Scott Brown Hails DADT Repeal as Dems Attack LGBT Voting Record

Accepting an award from the Log Cabin Republicans on Tuesday evening, Massachusetts senator Scott Brown, one of several Republicans who voted to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," said he approached the issue in an "open-minded and independent manner" and brushed aside questions on support for other critical LGBT issues.

"I'm here talking about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and I don't really respond to what the Democrats say. Never do," Brown told Politico's David Catanese as he left Log Cabin's Spirit of Lincoln Awards dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. The junior senator was criticized earlier Tuesday by state Democrats for lack of support for the federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act as well as his previous votes against marriage equality while serving in the state legislature.

The gay Republican group honored Brown as well as GOP colleague Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who also voted to repeal the 1993 law and spoke in a bipartisan press conference on DADT at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.

"When I ran for this seat, and after I won, I pledged to keep an open mind on every issue, including the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy," Brown said at the event. "I supported repeal based on [former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates'] recommendations that it will be implemented when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed."

Below, Brown's prepared remarks, released prior to the event:

It's an honor to be here tonight to receive this Spirit of Lincoln award.

As many of you here know, I approach each and every issue that comes before the Senate in an open-minded and independent manner.

I've been in the Senate for a little more than a year-and-a-half, and I am proud to say that I vote in the best interest of our state and our country. On every issue that comes before us - ranging from jobs bills, financial reform, the START Treaty- and the Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell- I have done my due diligence, made sure I understood the issue, have acted independently and voted regardless of what political party was the prime sponsor of the bill.

Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a perfect example of my approach.

As you know, I have been in the military for nearly 32 years, and have served as both a subordinate and as an officer. As a legislator, I have spent a significant amount of time on military issues while serving on the Senate Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs.

When I ran for this seat, and after I won, I pledged to keep an open mind on every issue, including the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. From the start, I made clear that I wanted to review the findings of the Pentagon report to ensure that a change in policy would not negatively affect in any way our troops currently serving around the world. After I reviewed the Pentagon report, spoke extensively to active and retired military service members, the Joint Chiefs, and discussed the matter privately with then-Defense Secretary Gates and many others, I accepted the findings of the report. I supported repeal based on the Secretary's recommendations that it will be implemented when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed.

Since elected, I have visited our injured troops at Walter Reed and have attended funerals of our fallen heroes. As I said when I voted to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' when a soldier answers the call to serve and risks life or limb, it has never mattered to me whether they are gay or straight. What matters is whether their service and sacrifice is with pride and honor.

I have found that there are good people on both sides of every issue and, even though we may come out on different sides sometimes, there are plenty of topics where we can find common ground. Right now, our country faces very serious challenges, and we will only--truly--be able to solve them if we work together. In my case, I will seek out those solutions in a bi-partisan, bi-cameral manner.

Remember, we're all Americans first.

Thank you again for your time and for this award.