Via JMG: New York Times To President Obama: Don't Appeal Court Ruling On DADT

Today the New York Times published an editorial advising President Obama not to appeal the recent federal court ruling that DADT is unconstitutional.

President Obama, the House and a majority of senators clearly support an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” but that, of course, is insufficient in the upside-down world of today’s Senate, where 40 members can block anything. The two parties clashed on the number of amendments that Republicans could offer. Republicans wanted to add dozens of amendments, an obvious delaying tactic, while Democrats tried to block all but their own amendments. In an earlier time, the two sides might have reached an agreement on a limited number of amendments, but not in this Senate, and certainly not right before this election, when everyone’s blood is up even more than usual.

If the military’s unjust policy is not repealed in the lame-duck session, there is another way out. The Obama administration can choose not to appeal Judge Phillips’s ruling that the policy is unconstitutional, and simply stop ejecting soldiers. But that would simply enable lawmakers who want to shirk their responsibility. History will hold to account every member of Congress who refused to end this blatant injustice.

Labels: Barack Obama, DADT, LGBT rights, New York Times

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: HomoConQuotable - Charles Winecoff

"Like slavery in America, there is no moving on from gay Republicanism. Robert 'KKK' Byrd can be forgiven. Jim 'I-am-a-gay-American-cheating-on-my-wife' McGreevey can be forgiven. Dean, Clinton, and Obama can be forgiven for their hollow promises to the LGBT community. Hell, even Fidel Castro can be forgiven for his homosexual re-education camps. And, of course, it wouldn’t be 'nice' to criticize Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan for a single one of his many offensive remarks, such as: 'It’s the wicked Jews, the false Jews that are promoting lesbianism, homosexuality.' As Robot B9 would say, that does not compute.

"No, for Ken Mehlman, eternal damnation is too lenient. Because of his 'bad' political choice, he’s not allowed the freedom of personal evolution that 'good' gays enjoy. He’s not allowed to change. And spitting wouldn’t satisfy the intolerant community’s need to obliterate his existence. In cases like his, the only thing that could possibly appease the oppression-obsessed gay Left would be… well, frankly, some torches, pitchforks, and a public execution. Maybe they can all convert to Islam while they’re at it. Surely, paradise can’t be too far away." - Homocon Charles Winecoff, writing for wingnut Andrew Breitbart's Big Government.

NOTE: Sen. Robert Bryd's history with the KKK was indeed largely "forgiven," but that forgiveness came after decades and decades of public service and, by Bryd's own words, "thousands of personal apologies" delivered face-to-face to the people he had wronged. Ken Mehlman has only just revealed the rainbow lining in HIS white hood and has yet to issue a single apology. Maybe after a few decades of contrite service like that delivered to the nation by Sen. Byrd and some well-publicized and believable apologies, we'll forgive Ken Mehlman too.

Labels: asshattery, GOP, GOProud, homocons, HomoQuotable, Ken Mehlman, Quislings

reposted from Joe

Shame on Meg Whitman

Rachel Maddow: GOP pits culture wars against civil rights

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

MSNBC - Senate GOP Blocks DADT Repeal

Via JMG: No Joke: Al Franken Chokes Up Over Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Via JMG: Sen. John McCain Flips Out During DADT Interview With Gay Reporters

Think Progress reports:

This afternoon, immediately after the Senate failed to invoke cloture on a defense authorization measure which included an amendment to gradually repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a group of journalists met with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to discuss the vote. Pressed by The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld and Metro Weekly’s Chris Geidner about instances when the military actively sought to out gay troops, McCain grew defiant and insisted that the military does not “go out and seek to find out if someone’s sexual orientation."

A full transcript of the exchange is at the above link.

Via Courage Campaign

Because of an unprecedented filibuster by Sen. John McCain, we just lost a critical vote in the Senate to end debate on the Defense Authorization bill and repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

But this is NOT OVER. Not by a long shot.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can attempt to end debate -- and bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote -- again. The question is when he will do so. Until he does, we need to keep up the pressure on the Senate.

On Monday, we delivered 557,293 Courage Campaign signatures to targeted Senators. While we may have lost this vote, we need to keep fighting to get another -- and finish off DADT for good. Please help us keep up the pressure on Washington to finally repeal DADT by contributing $25, $50, $100 or more right now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/FightToTheFinish

Let's be clear. Without your relentless pressure to repeal DADT -- along with the activism of so many other organizations, individuals and communities --  a vote would not have taken place today.

Your pressure made it possible, from your support for Lt. Dan Choi during our "Don't Fire Dan!" campaign to the 557,293 signatures we delivered to Congress and the President, to the thousands of calls you made to Congress via Courage and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

And we're going to keep up that pressure. But we need your support now to do it.

Today, we came within ONE vote of bringing DADT repeal to the Senate floor. Now we need to get that last vote -- and finish off DADT for good. Please help us keep up the pressure on Washington to finally repeal DADT by contributing $25, $50, $100 or more right now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/FightToTheFinish

Thanks you for your commitment to the cause of equality. We really can't do this without you.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

P.S. The Senate is not the only place we're going to apply pressure in Washington. We are also joining the Human Rights Campaign in calling on the Justice Department not to appeal the recent court decision that ruled DADT unconstitutional. The decision in this historic case, launched by the Log Cabin Republicans, affirms what the vast majority of the American people know to be true - that it's time for DADT to be sent to the dustbin of history. Stay tuned.

Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. To get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

To support our work to repeal DADT, please chip in what you can today:

Via HRC:

Dear Daniel, Senate Republicans have blocked "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal from receiving a vote! But we are continuing to fight on all fronts, including the courts. Tell the Justice Department: Don't defend "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in court! Just moments ago, Senate Republicans blocked the bill that contains the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from even receiving an up-or-down vote. Not a single one broke ranks. It's an outrage. But this doesn't mean the fight is over. Senate majority leader Harry Reid has committed to bringing the bill back up after the November elections – and we'll have a fighting chance to get it passed then – so we'll put everything we have into that effort. In the meantime, we need to pursue every possible avenue to get rid of this law. And the Justice Department may be our best hope. Here's why: A federal district court recently ruled that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is unconstitutional. Now, the Justice Department has a choice: they can fight the decision, or they can let it stand and bring "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" one step closer to the dustbin of history. Add your name to our open letter asking the Justice Department NOT to fight this landmark court decision. Then spread the word to your friends and contacts. Today's move by Senate Republicans is an outrage. Not a single Republican senator was willing to even begin debate on this important legislation, which includes a pay raise for our service members. But we've faced setbacks before, and this is not the end of the road. We'll keep our efforts at full steam as we prepare for another showdown in the Senate after the election. And if Attorney General Eric Holder agrees not to appeal the recent court decision, discharges under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" could become a relic of the past. We need to make sure the Attorney General gets the message: he may very well be our best hope to bring about the repeal of this discriminatory law. Add your name to our open letter. Then spread the word by email, Facebook, and Twitter. Thanks for your help. Together, we can and we will end this law once and for all. Sincerely, Joe Solmonese President

Via JMG: Senate Blocks "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal and DREAM Act

Mike Ludwig, Truthout: "Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked the Obama administration's effort to end the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy that prevents openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the armed forces. Democrats failed to find the 60 votes needed to begin debate of the 2011 Defense Authorization bill that includes language to repeal the Clinton-era rule on gays and lesbians in the military. The 56-43 vote followed party lines, with Republicans threatening to filibuster, and two Democratic Sens., Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, supporting Republicans in opposing debate on the bill."

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