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Sen. Webb, It's Time to End "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

by: lowkell

Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:32:23 AM EDT


It looks like it's time to call Sen. Webb's office.
The Senate is planning to vote Tuesday on whether to end debate on a $725.7 billion annual defense policy bill, a measure that includes a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" law, which bans gays from serving openly in the armed forces.

The vote is expected to be close but is almost certain to pass if Democrats can break a Republican-led filibuster...

[...]

...Attention is focused on a handful of moderate senators, including Susan Collins (R-Maine), George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) and James Webb (D-Va.).

Look, this policy was a bad idea even when it was first put in place, in 1994. At least back then, there was a semi-plausible excuse, that the public wasn't ready to go any further. Well, that's not true today, not in the least bit. To the contrary, a recent CBS/New York Times poll found that 75% of Americans favor "permitting gay men and lesbians to serve in the military," with just 19% opposed to doing so.  That's a huge, overwhelming majority of Americans for doing the morally correct, military smart, and progressive thing on this one. If you're one of those 75%, call Sen. Webb's office (202-224-4024 or 1-866-507-1570), tell him you want an end to this policy, and tell him you want it now! Thanks.
lowkell :: Sen. Webb, It's Time to End "Don't Ask Don't Tell"
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Sen. Webb, It's Time to End "Don't Ask Don't Tell" | 22 comments
Getting tired of this (4.00 / 1)
Why do we always have to beg Jim Webb to do the right thing?  

Read more at TheGreenMiles.com and follow me on Twitter
Good question. (0.00 / 0)
I'm getting tired of this as well, and I say this as one of the people who "drafted" Webb in 2006 and as the guy who helped him raise $4 million online as his netroots coordinator.  Very frustrating.

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[ Parent ]
Well (0.00 / 0)
I think he used to be a rethug. That might be part of the problem. So he has to be dragged to the left by us I guess. And he's military all the time so I suspect he is with the middle management part of the Pentagon who do not want this overturned. Many of us will be thoroughly disgusted with him if he doesn't vote to get rid of this ridiculous law.

But I too am sick of begging politicians to be a democrat. And everyone is wringing their hands wondering why we're gonna lose in Nov? Because folks are going to just stay home.

Of course Obama could do an eo stopping all discharges today if he wanted to. If this fails today, it's dead for now.
So once again someone is going to have to step up.

[ Parent ]
Solution? (0.00 / 0)
So, the solution is for Democrats to stay home in November??? As if Republicans in charge of Congress would repeal DADT? The logic of committing political suicide escapes me.
[ Parent ]
I (0.00 / 0)
didn't say it was good if dems stayed home, just that they will. And indies are disgusted with both parties.

I'll vote because I don't want to see Periello go down.

[ Parent ]
That's good to hear (0.00 / 0)
I strongly urge Democrats NOT - repeat, NOT!!! - to stay home this November.  If you do, that will simply turn Congress over to a bunch of right-wing lunatics. How will that help anything?

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[ Parent ]
Life Is About Choices (4.00 / 1)
There is NO politician that will vote perfectly.  I have been a rabid Webb supporter but I am not happy that he is refusing to vote to repeal don't ask, don't tell. However, if folks decide to stay home, we will just be turning America over to the wackos that have taken over the republican party.  Remember when the republicans took over with Clinton in office; republicans impeached Clinton and shut the government down. Those republicans were pillars of sanity compared to the ones running now.  They are already talking about starting to investigate President Obama and shut the government down when they win.  We can either get going and make sure these nuts don't win or else endure the consequences.      
[ Parent ]
I am happy to be wrong (0.00 / 0)
I read some incorrect info. I have happy to find out that Webb actually did vote to repeal DADT.
[ Parent ]
This is helpful (0.00 / 0)
AP) - President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Marine Corps says he doesn't think Congress should lift the ban on gay troops who want to serve openly.

And he's saying this the day BEFORE this crucial vote.

The WH is tone deaf and clueless.

More Boots in Senator Webb's Office (0.00 / 0)
A good stunt by some sympathetic servicemembers.

http://www.metroweekly.com/new...

Maddow reporting ... (0.00 / 0)
... Webb to join Republican blockade

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Ya Know.. (0.00 / 0)
who are these people that are going to stay home on election day?
If you do then I don't think you care about the Democratic Party or our country. Yes that is the truth.
I am sick of the petty rants about "obama didn't do what I want". Well maybe if you hold your breath for five minutes he will.
He is the President of all the people. All the people may not agree with what YOU want.
So stop whining and get out there and canvass and make phone calls.
Then  you can complain.
Who are you addressing this comment to? (0.00 / 0)
For my part, I strongly disagree with any Democrat who advocates staying home on election day. Also, I'm a big supporter of Barack Obama's. I presume you were addressing your comment to someone else?

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[ Parent ]
Lines busy (0.00 / 0)
Just tried calling 3 times -- mailbox to leave a message full, line to talk to a staffer busy all 3 times. If you're having the same experience, try calling his regional office:
http://webb.senate.gov/aboutvi...

Read more at TheGreenMiles.com and follow me on Twitter
Also ... (0.00 / 0)
... after you've called, you can write a message on Sen. Webb's Facebook wall.

Read more at TheGreenMiles.com and follow me on Twitter
[ Parent ]
He Voted FOR Cloture! (0.00 / 0)

Support DADT (0.00 / 0)
I am tired of most of you people whom have never been in the military to demand things that you had to knowledge of. The purpose of the military is to win wars and I beleive that we are doing a good job of that. The Marine Corps and probably other services are not equipped to handle homosexual and transgender serving in military. The policy now is that they can serve. Sen Lieberman said today on Senate floor that 14000 homosexual have been discharged since ?????? not sure I do know that only .03 have been discharged since 1994. Military time did a survey and 10%- 14% said that they would leave if DADT was repealed. That would be app. 200,000.When Pastor Jones of Florida was going to burn the Koran we had Gen Petarus pley not to because it would put soldiers in harm way. These crountries kill homosexual would it not be an incentive to kill our soilders if they thought they were homosexual. Bottom line don't to change social behavior using the military.

Semper Fi
Gunny


All our NATO allies (0.00 / 0)
plus Israel have gays and lesbians serving openly in their militaries.  They seem to be doing just fine. Also, I'd point out that gays and lesbians already serve in our military, just not openly.  Finally, I'd note that nearly 80% of Americans support allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, while support among troops is growing fast as well.

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[ Parent ]
Thanks for serving Gunny but I disagree (0.00 / 0)
I am a Vietnam Era veteran.  The nutjob folks said the same thing about blacks and women that they say about gays serving in the military.  Somehow the Army has survived and is stronger than ever.  Since I have been around awhile, I have actually worked with gays.  I don't care if someone is gay, black, or pink with purple hair.  I want the best that I can get to work with.  In my opinion we don't need to be throwing folks out of the military just because they are gay.
[ Parent ]
NO (0.00 / 0)
Every person who has served in the military from the beginning of time has served with LGBT people. Even leaders were gay, Alexander the Great is one notable.

One of the Marines landing on Iwo Jima had one wish, as he stated after the war, that he would rather be killed than wounded because he went in wearing ladies underwear. (I am looking for a cite for that because it has been a long time since I read his autobiography)

It would surprise a lot of people about the number of gay, lesbian, bi and transgender people in the military. Many are in to prove to themselves they are something they are not - typically manly men. A few are in to die a spectacular death so they are not looked at as weaklings. Special Forces, Navy Seals, fighter pilots and those in front have quite a few gay people.

Marines are just as accepting as any other military organization.    

Mere parsimony is not economy. Expense, and great expense, may be an essential part in true economy.
Edmund Burke

[ Parent ]
So you're saying that simply going into combat against them (0.00 / 0)
isn't incentive enough to want to kill our troops?  You make it sound like they'll fight extra special hard because there may be a gay guy in in your platoon - which you probably have today.
[ Parent ]
It's past time. n/t (0.00 / 0)


There's nothing in the middle of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos (Jim Hightower). PS I'm on Twitter here.
Sen. Webb, It's Time to End "Don't Ask Don't Tell" | 22 comments
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The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. We invite everyone to comment here, but please be aware that profanity, personal attacks, bigotry, insults, rudeness, frequent unsupported or off-point statements, and "trolling" (NOTE: that includes outright lies, whether about climate science, or what other people said, or whatever) are not permitted and, if continued, will lead to banning. For more on trolling, see the Daily Kos FAQs. Also note that diaries may be deleted if they do not contain at least 2 solid paragraphs of original text; if not, please use the comments section of a relevant diary. For more on writing diaries, click here. Thanks, and enjoy!

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