Joe Lieberman to Take Lead on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in Senate

[madinmaryland]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6231571.shtml

Yeah, that Joe Lieberman...

Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman will be the chief sponsor of Senate legislation to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

"I will be proud to be a sponsor of the important effort to enable patriotic gay Americans to defend our national security and our founding values of freedom and opportunity," he said in a statement Monday in which he noted his longtime opposition to the policy.

"To exclude one group of Americans from serving in the armed forces is contrary to our fundamental principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and weakens our defenses by denying our military the service of a large group of Americans who can help our cause," said Lieberman, who has angered liberals with his resistance to Democratic orthodoxy on issues like health care reform.

The New York Daily News, which first broke the news, interviewed the Connecticut senator about his opposition to the policy, which was crafted under President Bill Clinton in 1993 following a divisive battle over gays in the military.

"My own experience as a member of the Armed Services Committee, visiting our troops on bases here in this country and abroad, particularly in war zones, the most remarkable quality you'll find is unit cohesion," the former Democrat said. "What matters is not the gender of the other person in your unit or the color or the religion or in this case the sexual orientation. It's whether that person is a good soldier you can depend on."

[Demeter]

1. I Thought He Was Referring to Party Affiliation

[madinmaryland]

3. You could ask Lieberman what his party affiliation is, but you would

never get the same answer twice.

[LynneSin]

2. Even a broken clock is right twice a day

I'm glad to see him doing the right thing but he is still an ass!

[mb7588a]

7. Joe is on the right at all times of day... nt.

[kestrel91316]

4. Why do I get the funny feeling he will sabotage the effort??

[Demeter]

5. Experience--Lots and Lots of It

Although I am puzzled as to how he could make the situation any worse.

[zipplewrath]

6. Loop holes

The problem with this repeal is that there are alot of potential loop holes to leave behind. Many service people have effectively and functionally been lying about these relationships. If they don't give them some form of "amnesty" it could be a continuing witch hunt. Furthermore, just look at how women get treated and you'll see some pattern. There will be "restrictions" placed upon them that will hamper their careers. Inability to serve in certain foreign postings which makes it hard to earn the "points" necessary to get promotions. New definitions of "harrassment" which will make them more likely to get accused/convicted.

This administration, and Lieberman as well, have squandered alot of trust on the part of the base, and there's no reason to believe that DADT will be any different. If Obama can say with a straight face that he never campaigned on the public option, imagine what he can say about DADT. Then imagine what Lieberman can say.