DADT: Hanging On By Our Fingernails....

By David Mixner -

The last hurrah is taking place in Washington right now as a frantic effort is made to rescue "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from the jaws of defeat. Statements from the White House, the Department of Defense and activists have created a flurry of activity to beat the deadline of the end of this Congress. While I have enormous admiration for those who are fighting hard to achieve repeal, they face enormous odds. Being somewhat skeptical on the chance for success I sincerely hope I am proven wrong and somehow they are able to perform legislative miracles and repeal this oppressive and odious piece of legislation.
Going for us are the leaks coming out of the Pentagon that the report will show almost mild to no opposition from the rank and file about serving with open members of the LGBT community. Secretary Gates issuing statements urging Congress to achieve this milestone before recess. Activist senators, like New York Senator Gillibrand, are fighting hard for repeal. An impressive, passionate and committed group of activists are determined not to surrender until the last shot has been fired. Finally, there is the righteousness of the cause that has enabled a vast majority of the American people, the national media and people of conscience everywhere to support repeal.
Going against is a wasted two year opportunity when this could have easily been repealed. The President and our some of our national organizations blew it. The failure of the Obama team to seize the Phillips court decision and end it right there will be judged harshly by history. The misguided and somewhat baffling statements by Secretary Gates how critical it is for the repeal to be decided by the Congress and not the courts. Wonder if he would feel the same way about Brown vs Board of Education and Roe vs Wade? Exactly again what is the chaos he thinks will take place if Court action determines our fate? Finally Obama's new Marine Commandant gives the opponents all the ammunition they need to hold up repeal until the new Congress. His statements against repeal is music to Senator John McCain's ears.
What is clear is that the real courage is going to have to come from Republican senators who are very vulnerable to right wing challenges next year like Senator Olympia Snowe (R- Maine) and Senator Richard Lugar (R- Indiana). Both have been chosen by the Tea Party for primary challenges next year. Voting for repeal will almost certainly guarantee that they will face a primary.
In the next week we will know if the determined efforts of a number of courageous people will end a horribly repressive law or if we will pay a great price for the strategy of this administration and some of our national groups. Please do everything you can in the next couple of days to support repeal. In the end, we must have the knowledge and comfort that we left no stone unturned and no soldier behind.

for more from David visit Live from Hell's Kitchen.

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