Brody's Notes... United States Senate Votes 63-33 On Cloture Vote To Repeal DADT

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) DEC 18 | In a closely watched Saturday session of the U. S. Senate, Senators voted on the cloture vote to end debate regarding the measure to end the ban on openly Gays and Lesbians serving in the armed forces. The cloture vote passed with a vote of 63-33.

Republican Senators focused on arguments that have been made over this past year and also expressed their annoyance at Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid's procedural maneuver which brought the legislation to the floor without their ability to add amendments to it. Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, (R), reiterated the statements made earlier in the week by U. S. Marine Corps Commandant General James Amos who said that repeal would kill or injure Marines by loss of limbs as repeal would cause "distractions in combat scenarios."

In support of repeal, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) countered the GOP stance by saying: "I cannot think of a policy that greater undermines the integrity of our armed services."

Senator John McCain, (R-AZ), launched a strongly worded partisan attack arguing that the efforts by the Senate's Democratic majority is ignoring and "repudiating" the will of the American people. He too also referred to the statements made by the Marine Corps Commandant saying that "this repeal will cost Marine lives."  He acknowledged that the bill would pass and then he said that "Gold Stars" will be put up all over America, implying deaths would occur as a result of the repeal and then he stated that most Americans are not partaking of the liberal elite's views on the repeal, taking aiming at the "elite schools that bar military recruiters" due to DADT.  "We are doing great damage" by passing this legislation he said.
California Democrat, Senator Diane Feinstein, who was a contemporary of slain San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, an early Gay Rights pioneer, said that qualifications for military service must be "courage, competence, and willingness to serve" and that persons wanting to serve should not have to "conceal true selves."
The Republican minority leader Senator Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), began his opposition by stating again that he was discouraged by disallowing amendments to the repeal measure. He also referred to McCain's statements that the Democratic majority was overruling the will of the American people and then noted that McCain had stated the "need" for further hearings especially to hear from senior enlisted personnel. He stated that not enough review had been accomplished in the Senate.
The Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid, (D-NV), who took the floor immediately after Senator McConnell, started off by saying that McConnell's comments would bring a big yawn by the American people since the GOP has had an obstructionist agenda. He took the GOP to task by saying that requirements for repeal have in fact been met and that the study and hearing that already have been held is more than sufficient to have the Senate enact the repeal. Reid said that, "To suggest that there hasn't been hearing after hearing on this is just nonsensical." He then quoted the late Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, (R), considered by many to be the father of the modern GOP conservative movement, by saying "you don't have to be straight to shoot straight."
McCain stood and read the Marine Corps Commandant's remarks from the press briefing on Tuesday into the official Senate record just before the cloture vote again stressing that repeal of DADT would cost lives.
In a statement released immediately after the cloture vote, Michael Mitchell, the Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats said:

"Overcoming incredible obstructionism by Republicans, the Senate has finally reached cloture on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and we can now go to a simple majority vote on a law that almost 80% of Americans want to see come to an end. We call on the Senate to finish the job and repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell with all due haste."

Update: The final vote on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is expected to occur at approximately 3 p.m. ET today, and requires only a simple majority, not 60 votes.

Reactions to the Cloture Vote from LGBTQ Equality Rights Organisations:

GetEQUAL

Wow. After 17 years of living under the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, we're one step closer to repealing the ban on open and honest service for lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans. Make no mistake -- DADT is not yet repealed. There is still work to do. There is still a long process ahead, but we vow to keep the pressure up until the policy is fully and completely repealed. There are still people -- especially our transgender sisters and brothers -- who are unjustly left behind by this legislation.

Victory Fund

Today I am especially mindful of the brave men and women who have worn the uniform—the ones who lost their jobs to an unjust policy, those who served in silence, and the many active duty and reserve personnel who this year told their superiors that sexual orientation shouldn’t matter in the U.S. military. Everyone who has served to defend our country deserves our profound thanks.

Servicemembers United

"This vote represents an historic step forward for this country, and it will very likely be a life-changing moment for gay and lesbian troops," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former multi-lingual Army interrogator who was discharged under DADT. "While we still have a long road ahead, including a final passage vote, the certification process, and a yet-to-be-determined implementation period, those who defend our freedom while living in fear for their careers will finally breathe a sigh of relief tonight, and those who have fallen victim to this policy in years past will finally begin to see true closure and redemption on the horizon."

Courage Campaign

Here's the skinny: the Senate vote was the last major legislative obstacle. But even after the President signs this law, no one can serve openly. Certification is first required from the President, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Secretary of Defense. It’s part of a backroom deal cut months ago, and it’s ridiculous. We’ve seen how the Administration has dragged their feet over the past two years on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. We can’t let that happen again. We have to mount a fight to finish the job, and we need your help.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

“Gay, lesbian and bisexual service members posted around the world are standing a little taller today, but they’re still very much at risk because repeal is not final. I respectfully ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to use his authority to suspend all ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ investigations during this interim period. Until the President signs the bill, until there is certification, and until the 60-day Congressional period is over, no one should be investigated or discharged under this discriminatory law. Even with this historic vote, service members must continue to serve in silence until repeal is final. Certification and the 60-day Congressional requirement must be wrapped up no later than the first quarter of 2011. The bottom line: for now, gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members must remain cautiously closeted,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

"This vote today marks a critical step toward creating a path that could end in lesbian, gay and bisexual people finally being able to serve openly, honestly, and to great benefit of our country. Three-quarters of Americans say ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ should be repealed, as do top military leaders. We thank those senators who supported cloture today, and urge the full Senate to pass ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal. It’s time to end this costly and discriminatory policy. Until then, the lives and careers of thousands of courageous, qualified and patriotic service members will continue to hang in the balance."

OutServe

OutServe looks forward to the day that repeal of this law is signed by our Commander in Chief and we can all begin to serve openly and honestly. We will remove the cloud that hangs over our gay and lesbian troops and live in a world where constantly worrying about losing everything we work and live for could be in jeopardy will finally end. As we await the implementation of repeal, expected to happen over the next year, OutServe is sensitive to the needs of our active duty troops and will remain a partner in making that transition smooth. There will come a moment when it will finally be completely safe to ‘come out’ and OutServe will be there to support the troops – gay and straight – when that day comes, hopefully soon.

Lambda Legal

"It is time for our country to move forward. An overwhelming majority of the American public supports letting lesbian and gay troops serve openly and with honor. The recent survey of military personnel and their families shows an overwhelming majority - 90 percent - are fine serving alongside a gay or lesbian servicemember. Our military and the security of our country will be strengthened by finally ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This has been a heroic political battle by LGBT advocates who refused to give up. We congratulate the many lesbian and gay servicemembers who risked or sacrificed their careers to fight for justice; the many LGBT advocacy groups and allies who fought with them; and the members of Congress who voted for justice."

Human Rights Campaign

“Today, America lived up to its highest ideals of freedom and equality. Congress recognized that all men and women have the right to openly serve their country,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Plenty of people had already planned the funeral for this legislation. Today, we pulled out a victory from what was almost certain defeat just a few days ago. We are grateful to President Obama, Majority Leader Reid and Sens. Lieberman, Collins and countless others for their dogged determination to repeal DADT.”

GOProud

Six Republicans joined 57 Democrats and independents in voting to move forward on repeal of the Clinton-era policy. “GOProud is thankful to every Senator, regardless of party affiliation, who voted for repeal,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud’s Executive Director. “GOProud is particularly thankful and proud of the votes of Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). GOProud was the only gay organization who endorsed and supported both Senator Brown and Senator Kirk in their respective elections.” These Senators joined a chorus of conservative foreign policy leaders like former Vice President Dick Cheney, potential 2012 Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Liz Cheney of Keep America Safe, and Fox News’ Charles Krauthammer in supporting repeal of this failed policy.

People For The American Way

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is an unjust and ineffective policy, and it has burdened our armed services for far too long. For years, the policy’s proponents have put a far-right social agenda ahead of national security and human dignity, brushing aside studies that prove its harmfulness and ignoring polls that show huge majorities opposing it. The Senate’s vote today marks a triumph of common sense over cynicism and brings us one step closer to a day when all qualified, patriotic Americans can serve our country openly and with dignity.”