House Vote OKs End to 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
Updated: 13 hours 49 minutes ago
by Jim Abrams
AP WASHINGTON (May 28) - The drive to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military survived another House vote Friday and now moves to the Senate, where advocates on both sides of the "don't ask, don't tell" debate are gearing up for a fight.
The House voted 229-186 to pass a defense bill approving more than $700 billion for military programs and containing an amendment overturning the 1993 law allowing gays to serve in the military only if they hide their sexual orientation.
The defense bill, which normally passes by wide margins, was closer this year because many Republicans and a few conservative Democrats said they would vote against it if it contained the repeal of the gay ban. The amendment was approved 234-194 late Thursday after dominating the debate during the day.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates appealed to the military Friday not to be distracted by the political debate over gays in uniform. In an unusual direct address to troops, Gates said he wanted to assure them that their views on the divisive question still matter.
Gates has said he supports the repeal but wanted Congress not to legislate before the military conducts an in-house survey of how the change would affect military life and operations. He was overruled by the administration, which was under pressure from gay rights groups to take up the issue this year, when Democrats still hold a secure majority in Congress.
The Senate is expected to take up the defense bill this summer, and its enactment is no sure thing. The White House on Thursday issued a veto threat because the House version includes $485 million for an alternative engine for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Gates has sought to eliminate the second engine program, saying it is wasteful. Supporters, in addition to protecting jobs in their districts, say that the competition will save money over the life cycle of the $100 billion project.
The second engine would be built by General Electric Co. and Rolls-Royce in Ohio, Indiana and other states. The main F-35 engine is built in Connecticut by Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp.
House approval of the "don't ask, don't tell" repeal was a major victory for President Barack Obama, who has pledged to change the policy, and for gay rights groups, who have made it their top priority this year.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a chief backer of changing the law, said he hoped to get the defense bill to the floor before Congress leaves for its summer recess at the end of July. At a news conference Friday, he expressed confidence the ban repeal would stay in the bill.
"I believe a majority of the Senate, just like a majority of the country ... favor changing this policy," he said. "It is a discriminatory policy."
He predicted that it would be hard for opponents to filibuster the defense bill over the gay rights issue because "there's so much in here for our troops." That includes money for security projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan, anti-terrorism programs, billions for new ships, planes and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles and money for ballistic missile defense. The House bill has a 1.9 percent pay raise for military personnel; the Senate bill 1.4 percent.
Levin's committee on Thursday approved an amendment repealing "don't ask, don't tell" on a 16-12 vote. One Republican, Susan Collins of Maine, voted for it while one Democrat, Jim Webb of Virginia, opposed it.
Webb said he agreed with Gates and the chiefs of the four military services, who have urged Congress to put off votes until after the military review is completed in December.
The House and Senate amendments stipulate that the repeal would not become law until after the study is completed and until the president, the defense secretary and the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that it will not have negative effects on the military's fighting ability. The military would also have to first change its rules to comply with the law.
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My question is, when this bill passes, does this mean that all who practice such sexual deviant behavior as homosexuality, will the down of this bill also cover other sexual perverts such as sexual predators, or those who enjoy other sexual acts that are sinful and not normal and against God's laws.. will they also be allowed to come out in the open to openingly practice their sexual preferences. I mean. homosexuality is a sexual preference, God did make homosexuals, ITS SIN!
Since when is it proper to legalize sexual behavior as a human right. We know what Romans chapter 1, has to say about homosexuality, ITS AN ABOMINATION! It makes God SICK, and God did NOT make a mistake when He created man to be with woman , and woman to be with man! His word also tells that ALL WHO PRACTICE SEXUAL IMMORAL SINS WILL FIND THEIR END IN THE LAKE OF FIRE...
So what say you about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell bill being knocked down by the Obama administration?
2. I think that a lot of bad behavior by homosexuals in the military will be taken care of by the men in each unit. Look for court martials and prison time by groups of soldiers who will beat the daylights out of Homosexuals in their unit.
3. Like all legislated evil in America, the leftists in our federal government are to blame. Homosexuals in the military are only part of their plan. We already have the disgraceful policy of allowing women in combat, and this week, another bill was passed to allow women on submarines!
4. "don't ask don't tell, was not good enough for the rapists in Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was not good enough for the left in America. Homosexuals ALWAYS become militant the second they are given tolerance.
However, as a person we are a witness to the unsaved.Who do we know needs Jesus? This change in the law will make it so they come out and we can pray for them by name.
:ROFL: Leon, I don't think they plan is to house the gays wth the women:ROFL:... but who knows what the Democrats will do...
I still don't understand how and why homosexuality are classified as if its a race or class of people, just because they have made a sinful CHOICE to engage in a sexual immoral act?
This is why I ask the question, will all the rest of men and women who practice deviant sexual behavior have the same rights as the homosexuals? I would think if the law protects the homosexuals, who have chosen this life style due to SIN,!!!
Would it be just as fair, and should not the law also protect those who are child predators. I mean, That's their sexual orinentation, they would rather be with children, than an adult woman. Abnormal sexual behaviors and sexual immorality, Men would rather be with other men. Women would rather be with women. So what's the difference in those men in military who would rather be with a child?... I'm just saying... if sexual immorality is going to be legalized, don't just stop with the homosexuals, go all the way and legalize and pass laws protecting all sexual preverts!
I served three years in the army and Im tellin you,this is a tragedy,this is wrong on so many levels,and of course Obama,who couldnt have made it through the basic training I went through makes another outlandish decision.The sooner that guys gone the better!
Hope theres something left of this once great nation when hes through
I'll still be aorund, if the Lord says the same:dancingp:
Miss Nancy, Reid, Biden, and the rest of the Demos are the ones directing Obama's path, are you craaazzzze?!... Obama is only following their directions, he's their go-for...go-for this, go-for that, and we'll see how it works out, if it doesn't work out then we'll blame Bush, and if it works out, then you get the credit as out President, and we Demos will look good:ROFL:
