Top Democrat Opposes DADT Repeal

[FreeState]

http://advocate.com//News/Daily_News/2010/01/15/Top_Democrat_Opposes_DADT_Repeal/

He needs to be removed from his chairmanship ASAP. This is unacceptable.

Top Democrat Opposes DADT Repeal
By Michelle Garcia

Rep. Ike Skelton, one of the top Congressional Democrats on military policy said Friday that he would oppose the repeal of the ban on openly gay service members.

Skelton said on the C-SPAN show, Newsmakers, which will air Sunday, that he is "personally not for changing the law," according to The Hill newspaper. He added that changing the law would create a "disruption" amidst the wars in Afghanistan in Iraq.

Skelton, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was a pivotal player in the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy being enacted in 1993. When President Bill Clinton wanted to completely lift the ban on gays openly serving in the military, Skelton staunchly opposed it. From the opposition came the compromised, "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

As reported earlier, Senate Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan said that he is working to schedule hearings on "don't ask, don't tell."

[OI812]

1. I Don't Like Ike

...

[gratuitous]

2. This is why I'm leery of half measures on health care reform

Sixteen years later, Rep. Skelton isn't personally ready for changing the law he helped enact in 1993. Well, by all means, let's hold things up until Mr. Skelton is comfortable with changing the law. See, right now isn't a good time with Afghanistan and Iraq and stuff.

And what will we be facing in 2026 if some half-assed "reform" of the health care system is passed? Who will be Ike Skelton then, not personally ready to commit to the health of America because he or she isn't comfortable with changing the law? We've seen it time and time again, where half measures designed to provide a stepping stone or a transition actually become carved in stone, untouchable for a generation or more, because of the "disruption" it might cause to finish the job.

[FreeState]

3. Exactly - I fear that we have created a system of excuses rather than a system of efficiency

in our government.

[gratuitous]

4. I understand that sometimes half a loaf is better than none

And in the name of efficiency some pretty draconian laws can be enacted (Oregon's had a spate of them in the last 15 years related to crime and punishment). Sometimes a half measure can get folks used to the ideas that a full measure would mean, and provide a time of transition to consolidate opinion and provide the impetus to finish the job. But as you mention, it also becomes a system to excuse inaction or to say, "You know, we dealt with gays in the military back in 1993. I'm done with the issue." Substitute health care for gays in the military and 2010 for 1993, and the excuse is all ready to bring out for years to come. And in that time to come, we'll be no closer to true reform or equal protection of our citizens as mandated by the Constitution as we are now.

To call it merely frustrating is to ignore the real consequences being suffered by real people each and every day.

[struggle4progress]

5. I can't tell anybody what to do, but I'd sure like to see some gay veterans drop by to chat with Ike

or generate some pleasant low-key coverage in his district. There must be capable people willing to do that


Gay soldiers find attitudes changing as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' debate resumes
BY Richard Sisk
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Sunday, November 29th 2009, 4:00 AM
... Former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, a 13-year veteran believed to be the first U.S. casualty in the Iraq invasion, said he outed himself to buddies in the ranks when he got tired of turning down double dates with women. "I came out to a lot of my fellow Marines. Their typical reaction was 'So what?'" said Alva, 38, of San Antonio ... On March 21, 2003, Alva stepped on a land mine while leading a convoy near Basra ...
http://assets.nydailynews.com.nyud.net:8090/img/2009/11/29/amd_iraq_eric_alva.jpg
Eric Alva was the first American wounded in the Iraq war ...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/11/29/2009-11-29_gay_soldiers_find_attitudes_are_changing_as_debate_resumes_on_dont_ask_dont_tell.html

[Smashcut]

6. Proof that "any" Democrat is not necessarily any better than a Republican...

I'm just hoping Obama doesn't use this and the recent Joint Chiefs BS as cover to break his promise.