On September 21, Arkansas "Democratic" Sens. Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln voted to support the Republican filibuster of the National Defense Authorization Act, which contains an amendment to begin the process to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The vote was 56-43 and 60 votes were needed to move forward.
Via AMERICABlog Gay, there is news that Pryor—at right, with Lincoln—will continue to support the GOP filibuster of the defense bill. Because homosexuality is sinful, reports Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times.
"I'd asked [Lincoln and Pryor] for positions on repeal of the ban last week. Lincoln repeated the same ringing support for the concept that she'd given shortly before joining Pryor as the only two Democrats joining a filibuster against repeal. She still won't say she'll vote for repeal no matter what.
"Pryor, who dodged my question entirely, now tells the Democrat-Gazette that he opposes repeal; that he thinks homosexuality is a sin and that he has reservations about housing gay troops with straight troops (as if this hasn't occurred forever). He's been fully indoctrinated by the Religious Right's false arguments — that military chaplains won't be able to continue to preach morally justifiable discrimination; that gays are just lying in wait to assault straight soldiers if only given the cover of open service. Pryor, at his core, is a Religious Righter, so I get it, though why he's fiddled around in coming out until now, I don't know. But what possible reason is there for Lincoln to be hesitant to do right, for once, without the wobble?"
There's always bigotry.
Lincoln opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act , too. Lincoln has nothing to lose now, she is a lame duck and was voted out of office on November 2. Progressives were not enthused by her re-election and many Democrats refused to support her. Republicans and independents ... they were probably were tired of their Republican-lite senator and opted for a real Republican.
