One Anti-Gay GOP Senator Had Held Up Confirmation Vote
The U.S. Senate in a unanimous and historic vote has just confirmed Eric Fanning to be the next Secretary of the Army. Fanning, whose extensive resume makes him among the most qualified ever nominated, has been waiting 242 days since President Barack Obama first nominated him to the role. One anti-gay Republican Senator, Pat Roberts, was able to block the confirmation vote by a parliamentary tactic, but he released his hold and Fanning was confirmed.
Fanning becomes the first openly gay Army Secretary and the highest-ranking openly-LGBT military official in U.S. history.
Roberts had vowed to hold up Fanning’s confirmation vote until the end of Obama’s presidency.
UPDATE I: 5:35 PM EDT –
Via The Huffington Post:
Senator Pat Roberts “said he personally called Fanning earlier in the day to tell him he was planning to let him through.”
“My issue has never been with Mr. Fanning’s character, his courage or his capability,†Roberts said on the Senate floor. “He will be a tremendous leader.â€
UPDATE II: 5:37 PM EDT –
It’s important to note Fanning’s qualifications: Until today’s vote he was the Acting Under Secretary of the Army and Chief Management Officer, and has previously served as Chief of Staff of the Department of Defense, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, among other roles.
In September, Mike Huckabee said Fanning was unqualified because he is openly gay, and a civilian, and chosen for those reasons. Huckabee clearly was unaware that the Secretary of the Army is a civilian position often held by someone who has never served in the military. “Homosexuality is not a job qualification,” Huckabee said. His comments led his supporters to call for Pres. Obama to be tried for treason.
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