59:20 AM
Hometown: pali

Comment:
It is shameful that DADT remains on the books when stoploss is going on.
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Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 9/4/2009 11:00:50 AM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:
If they don't 'find the time' to address the idiocy of DADT; WE in the LGBT community might not 'find the time' to VOTE for these spineless cowards in 2010 and beyond!
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: trent
Date posted: 9/4/2009 9:15:55 AM
Hometown: Austin

Comment:
Then I would suggest they find time, or deal with the increased problems they bring on themselves.
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Name: Jay Clip
Date posted: 9/3/2009 9:19:08 PM
Hometown: Manassas Park, VA

Comment:
Obama's just another POS politician who promises the sky to anyone who will listen (and vote for him), and now everyone's too busy to fulfill campaign promises. What can we do? The Democrats take us for granted as long as the Republinazis keep that family values crap on their platform. But I'll tell you what - if the Republicans bring it back to the center, tell me they're for lowering taxes, expanding the definition of "family", and keep the religious zealots off the convention stage (and agenda), and I'm ready to vote for the Red. Only when the gay voting bloc has a legitimate alternative to the Democrap's nominee will EITHER party ever follow through on any campaign promises to us.
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Name: Wayne
Date posted: 9/3/2009 8:59:40 PM
Hometown: Richmond

Comment:
I think ass fucking in front of churches on Sunday morning should be legal.
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Name: chris
Date posted: 9/3/2009 8:30:10 PM
Hometown: st robert, mo

Comment:
I know what you mean, Josh. I've served 14 years under this bogus policy. My partner Duane, of 10 years sat at home worrying silently while I spent a year in Iraq, a year in Korea, and three years in Germany. Everywhere I've been stationed, Iv'e told everybody he's my uncle and I'm taking care of him because of his heart condition (he's older than me). When I got off the plane from Iraq, I had to hide my tears and resist the urge to kiss him because of those around me. a few months ago he passed away. The first thing I did was go through our house and take down any pictures of us and hide any items that might out us. Then I had to lie to my commander so that I would get emergency leave. I was torn between outing our relationship at the funeral, or lying and betraying him. I chose to be honest, but I had to go to great lengths to make excuses for why only certain people could come, and I had to hold the funeral at a church 100 miles away to protect my job.

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