PA congressman Patrick Murphy's effort to end DADT - link-

[old mark]

Check the PA PROGRESSIVE SITE: http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/2556/patrick-murphy-turns-up-the-heat-on-dadt

Murphy has taken a strong position on this issue. He is the first Gulf War veteran in congress, was a Captain in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Murphy is pushing Obama on this, and he has a lot of support.

mark

[ShortnFiery]

1. I'm thrilled that this legislation has been resurrected ...

yet I'm suspect on the timing.

Oh WTH, any port in the storm if it get the selfish congress-critters to do what's morally correct. :shrug:

[old mark]

2. Well, he IS running for re-election, but this could actually harm him with some people....

You are right-take what you can get.


mark

[Prism]

3. He deserves a great deal of credit, however . . .

He's been on the front lines of the DADT issue, and his name belongs up there with Gillibrand, Choi, and so many others who deserve mentioning for their work and sacrifices.

However, the more I read the compromise, the more I'm seeing that this is not exactly a repeal. This seems like a bit of political paper shuffling. They're taking the issue out of Congress' hands and leaving a final, lasting repeal in the hands of the Pentagon.

I still cannot get this sentence from the San Francisco Chronicle out of my head:

"If Congress approves the repeal, it would still take several years before gays and lesbians could serve openly while the Pentagon writes a policy based on its review."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/05/24/national/w103604D06.DTL#ixzz0ovwykrw4

If that is true, then we don't have a repeal. What we have is a political feint designed for the politicians and gay establishment groups to declare victory.

They cannot declare victory until an LGBT serviceman or woman is never discharged again because of their orientation. That's victory. Nothing less.

[ShortnFiery]

4. No, I respect Murphy, it's the leadership of Congress who have just "poof!" come around

over the past couple of days. It's the Congressional "leaders' reactions" that I find suspect. They probably believe that it will be easier to SLIP that gas tax by us if they actually pass something we truly care about. :(

[Prism]

5. From what I've read, the WH is feeling the heat

The LGBT community has been going absolutely apeshit on the administration, to the point where the administration's pet gays like Joe Solmonese were probably in there begging the President to do anything at all before the election.

Saying "But it's an election year!" in front of LGBTers is like waving red underwear in front of a bull, and that's exactly what the administration did.

I think the final straw was Speaker Pelosi giving President Obama a very public what-for about all of this. She knows who her constituents are. We're all out of patience here in S.F. The fact she felt she had to publicly admonish a President of her own party in that way means she's definitely feeling the pressure.

Congress wants off the hook on this. So this will get them off the hook. Congress can plausibly say "Hey, it's out of our hands. It's all the Pentagon's decision now!" And that will be true. And then we can see what this administration will do. Then, the President really will have a magic wand via executive order. He will be all out of excuses.

If he fails to use it, he cannot complain "Well, the Pentagon . . ." although I suspect that is exactly what we will end up seeing.

[old mark]

6. About fucking time, too...Obama needs to be kicked in the ass every so often. nt