This story will continue to be updated — come back over the next few hours for more details.
Amid two hours of often angry, misinformed, and bigoted speeches from the Republican caucus, the U.S. House of Representatives this afternoon passed yet again a bill to repeal the now unconstitutional law, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The House on May 27 of this year passed a similar bill by a vote of 234-194. Today’s vote of 250-175 — 16 votes higher in the affirmative — including 15 Republican “yes” votes amid 15 Democratic “no” votes, signals even stronger support for repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
The Democrats spoke eloquently and passionately about equality, readiness, and the ability of the military to support diversity.
In an obvious rebuke to yesterday’s insubordinate outburst by Marine Commandant General James Amos, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) said of our service members, “I do not believe that they are so fragile that having a gay person serve next to them will kill them.” She then added, “It is not the gay soldier who puts our security at risk, but this government.”
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) invoked General Amos’ false claim by saying that repeal will cost lives. Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), the incoming Chair of the House Armed Services Committee stated he thought the bill needed more time and should be discussed next year, an obvious attempt to scuttle it under his watch.
Also speaking eloquently, Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who said, “I will not ask people who are willing to die for my country to live a lie for my country.”
As the House voted, outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talked about the new poll that shows that eight in ten Americans believe “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be repealed.
Pressure is now even greater on the Senate to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
More later – stay tuned!