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Mecklenburg Co. Commissioner on DADT Repeal: "Homosexuals Are Sexual Predators"

Some of you undoubtedly recall Mecklenburg (NC) County Commissioner Bill James, the hateful right-wing Republican who last year mocked the AIDS-related death of a colleague's son. James called the son of Democratic Commissioner Vilma Leake, who is Black, a "homo" and refuses to apologize.

James is not pleased with this month's landmark repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and is outraged that fellow commissioners want to recognize the vote, reports Q Notes.

"'Homosexuals are sexual predators,' James wrote in one email from a string of several between county board members, Roberts and County Manager Harry Jones, and provided by James to qnotes. 'Allowing homosexuals to serve in the US military with the endorsement of the Mecklenburg County Commission ignores a host of serious problems related to maintaining US military readiness and effectiveness not the least of which is the current Democrat plan to allow homosexuals (male and female) to share showers with those they are attracted to.'"

"James added, 'The US Government would not allow Hetero men and women to share showers and other personal facilities yet the leading homosexual in Congress (Barney Frank) thinks it is OK for homosexuals to do so allowing enlisted men and women to fall prey to higher ranking or more powerful homosexuals who ogle them (or worse).'"

James also slammed conservative Republican Sen. Richard Burr who surprisingly voted for repeal. "I think there are a lot of things that people of all political stripes tolerate from their politicians," James said, according to the Charlotte Observer. "But endorsing immorality and allowing military recruits to be preyed on by homosexuals is not one that I will tolerate."

Durham-based Pam Spaulding says James anti-gay screed should not be discounted: "The midterms resulted in the first GOP-dominated [North Carolina] legislature since Reconstruction. James is hot to let the incoming Republicans he wants a social agenda pushed that includes a ban on adoptions by gay couples, prohibition on domestic partner benefits and raising from the dead again a marriage amendment."

WATCH LIVE: Senate Votes 65-31 to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

After this morning's historic vote to end debate on the stand-alone "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal bill, the Senate just voted 65-31 to pass the measure. The vote needed a simple majority. The bill should be on President Obama's desk for his signature next week.

Eight Republicans voted YES: Brown, Collins, Kirk, Murkowski, Snowe and Voinovich, who also voted for cloture, plus Burr (NC) and Ensign (NV).

The complete roll call is AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

Senate Armed Services Committee Votes 16-12 to Repeal DADT

By a 16-12 vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee has approved the Levin-Lieberman Amendment. The amendment begins the process of dismantling the 17-year-old "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits gays and serving openly in the military. This is the first time Congress has ever attempted to repeal the ban in its nearly 17 year history.

The roll call is AFTER THE JUMP ....

The language was submitted by SASC Chairman Carl Levin (MI) and Joseph Lieberman (CT) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure allows Congress to vote now to repeal the current law, but, actual implementation begins after completion of the Pentagon Working Group study due December 1 and upon certification. Since the amendment has passed committee, it would require 60 votes to strip repeal from the bill during the floor debate. Background HERE and HERE.

Susan Collins of Maine was the sole Republican on the panel to approve the measure. Virginia's Jim Webb was the only Democrat to vote against it. The vote was held in closed session. Fifteen votes were needed for passage.

Rep. Patrick Murphy will offer similar language as an amendment to the NDAA on the House floor later tonight or tomorrow. Murphy and Speaker Nancy Pelosi expect the amendment to pass.

UPDATE: The House is debating now. Watch CSPAN1 or Houselive.gov.

The roll call is AFTER THE JUMP ....