Brown backs standalone DADT repeal, assures filibuster proof support

Timothy Kincaid

December 16th, 2010

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) has announced that now that the tax rate extensions have been resolved, he will support the DADT repeal. (ABC)

Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown today voiced his support for a stand-alone repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, bringing the bill one vote over the 60-vote threshold that it will need to reach if and when the Senate votes on the measure in the coming weeks.

“Sen. Brown accepts the Pentagon’s recommendation to repeal the policy after proper preparations have been completed. If and when a clean repeal bill comes up for a vote, he will support it,” said Brown spokesperson Gail Gitcho.

Now the only thing holding up the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is timing. Anti-gay senators may try to run out the clock, but Sen. Lieberman believes that there is enough time even will allowable stalling tactics. We will see whether Sen. Reid will prioritize the DADT repeal and allow it to pass or put it low enough on the agenda that it is killed for at least the next two years.

Lindoro Almaviva

December 16th, 2010

A man of priorities I see. Now that his rich friends are taken care of (and presumably will line his pocket with donations as thank you gifts) he can take the time to address and correct the fact that people in this country are still not treated equally.

Given his behavior, it is all too well what was written: we are all born equal, just some are more equal than others.

Ryan

December 16th, 2010

More accurately, we’ll see if the Republicans are able to delay the vote or not. Blaming Reid if they succeed is pretty beyond the pale.

AdrianT

December 16th, 2010

If the Senate does not repeal – the courts will. The Senate’s vote is merely a rubber stamp. It cannot be stressed enough.

Though, it must be said, if 3,000 LGBT servicemembers simply came out en-masse, the law would be irrelevant. An advertisement, saying that ‘we the above, refuse to serve under DADT’ in the WaPo would do it. Strength in numbers.

james

December 16th, 2010

well newsites are reporting some dem. senator has cancer and will probably miss the vote. mccain is saying he will definatly fillabuster… if there are enough votes does that mean they can overide his attempt??

Ryan

December 16th, 2010

Adrian, I don’t think the Supreme Court’s decision is a sure thing at all. And at any rate, it’s probably a year or so off. Especially when Kagan will likely have to recuse herself. And the odds of Obama winning again and the. Democrats retaking the House in 2012 are next to nothing. So repeal will either happen next month or 2016 or 2020. Or later, depending on the next big Democratic win. Hell, Republicans don’t even give a rat’s ass about health care who 9/11 First Responders who are dying of lung disease. That’s the morality of these people.

Ryan

December 16th, 2010

I mean “this month”, not next month, of course.

Matt

December 16th, 2010

Well there ya go. Heckuva job, Brownnie. Now Suzy Collins and her last-second slew of amendment demands can be considered irrelevant to the process.

And yet I still can’t help be reminded of that one Celebrity Jeopardy skit on SNL all those years ago where “Trebek” told the contestants, “There’s no possible way you can get this wrong. You’d have to be the dumbest people in the world to screw this up… And now let’s see how you managed to screw it up,”

@Adrian- I’d love to see that kind of “I Am Spartacus” type of action published or taken as a public statement, even if it’d be just as likely followed the next day by a similar letter signed by servicemembers in favor of keeping DADT. If nothing else, the lid would be off of the pot and people would be able to stop pretending that there aren’t any gays or lesbians serving in the armed forces right now.

customartist

December 17th, 2010

Republican Senators have collectively participated in Extortion, plain and simple, to obtain benefits for the Rich in lieu of passing any other legislation for the American People.

Well WHAT will the incoming Tea Partiers think about THAT?____________

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