It was a long time coming, and a circuitous route, but Don't Ask Don't Tell finally died today. The curious holdover from the Clinton administration was voted out in the Senate today by a 65-31 vote, and is heading to the President's desk for signature.
Already conservative groups are predicting the end of the world.
According to the American Family Association
We are now stuck with sexual deviants serving openly in the U.S. military because of turncoat Republican senators.
The armies of other nations have allowed gays to serve openly in the military. The reason they could afford to do this is simple: they could allow homosexuals to serve in their military because we didn’t allow them to serve in ours.
They knew they could count on the strength, might, power, and cohesion of the U.S. military to intervene whenever and wherever necessary to pull their fannies out of the fire and squash the forces of tyranny wherever they raised their ugly heads around the world.
And from the Family Research Council
"Today is a tragic day for our armed forces. The American military exists for only one purpose - to fight and win wars. Yet it has now been hijacked and turned into a tool for imposing on the country a radical social agenda. This may advance the cause of reshaping social attitudes regarding human sexuality, but it will only do harm to the military's ability to fulfill its mission.
"It is shameful that the Democratic leadership, aided by Republican Senators, has forced through such a radical change in a lame-duck session of Congress. The 1993 law which is to be repealed was adopted only after months of debate and at least a dozen Congressional hearings. The repeal has been forced through only eighteen days after the Pentagon released a massive report, which raised more questions than it answered on the impact the overturning of this policy will have on our nation's military.
"It is clear why this was done: not to enhance the military's ability to accomplish its mission or to enhance national security. Rather, it is a political payoff to a tiny, but loud and wealthy, part of the Democratic base. They knew that the Congress elected last month would never adopt such legislation - certainly not without a more thoughtful and deliberative process.
"We thank Senators John McCain, James Inhofe, Jeff Sessions and Jim DeMint, as well as all of those who voted to support our troops over advancing a liberal social agenda. These senators fought hard for our men and women in uniform, and their efforts will not be forgotten."
An exclusive poll taken in my own family only indicates joy that yet another form of bigotry has fallen by the wayside. Now lets see if we can do something about the "marriage defenders" in our own state.
On the other hand - The DREAM act couldn't get past a cloture vote today, meaning it is for all intents and purposes dead, at least for this year (and let's face it, with the congressional balance shift coming, it's going to be dead for quite a while). Certainly I can understand why the Republicans would be against letting the best and brightest young people from other countries make their place in our society - because - er- okay, you've got me stumped here. Following this line of logic I can only assume that they're also willing to send everyone who is descended from immigrants back whence they came. Which seems fair enough, I guess. And it'll really help with the Republican goal of shrinking government since it would clear out Washington in a big hurry.
Call the glass half full.