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Recap: Clifford Stanley Undersecretary DoD Hearings

On Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Clifford Stanley, the retired Marine general who has been nominated as the Department of Defense's Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness. That is the position that oversees the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and will be tasked to implement its repeal—if and when that comes.  Stanley served 33 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and became the Marines' first black regimental commander. He retired in 2002 as a two-star general.

Stanley did not provide much insight into his thoughts on DADT, which was one of the hearing's main points of inquiry. Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, ranking member on the committee, said he believed the current policy is "working successfully" and "would be opposed to any attempt at modifying the existing policy." HRC Backstory reports:

Senator Levin followed McCain’s pro-DADT position by asking simply if Dr. Stanley would provide his best objective opinion over the repeal of DADT, to which Dr. Stanley responded with a simple yes. An opportunity to elaborate was provided with Senator Udall (D-CO), who asked – while noting gays and lesbians already serve in the armed services, and that thousands of gays and lesbians are civilian employees working with military personnel – if Dr. Stanley was prepared to support a push by the White House to include repeal of DADT in policy recommendations in the defense budget next year. Dr. Stanley didn’t quite answer the question, recognizing this is a sensitive issue and that he would be seeking input from all sources, particularly the service chiefs and military personnel “from deck plate to squad level,” and provide a recommendation to Secretary Gates. Dr. Stanley admitted he did not know what that recommendation would be, and will bear no preconceived notions as to the direction he will go in recommending action on DADT. Senator Burris (D-IL) asked what Dr. Stanley would do about pending discharge cases immediately upon confirmation. Dr. Stanley – correctly – responded that the pending cases would fall under existing statute, and that he was unaware that he would have any role in these pending discharge cases (he wouldn’t)."

The Servicemember's Legal Defense Network (SLDN) was disappointed that Stanley "punted" on the issue. SLDN's Aubrey Sarvis remarks: "When given the opportunity by Senator Mark Udall (D-Colo.) to support his commander in chief’s position to overturn the ban, Dr. Stanley did not do so. However, as is the case with most nominees, Dr. Stanley did not delve into any of the policy issues in his portfolio. We look forward to Dr. Stanley becoming fully aligned with President Obama on repeal."

Last week, Rep. Barney Frank suggested the DADT repeal would most likely be an amendment to next year's Defense Authorization. The Administration has not commented on that report.

More at The Advocate and HRC Backstory.

Senate Votes Hate Crimes Act 68-29

An historic day. By a vote of 68 - 29, the Senate has just passed the conference report on the 2010 Department of Defense Authorization. This was the final step in the legislative process for this bill which contains the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This extends hate crimes protections to people targeted on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Roll call here. Republicans Bond, Cornyn, Ensign, and McCain joined Collins, Lugar, Snowe and Voinovich.

Earlier in the day Republicans attempted to filibuster the conference bill. That was prevented. House Republicans also attempted to remove the hate crimes language before that chamber passed the conference report––over stiff Republican objection––on October 8.

After languishing on Capitol Hill for nearly 12 years, the bill now goes to President Barack Obama’s desk for signature. The hate crimes bill will become the hate crimes law and the first pro-LGBT legislation to become federal law in the history of our nation.

Senate Votes for Cloture on DoD Conference and Hate Crimes

The U.S. Senate voted 64-35 to invoke cloture on the conference report for 2010 Department of Defense authorization. This means the Senate will move toward final passage of the report, which includes the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. A spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid tells the Washington Blade a final Senate vote will take place Thursday evening or Friday morning.

Two weeks ago, the House voted 281 to 146 for the report.

Roll call here. Five Republicans voted yes: Collins, Lugar, Murkowski, Snowe and Voinovich. Feingold was the only Democrat to vote no.

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WATCH: Obama's Eloquent Eulogy at Sen. Ted Kennedy's Funeral

The body of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is en route to Arlington National Cemetery after funeral service appropriate for a head of state at the historic Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Boston. President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy—full text here—before 1,400 mourners. 

Said the President: "Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy. The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy, a champion for those who had none, the soul of the Democratic Party, and the lion of the United States Senate—a man whose name graces nearly 1,000 laws, and who penned more than 300 laws himself. We do not weep for him today because of the prestige attached to his name or his office. We weep because we loved this kind and tender hero who persevered through pain and tragedy -- not for the sake of ambition or vanity; not for wealth or power—but only for the people and the country he loved."

Kennedy died Tuesday night at age 77. The funeral service was attended by Presidents Clinton, Bush and Carter. Vice President Joseph Biden and former Vice Presidents Al Gore, Dan Quayle and Walter F. Mondale also attended, as well as 58 senators, 21 former senators and dozens of members of Congress. The Boston Globe has published a full list of the dignitaries who attended.

Watch the President's full remarks and view more images, AFTER THE JUMP. 

McCain Booed For Saying Obama Respects Constitution

Just like on the campaign trail during last year's presidential election, Sen. John Sidney McCain continues to attract unhinged right-wingers at his Arizona townhall meetings. One woman said to much applause that President Obama "is spending all this money .. and it's unconstitutional. Doesn't he know we live under a constitution?" McCain, the former Republican presidential nominee, was loudly booed after he insisted the President was "following the Constitution."

Complaints about government spending and constitutional rights from Republican voters who rubber-stamped Bush's unprecedented budget deficits and warrantless surveillance? Really?

Oh and these weren't just angry old white men. An angry older black couple is strategically placed in the front row, too. Watch, WHEN YOU JUMP.

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McCain Will Oppose Sotomayor

That was fast. Yesterday former Republican presidential nominee Sen. John Sidney McCain was "undecided" on the confirmation of U. S. Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. McCain told CNN the judge would be "an inspiration to millions of other Americans, particularly young Hispanic or Latina women."

Today a different story: McCain takes to the floor of the Senate and says "that neither Sotomayor's inspiring and compelling' life story nor her 'excellent' resume are enough to qualify her for the Supreme Court."

John McCain, the man who chose Sarah Palin as vice presidential nominee without having met her. Keep it classy, John.

McCain "Undecided" on Sotomayor

This week, the Senate begins debate and will vote on the confirmation of U. S. Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. In an interview with CNN's John King, former Republican presidential nominee John McCain (AZ) says he is "still going back and forth" whether to vote for Sotomayor.

The conservative Arizona Republican adds he voted against Sotomayor when she was appointed to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, but, is "undecided" now because she would "be an inspiration to millions of other Americans, particularly young Hispanic or Latina women."

McCain also adds Republicans "have a lot of work" to appeal to Latino voters. Duh.

AFTER THE JUMP, via Think Progress, watch John McCain flip-flop on his support of President Obama’s first pick for the court who "is expected to easily win confirmation," notes the Boston Globe. John McCain, the man who unleashed Sarah Palin on the nation, is "undecided" on the merits of a judge with 17 years on the federal bench. Or is he worried about re-election in a state that is heavily Hispanic?

Former McCain Strategist Now Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Steve Schmidt, former chief strategist for the John McCain campaign, says he is "personally supportive" of same-sex marriage rights. In an interview with the Washington Blade, the campaign strategist urges the GOP to be more inclusive of gays and lesbians and says Americans are "troubled" when they see the Republican Party "trying to stigmatize" the gay community.

"I’m personally supportive of [marriage] equality for gay couples and I believe that it will happen over time," he said. "I think that more and more Americans are insistent that, at a minimum, gay couples should be treated with respect and when they see a political party trying to stigmatize a group of people who are hardworking, who play by the rules, who raise decent families, they’re troubled by it."

"I think the Republican Party should not be seen by a broad majority of the electorate as focused with singularity on issues like gay marriage," he said. "The attitudes of voters about gay marriage and about domestic partnership benefits for gay couples are changing very rapidly and for voters under the age of 30, they are completely disconnected from what has been Republican orthodoxy on these issues."

The GOP operative says he has a lesbian sister and his support of marriage equality was shaped by this relationship.

Schmidt is a California resident and tells the Blade that he voted against Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative supported by John McCain. Schmidt believes marriage rights for California gay couples will return through an initiative "that passes by popular vote within the next few years."

Schmidt is a former deputy to Karl Rove in the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign, which famously used gay rights and same-sex marriage as a wedge in states such as Ohio. It's great to see Schmidt is coming around to our side ... now. Will his support for gay rights and marriage equality translate into more support from the GOP rank and file? Let's hope so ...

McCain: I Don't Want Obama to Fail

John McCain breaks from the Rush Limbaugh wing of the Republican Party and says he does not want President Barack Obama to "fail." From a new interview at Politico:

"These are terrible, perilous times, so I will seek ways to work with the president of the United States,"  McCain says. "I don’t want him to fail in his mission of restoring our economy."

McCain tells Politico he is working with the new Obama Administration on everything from "from Afghanistan and Iraq to military procurement reform" and "took a phone call from Vice President Joe Biden soliciting" McCain's advice on cutting down on pork barrel spending.

This week on NBC’S Meet The Press, Newt Gingrich fired back at pill-popping, right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, saying, "You’re irrational if you don’t want the president to succeed because if he doesn’t succeed, the country doesn’t succeed."

Prop 8 Supporter and Billionaire Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to Run for California Governor

Sorry for not reporting this bit of hilarity last night. Meg Whitman, the former chief executive officer of eBay, officially declared her intent to run for governor of California. Whitman is running as a Republican—but did not register as a Republican until 2007.

The move by the billionaire businesswoman—establishment of an "exploratory" committee – likely sets up what's expected to be an expensive 17-month auction between herself and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the 2010 Republican primary.

Whitman is pitching herself as a financial expert in tough economic times.

"California faces challenges unlike any other time in its history – a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit," Whitman said in a statement. "California is better than this, and I refuse to stand by and watch it fail."

The 52-year old is a political rookie who has never held elective office. If elected, she would be the first female governor in California history.

Whitman is likely to be re-packaged as a centrist, technology- and business-friendly replacement for Gov. Schwarzenegger but that would be misleading. In the primaries, Whitman first supported anti-gay right-wing technocrat Mitt Romney and then John McCain. And while most Silicon Valley Republicans are more concerned with lower taxes than right-wing screeds such as gay marriage, Whitman was a major supporter of Proposition 8, California's recently passed ban on same-sex marriages. The former eBay executive was only one of 3 likely Republican gubernatorial candidates to support the ban.

Tech industry blog Vallleywag reports gay and lesbian eBay employees, "an influential group within the company, are especially furious at her betrayal." Henry Gomez, the former eBay communications honcho who's serving as an advisor to Whitman, tells Gawker that Whitman's stand "was 'a personal issue.' Many gay eBay employees agree. They see Whitman's stance as a deeply personal betrayal. As the CEO of a company in a liberal industry in a liberal region, Whitman never gave a hint that she didn't value gay and lesbian employees' relationships."

Whitman's business and technology credentials are also being mocked. "The new fees eBay pushed on sellers have tarnished her image as a friend of small businesses, " Vallleywag reports. "And her failure to secure key domain names, like meg2010.com, combined with her failed attempt to reclaim them from the man who registered them, hardly makes her seem tech-savvy."

Whitman Launches 2010 Bid for Governor [Sac Bee]
Heavily-Vaselined Ex eBay CEO Running for Gov [VW]