The House is going to vote on the standalone DADT bill today. It should pass, but House members still need to hear from us. The switchboard number is 202-224-3121. (UPDATE @ 10:36 AM: House will probably vote on the Rule for the DADT bill around noon — and move to debate and vote on final passage in the 3 – 4 PM range.)
After passage, the bill will be sent as a “message” to the Senate, thereby avoiding an initial filibuster. The Senate can immediately begin debate on the legislation, although when that debate actually starts is unclear. We will need 60 votes to end the debate. More on what to expect, including GOP “minefields” and “torpedoes” at AMERICAblog Gay.
Repeal of DADT has gone way past the point of debate. An overwhelming majority of Americans support allowing gays and lesbian to serve openly. It’s only controversial for the fringe right-wing hate groups, like the Family Research Council, General Amos and GOP Senators. Via Ed O’Keefe:
Nearly eight in 10 Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.The results signal continued widespread public support for ending the military’s 17-year ban on gays in the military and come as Congress prepares to vote again on legislation ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.
Overall, 77 percent of Americans say gays and lesbians who publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be able to serve in the military. That’s little changed from polls over the two years, but represents the highest level of support in a Post-ABC poll. The support also cuts across partisan and ideological lines, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans, independents, liberals, conservatives and white evangelical Protestants in favor of homosexuals’ serving openly.
NOTE to all White House staffers (including the President), Hill Staffers, Senators and traditional media types: DADT repeal is NOT controversial. Got that? It’s NOT controversial. As Dan Savage said so perfectly back in August when a similar poll came out:
If This Fruit Were Hanging Any Lower…it would be a f-ing potato.
That our leaders can’t get something with such strong support passed says a lot about our leaders.
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