Lieberman to take lead on Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/14/art.lieberman.jpg caption="Sen. Joe Lieberman will lead the push to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy."]Washington (CNN) - The push to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell will have an unlikely leader: Sen. Joe Lieberman.
The famously centrist senator from Connecticut said Monday that he would be a sponsor of legislation to be introduced next week.
"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," Lieberman said in a statement. "I have opposed the current policy of preventing gay Americans from openly serving in the military since its enactment in 1993.
"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," he said. "I am grateful for the leadership of President Obama to repeal the policy and the support of Secretary Gates and Chief of Staff Admiral Mullen."
In taking the lead on the legislation, Lieberman is breaking with close friend John McCain, who opposes rolling back the policy.
Lieberman told the New York Daily News on Monday that he sees repealing the policy "as an extension, the next step of the civil rights movement."
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Bravo, Joe. As a US Army Veteran, I for one, am very pleased to see this happen. It is long, long overdue.
Yaaaaay! More Americans for you to send to fight wars for Israel and Saudi Arabia, you must be thrilled Senator Liebermann. Hey Joey, how about a new law that makes it so that you have to go fight in the next war on the front lines without air support.
Hey, everyone, mark your calendars
Lieberman is, for once, doing something right!
end DADT now!
Why are there laws being written concerning a person's sexual preferences? This is nothing but stroking the gays for votes for the democraps without regard to military ramifications. Poor governance.
Great, he is such a flip flopper this will never get settled!
Give up Joe ..You are a complete fake !!
Civil Rights Movement ?
Joe,
You show me 100,000 gay men who will sign up for military service the minute DADT is repealed and I will back you on it. Until then, it is and should remain a symbolic item.
Lieberman is breaking ties with McCain on this one. Maybe he sees or smell something in the coffee for him.
I usually don't see eye to eye with Joe... but, um. OK.... Way to go Joe.
Good for you Lieberman...Way to buy your soul back.
Lieberman should take a Don't Ask Don't Tell position on the fact he is a blooming idiot!
we have policticans serving as gay, why should it be different for the military, a city in Texas just elected a gay mayor, immediate repeal should be executed
It's funny what politicans will say and do for attention....i'm sure it's for political gain only!
If so many Americans are in favor of members of the military to be openly gay may I suggest driving to the nearest recruiting station and raising your right hand. Go ahead, stand up and tell me of all the "Rights" you are entitled to, and then go off anddefend them. Until then, shut up, keep your liberal values and opinions to yourself and move along to the next hot button topic.
OHHHhhhh!! this thing just got .........ZZzzzzzz
Lieberman??????
Joes such a warm hearted guy isnt he,Liarman doesnt care who dies defending Israel.
It's nice to know that Lieberman IS good for something. Thank you, Joe!
Good for him. I guess he's not a total loss...
Still, the politics he played with healthcare is unforgiveable, and I intend to vote against him next time he's up for re-election.
Oh, look..... little Joe has found another football to play with so that he can keep his incompetent hands in the game. What a pathetic slug!
This is one of the few times I have to give credit to Joe Lieberman. He is on the correct side of this debate. John McCain once said if the military leaders ask congress to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that he would support them. This is just another of the many of his flip flops. Oh Magoo, you've done it again.
What happened? He is going against his buddy McCain on this one.
I suspect this is a political maneuver to keep his Chairmanship of the Committee that he heads. Self-serving, no?
Finally, he isn't totally useless!
Once this is completed, then Gays will be like all other Americans. Expect Civil unions nationally. It will be about time. Gays are just as American as right wing christians, and without all the hate.
It's about thime that dipstick did something useful for his country. If not for his stalling, we'd have health care reform by now. And what's with endorsing that doddering fool McCain in 2008? Welcome back to reality, Mr. Lieberman.