Defense officials say lift military ban on gays - Republicans say NO vote

[WillParkinson]

Defense officials say lift military ban on gays

(Washington) It’s time to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allow gay troops to serve openly for the first time in history, the nation’s top defense officials declared Tuesday, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proclaiming that service members should not be forced to “lie about who they are.”

However, both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen asked for a year to study the impact before Congress would lift the controversial policy.

Reversing the Pentagon’s 17-year-old policy toward gays “comes down to integrity,” for the military as an institution as well as the service members themselves, Mullen told a Senate hearing. Unpersuaded, several Republican senators said they would oppose any congressional effort to repeal the policy.

Ten months before voters elect a new Congress, some Democratic leaders also were leery of trying to change the policy this year, when both sides concede Republicans are likely to pick up seats, especially after GOP Sen.-elect Scott Brown’s surprise victory last month in Massachusetts.

http://www.365gay.com/news/defense-officials-say-lift-military-ban-on-gays/

[babylonsister]

1. Rethugs will lose this one. Yes, they will! nt

[madrchsod]

2. even powell decided that his policy sucks..

i guess it`s better late than never...

[AlinPA]

3. Why won't the republicans filibuster the repeal?

[mitchtv]

4. they will need 60 votes to take it out

of the military finances bill,or filibuster that, they're screwed.

[TexasObserver]

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