Democrats Don't Want to Vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2010

Two months ago, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Senate Democrats were "too busy to deal with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." In a new article in The Hill, Durbin and other House and Senate Democrats are worried about the upcoming midterm elections and want to delay voting on the Democrat's "controversial" legislative. They aren't sure that a DADT repeal will be on their agenda in 2010.

Vulnerable House and Senate Democrats want their leaders to skip the party’s controversial legislative agenda for next year to help save their seats in Congress. In the run-up to the 2010 midterm elections, they don’t want to be forced to vote on climate change, immigration reform and gays in the military, which they say should be set aside so Congress can focus on jobs and the economy.... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, meanwhile, has pushed for the repeal of the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military.

Gay-rights activists have put strong pressure on Obama and Democratic leaders to repeal the ban sooner rather than later. Reid sent a letter to Obama last month asking him to provide recommendations on gays serving in the military, noting that Congress is considering “future legislative action.” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said he was not certain whether repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” would be on next year’s agenda. One Democratic senator facing reelection in a Republican-leaning state said he does not want to see the issue of gays in the military, immigration reform or even climate change on next year’s agenda.

Durbin, in addition to being the Majority Whip, represents Illinois and is a confidante of President Obama. It's safe to assume that when he speaks on this issue, he's telegraphing the White House's interests.

Would 2011 or 2012 be better times to pencil gays in the military on the Senate's "busy" agenda"? Nah, presidential primary and election. And if gays in the military is too "controversial" for midterm elections, do we really think the House and Senate will pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act next year?

Comments

[Eddie B]

so much for those who said we should 'wait for healthcare'. now its gonna be 'we should wait for financial reform ... we should wait for the midterms.'

and no, i sincerely doubt the house and senate will give the president an enda bill next year.

[reggieh]

This is some BS here....if not now, when -- Obama's 2nd term? I'm not down with putting it off that long. Pressure needs to be put on Congress to act now.

[T'realist One]

I think we as Gay Brothas & Sistas need to come into a realization of two things

1: Gay Rights will have a LONG way to go before any real type of Legislative action prevails(probably more than 10+
years )

2: Obama may very well serve as a one term President

The statements coming from Congress now signals to me that the writing is already on the way and is trying to condition us for the blow.
THE POWER IS IN THE VOTE!
IF THEY DON'T HEAR OUR DEMANDS, THEY DON'T GET OUR SUPPORT!

That is how you win folks.

[fneh]

The answer is never.

"Wait till we have the house!" ok, we waited.

"Wait till we have the senate!" ok, done

"Wait till we have the presidency!" ok, fine

"Wait till health care is done".. sigh, fine

"Wait till 2010"

"Wait till 2014"

wait wait wait wait wait

WAIT MEANS NEVER

[fneh]

"I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the gay's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the Straight Citizen's Councilor or the Religious Right, but the straight moderate, who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice who constantly says 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action' who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for someone else's freedom, who lives by a mythical concept of time, and who constantly advises gays to wait for a 'more convenient season.'

With apologies to Martin Luther King, i just switched out 'black/white/ for 'gay/straight'

[T'realist One]

With apologies to Martin Luther King, i just switched out 'black/white/ for 'gay/straight'

PROFOUND STATEMENT!!!!

[ff]

not surprising. I dont think Obama wants to do anything controversial in his first term so he has a better chance of being re-elected for a second term. Bad idea IMO but I understand the position.

The problem is nothing is guaranteed either for Obama or those in Congress. Next year, more conservatives will likely be elected and then change will never be made.

Too many scared people up in Washington who only care about re-election and staying in their cushy positions instead of actually getting stuff done

[Charlie]

We as a gay community have not yet proven in California, New York, in Maine or anywhere else that our voice is more powerful (not just loud marching in the streets) but actually more powerful to defeat those that are aginist are interests. Untill we actually defeat ballot initative like Prop 8 or the the one in Maine or similar items by the power of our VOTE our elected officals are not going to move very much if at all on our agenda