Only Democrat To Vote Against DADT Repeal: I Didn’t Know What To Do

Unacceptable!

Newly-minted and former-Governor Joe Manchin (D-WV) is the ONLY Democrat to have voted against moving forward to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” yesterday. His reason?

“As a Senator of just three weeks, I have not had the opportunity to visit and hear the full range of viewpoints from the citizens of West Virginia.”

Are you fricking kidding me?

Manchin was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010. Five years! He had to campaign for office! How much more time does a politician need to learn about what his people want than FIVE YEARS?

Well, try this. This was on Manchin’s own website (updated link):

“Joe Manchin got his start in public service as a state legislator from 1982 to 1996. He served as West Virginia’s Secretary of State from 2000 to 2004.”

And then in 2005 he became Governor.

Senator Manchin, you’ve had TWENTY-EIGHT years to hear the full range of viewpoints from the citizens of West Virginia.”

It’s not like he didn’t have resources either. The senior Senator from West Virginia, Jay Rockefeller, also a Democrat, voted for repeal.

Then, there was Majority Leader Harry Reid whom Manchin could have asked for advice.

Or, Manchin could have read some of the polls. Like this one. Or this analysis. Or all of these.

Or, how about this? What would your predecessor have done?

I’ll tell you. And I can prove it.

The late (and may I say, great,) Senator Robert Byrd supported repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Here’s the proof: a letter, signed by the late Senator Byrd, just six days before he died, stating his support of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Byrd wrote,

“Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ does not change the composition of our armed forces – it merely allows troops to continue to do their jobs without fear of dismissal or blackmailing because of their personal life.”

Then of course, there’s the President of the United States, whom Manchin could have asked for advice.

But, of course, Manchin has been too busy, trying to distance himself from Barack Obama to bother to pick up the phone and talk to him.

Or, evidently, too busy to pick up the phone and talk to his constituents. Or answer their letters.

Like this one:

Sen Manchin DADT Fax Cover … by davidbadash

The author tell me that as of this morning, Senator Manchin has not responded.

I also am told that Senator Manchin’s Senate voicemail box is “consistently full.”

This article was changed in 2021 to update links and clarify what Manchin’s “nay” vote was for.