DADT: Is 60+ Votes Still Too Little?

I keep hearing that Obama, as Commander in Chief, should simply kill DADT by executive order. As much as I’d love to see it, it’s more complex than than.  First, ending DADT is not that same as Truman ending segregation in the military.  Segregation was always an executive branch policy.  There was no law passed by Congress mandating it.  The President does not have the Constitutional authority to issue an executive order that contradicts the law.  Just because Bush did it 478 times weekly, that does not make it OK.  Even if he could, how long would his order hold up, if a Republican gains the White House?  The best way to end DADT is for Congress to repeal it.  The next best is for the courts to declare it unconstitutional.  The problem remains Republican obstruction.

Senate Republicans are making a bad and dangerous gamble in stalling the inevitable end of the military’s useless “don’t ask, don’t tell” anti-homosexual policy.

Arizona Sen. John McCain continues to lead an increasingly shrinking minority in the Senate bent on forcing their will on a huge majority of Americans, a huge majority of members of the military, a growing list of fellow conservatives, and even a huge majority of fellow members of the Senate. That overwhelming majority spread across the country has made it unequivocal that they want gays to serve openly in the U.S. military.

McCain and company have run out of excuses to continue stonewalling the measure.

Not only have a vast number of military and Pentagon leaders agreed that no harm will come to troops or readiness by ending the ridiculous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, but an extensive study of the issue by the Pentagon assures all Americans that this is only a big deal to the close-minded politicians holding it up, none of whom will serve in the military alongside a gay soldier.

The rest of the country has moved beyond the dark days of homophobia that harken back to Jim Crow laws and a time when members of Congress just like McCain made almost identical arguments about integrating blacks and whites in the military.

This vastly overdue change is in the works and can’t be stopped. It can only be repeatedly delayed by stonewalling bullies… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Aurora Sentinal>

Even though it has become clear that the Senate whip-count for repeal is at least 60 votes, negotiations broke down last night.

The negotiations being over how many amendments Republicans can offer to the Defense Authorization bill and how much time they’d get to debate them.

Of course this is a part of the ongoing efforts by Republicans to run out the clock. But as I argued earlier, Harry Reid must not let them do it.

… if Senate Republicans insist they need the time, give it to them. Take away their stated reason for not having a vote and let them have the national stage for two weeks to make their case — because God knows they’ll never be able to keep a lid on the bigotry fueling their opposition for that long.

And again:

Harry Reid may want wrap things up and get home for the holidays, but the fact is this lame-duck session can run right up until the 112th Congress is sworn in on January 5.

We’ve heard a lot of whining from Senate Democrats in recent days about wanting to fight — well here’s their chance. They need to put down the eggnog, put off their extended holiday break and fight to end the military’s official policy of discriminating against millions of Americans.

Democrats need to fight. For once… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Keith Olbermann discusses the lame duck Senate with Chris Hayes.

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Ben Nelson and Leg Hound Harry Reid want to go home?  They have 60+ votes.  They should stop whining and do their job… for once.