Thursday, May 27, 2010

Republican Senators Threaten Filibuster to Block DADT Repeal Amendment

This afternoon the Senate Armed Forces Committee - with no help from Jim Webb, one of my Senators - passed the amendment adding conditional repeal of DADT to the Defense Authorization Bill and this evening it is anticipated that the amendment will pass the full House of Representatives. With a majority of Americans now viewing same sex relationships as morally acceptable and 78% of the public supporting repeal of DADT, what are Senate Republicans going to do? Filibuster and try to block repeal of course? Why you ask? Because the GOP has become a de facto religious party focused first and foremost on furthering the agenda of extreme Christian fanatics. Working in parallel with Senate Republicans are the haters at Family Research Council and allied organizations who are disseminating filth and lies claiming that disease infested gays will rape straight service members if DADT is repealed. Indeed, as practiced by these far right elements, Christianity has become a religion of lies and hatred. Sadly, it's just a short step to realization that the GOP has become the part of lies and hatred as well. Washington Monthly has details on the GOP's threatened filibuster. Here are some highlights"
*
Just so we're clear, consider exactly what Senate Republicans are saying here. The GOP is prepared to refuse an up-or-down vote in the Senate on a bill that funds the troops during two wars because Americans will eventually be able to serve in the Armed Forces, regardless of their sexual orientation. That the policy has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- both Republican appointees -- is irrelevant.
*
What's more, as Dante Atkins added, "The funny part about this whole ordeal? The compromise that the Republicans are threatening to filibuster allows the Pentagon to have the final say in the issue, which is precisely why it is not receiving the broadest support in activist circles. And yet, despite the fact that the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs get to be the ultimate arbiters of whether the policy is repealed, that's not good enough for today's homophobic Republican Party. Today's Republicans don't want gay people to be able to serve in the military -- even if the Pentagon says it's okay."
*
I seem to recall Republicans screaming that those who oppose funding the troops during two wars are necessarily unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers, aiding and abetting the enemy. Now these same Republicans are boasting about their intention to prevent the Senate from even voting on troop funding. It's funny how GOP standards change, isn't it?
*
Hypocrisy and lies are indeed the hallmarks of the GOP and its unhinged haters among the Christian Right. Likewise, today's vote says nothing good about Jim Webb.

1 comment:

oceansmiles said...

That photo turns my veins to ice water.