Rod 2.0:Beta: DADT Amendment Gaining Traction in Senate, Reid Wants Full Repeal

14 July 2009

DADT Amendment Gaining Traction in Senate, Reid Wants Full Repeal

Growing movement in the Senate on securing passage of the Hate Crimes Act—which passed the House on April 29 by 249-175—and an amendment that puts a moratorium "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" investigations and discharges.

Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) will add hate crimes legislation as an amendment to the Department of Defense re-authorization bill. AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay has video with Judy Shepard discussing the Matthew Shepard Act.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV), seen here with Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, was asked about the DoD re-authorization this afternoon. Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade asked the Leader if he supports Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's (NY) introduction of an amendment that would put an 18-month moratorium on the discharge of gays serving in the military. Reid would take it a step further and tells the Blade: "I would support that. My only difference I would have is I would make it permanent."

I feel on this issue that we’re having trouble, we’re having trouble getting people into the military and I think that we shouldn’t turn down anybody that’s willing to fight for our country—certainly based on sexual orientation. I feel strongly that—I support the president. I support the members of the Joint Chiefs who have not spoken out publicly. If Kirsten offers this amendment I will support it.

A major departure by Reid, who only one month ago said the Senate would take action if the House and/or White House did something.

Kerry Eleveld at The Advocate: "A spokesman for Gillibrand said the New York Democrat 'wholeheartedly supports' full repeal of the military’s gay ban. 'This is one avenue she would consider pursuing if there is sufficient support, said Matt Canter. Which is still a big “if” at the moment since Gillibrand would have to find 60 votes over a two-week span in which the Senate is consumed with climate change legislation, health reform, and the confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. But LGBT organizations generally favor the strategy."

What strategy, asks John Aravosis at AMERICAblog. "We'll need the whip list to know who is with us and who isn't. If there isn't even a whip list, then this isn't really a well thought out legislative strategy (although it may be a good political strategy for Gillibrand.) Also, a key question for those pushing the 18-month moratorium is whether it actually gets us additional votes. If it doesn't, then we're just compromising with ourselves."

AFTER THE JUMP, via the new AMERICAblog Gay, watch Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid discuss Gillibrand's amendment. Finally soem "leadership" from the Majority Leader on this issue.