Like We Said...No Accountability for Politicians

I've said way back from the  beginning that people, that includes parents and politicians, must be made accountable for their actions concerning bullying and bearing false witness. DADT was finally out the door on September 20th of this year, and the sky hasn't fallen yet. But tell that to Sen. McCain, who vehemently said that soldiers would leave in droves, the army would fall apart at the seams, and it would bring about such disaster within the armed forces that we would no longer be recognized as a world military to be reckoned with.

(About.com-Political Humor)

Well Sen. McCain, where are the deserters? Why is the military still functioning the same as it did before the repeal? Why are you not being held accountable for all the lies, threats and false statements you made preceding the repeal?

From the Washington Post, this thought:

"The political world just doesn’t seem to operate this way. McCain will continue to enjoy his standing as a leading voice on military affairs because the establishment says so.

If ridiculous predictions had any bearing on credibility, conservative Republicans would never be able to utter a word about economic policy in public again without being laughed at. We’re talking about a group of folks who said Reagan’s tax increases would be a disaster, Clinton’s agenda would cause an economic collapse, Bush’s policies would work wonders, and Obama’s agenda would make the 2008 crash even worse."

I guess that accountability depends upon which side of the fence you happen to be on at the moment.

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OMG! DADT is gone and the world didn't end!

Apparently, according to the sunshine outside, along with many articles in the news, and against predictions of the naysayers, the repeal of DADT on September 20 didn't end in Armageddon. As a matter of fact, it hardly even caused a ripple in the troops according to several interviews. One heterosexual soldier expressed the whole issue best with just a "shrug of the shoulders." So to the Republican gay-haters and so-called Christian moralists, I say, "we told you so!"

On Saturday, October 15th the first open, gay military convention was held with over 200 Marines,Sailors and Army people attending.  Each of the 200 or so sailors, soldiers, Marines and airmen attending the conference put on by the formerly clandestine group known as OutServe had, to varying degrees, only recently revealed their sexual orientations at work. None had gotten a reaction worse than a shrug.

"Out of the 4,500 members we have, we haven't had any person come to us about one single problem, which is huge, because right before repeal of `don't ask, don't tell,' we had tons of problems," like investigations and other issues relayed to the Pentagon, said Air Force 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, the group's co-founder. "But right now, after Sept. 20, there is nothing to relay because everything has been 100 percent positive."

 SO THERE!

Pentagon Will Certify DADT Repeal Wednesday, DOMA Continues Screwing Over Gay Soldiers Indefinitely

from: gayagenda.com

Wednesday signifies the end of DADT in the armed forces of the US. It will allow LGBT soldiers to finally serve openly in the armed forces with their comrades. As predicted by supporters, the pentagon has noted that there seem to be no changes in the general moral of servicemen.

HOWEVER, with DOMA still in effect the positive change in the elimination of DADT is negated by the severe restrictions enforced by DOMA. As we reported last week in this blog,  out soldiers are still denied the benefits of same-sex marriage while enlisted. THis means that partners cannot receive military benefits, cannot be told where their partner is or, if they are killed in action, cannot be told anything. DOMA ensures that hate and bigotry fostered by the anti-gay GOP agenda will continue to restrict young men from enlisting in the service.

Bottom line is that in all reality, NOTHING HAS CHANGED for the gay soldier other than that they can now be killed in action, out, alone, and hated!

Record Number of House Cosponsors for DOMA Repeal Bill

[NY D-Rep. Nadler]

A House bill to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act has now attracted 122 cosponsors—two more than the total number of sponsors from the previous congressional term, when the legislation was first introduced.

“The coalition working for LGBT rights in the congress and the nation as a whole is larger than ever before, and we gain new allies every day. And, just this year, New York State enacted marriage equality, hammering one more nail into the coffin of bigotry and discrimination against gays and lesbians. Dumping DOMA is simply not a question of if but when,” Nadler said.

D-Maryland senator Barbara Mikulski has said that she would sign onto the bill after the LGBT groups Freedom to Marry, Courage Campaign, and Equality Maryland delivered 3,000 constituent signatures in favor of the legislation to the Democratic senator’s district office in Baltimore.

It's nice to know that some Senators are listening to their constituents instead of pocketing lobbyist and special interest money for voting against the people who put them in office. As one comment noted, it's time for LGBTQ adults to take action and become involved in the movement in this country to gain equality and equal rights for our community. Too many are quick to comment but not follow with action. Get involved with your time, financially support gay equality groups that are effectively fighting for rights on our behalf, blog, spread the word however you can.

As several other comments noted, there is no outspoken, up-front leader in this country taking charge of this movement for equality like Gov. Cuomo did in New York state. We need a leader to effectively excite and gather the groups and people together into one, single agenda-EQUAL RIGHTS for LGBTQ people!

DOMA Trumps DATA: Don't rush to sign up yet!

According to an Associated Press story, when DADT is repealed, gay servicemembers will still be treated like second-class citizens.

Somehow I think that this was known all along and is the reason that repealing DADT by the oppressive right-wing has not been as big an issue as it would have been if these opposing restrictions were known.  It's easy to tell what the agenda is here.

Thanks to 1996′s Defense of Marriage Act—which defines the institution as a legal union between a man and woman—the Pentagon claims the Defense Department is prohibited from extending partner benefits that “ease the costs of medical care, travel, housing and other living expenses” to gay couples, even if they were legally wed in a state that honors same-sex marriages.

That means housing allowances and off-base living space for gay servicemembers with partners could be decided as if they were living alone. Base transfers would not take into account their spouses. If two gay servicemembers are married to each other they may be transferred to two different states or regions of the world. For heterosexual couples, the military tries to avoid that from happening. Same-sex partners cannot receive military IDs, so they can’t shop in commissaries, receive treatment at military medical facilities or even be allowed on base unescorted. They can be listed as the person to be notified if a soldier is missing, injured or killed, but cannot be told any details about the death. And if their partner is killed, the military won’t pay for them to go collect the body.

Should DOMA be repealed, the military’s policy regarding same-sex partner benefits could change. But for now I suggest any potential recruits think twice before signing up to (not) be all they can be.

Rep. Duncan Hunter introduces legislation to keep homophobia legal in the military

These politicians just won't give up, bless their "peapickin' little" hearts.  It seems as if the homophobic Republicans have forgotten all about job creation, the lousy economy, and most all other more important issues. They're like a slug...one direction, one mind...which means that there's no multi-tasking in the GOP room.

Give it up and get to work on the real issues facing us...like getting some of that money in your pockets out to the people who really need it instead of yachts and additions to your multi-million dollar vacation homes.

We'll see if it really happens...this time...again....once more!

DADT Certification Coming Friday, Say WSJ, NBC | News

www.advocate.com

Reports from both The Wall Street Journal and NBC News say Defense secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will announce Friday that the military is ready to officially repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

365gay.com | Historic anti-DOMA hearing at the Senate airs pro-, anti-gay sides

It's time this controversy was over with. If everyone but the GOP wants it repealed, why pussyfoot around its repeal along with the DADT that was supposed to be all over with?

Protest performed against repeal of DADT - PinkPaper.com

Protest performed against repeal of DADT

Don't you just love the right to Freedom of Speech? Now that DADT has been repealed gays are being labeled again. I can see Senator McCain turning Jewish to hop on this bandwagon.

"Four Hasidic Jews gathered at West Point yesterday to protest against the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Weat Point Parade Lawn

Solomon Diamant, a 17-year-old protester, said: 'Only God can establish what’s wrong and what’s right. The whole LGBT agenda is evil.' 

The banners included slogans such as, ‘Gay legislation is a terror attack on USA and its troops’, ‘I want our troops to have divine assistance. Don’t downgrade moral standards’ and ‘Those who are imposing this on our troops are supporting America’s greatest enemies and destroying the country’."

  thePinkPaper.com

Delegate: No Gays in National Guard

By Advocate.com Editors
December 21, 2010

And another GOP, homophobic, hate monger speaks out against gays serving in the military. Even after passage of the bill repealing the DADT policy of gays serving in the military, "Del. Bob Marshall of Prince William County, who may be interested U.S. senator Jim Webb's seat, plans to introduce legislation in the 2011 general assembly that would make the discriminatory policy the rule in the Virginia National Guard," according to Fredericksburg, Va.'s Free Lance-Star

”In a written statement, Marshall, a conservative Republican who was the sponsor of the bill that banned gay marriage in Virginia, said allowing openly gay people to serve in the military ‘will weaken military recruitment and retention, and will increase pressure for a military draft,'” the newspaper reported.

"...Marshall argues that Virginia may set policies for its own National Guard, regardless of the federal law."

Rob Marshall, Courtesy Advocate.com

Where in the heck did this guy come from, better yet, what stones do these people live under? And why is it mostly a Republican, in power, looking for a higher political seat that has to bring out this sort of anti-gay hate?

This goes way back to what I said about bullying in our schools and teen suicide. The responsibility lies with our parents and adults. It's hard to blame other teens when people like Mr. Marshall are setting the example for younger people that it's okay to discriminate against gay people to any extent necessary, using tax dollars when necessary, against the laws of the land, against the recent law passed by the Congress as signed by the President, in the name of self-righteousness, to further a personal agenda.

These people need to be stopped, and the Right to Freedom of Speech does not apply here when it comes to furthering your own personal agenda at the expense of the physical health of a minority population being beaten to death in dark parks, emotionally crushed by cyberbullying by big bullies, and those who end up taking their lives by suicide because of the abuse.

These people like Mr. Marshall seem to think that to lose a few teens by suicide is nothing compared to the poor people who would be emotionally scarred for life by having to serve beside an openly gay soldier. People like him should be ostracized equally in turn and criminally charged for hate crimes! Think that will ever happen....no! He's a Republican politician with lots of money and big lawyers in his GOP pocket. I'm sure at the first hint of such a suggestion our friend, Senator McCain, another hate filled, gay basher would be right there to have his picture taken with Mr. Marshall. and spew forth some more anti-gay rhetoric to the press, eager to push forth his agenda to repeal the DADT bill entirely as he has already promised.

Senate votes to Repeal DADT Finally!

FINALLY!

The Senate has finally voted 65/31 to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy today at 3:30PM EST.

17 years of discrimination has ended for gays and lesbians to serve in the military.

The next step is the President's desk for signature.

DADT repeal effort changes track

DADT repeal effort changes track...AGAIN!

 thePinkPaper.com

It seems that they can't pass a simple bill without the pork. I mentioned this back a while ago in my blog when this issue was up for a vote and the GOP was blocking it until they could add some pork projects to it for their rich supporters. Now it's finally come out that that was exactly the stopping issue. 

Now here we are again...start over with a clean bill and see what new pork we can add...will this ever pass? Who knows. It's passed all the hurdles except for the requirements of the rich, famous and GOP!

US Senate Blocks Repeal of DADT by 3 votes!

I don't know how this keeps happening...well, I do...but it's just getting to be ridiculous that our elected congressmen and women are wasting valuable time fighting and bickering over and over such a no-brainer as this. One of the reasons this didn't pass yesterday was that some members in each party didn't feel they got enough attachments (another word for freebies and extra millions for unnecessary, personal pet projects) in the bill. The military is behind repeal of this act, the majority of the US citizens either are or don't care, and most servicemen back dropping the requirement, yet in their infinite wisdom and waste of taxpayers dollars, instead of working on issues with infinite more meaning, our elected officials in Washing are wasting precious time creating morale problems with this issue. They know that the current session will end soon and off they will go after another Lame Duck session after spending untold billions of dollars accomplishing nothing while accruing their rich's that they have so conveniently protected for another two years from taxation. We are the laughing stock of just about every country in the world now thanks to voter lack in interest and corruption at all levels in our government.

According to an article published today in the PinkPaper.com:

     "US Senate Republicans yesterday blocked the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell by a lead of just three votes.

     On a 57-40 vote, Democrats fell short of the needed 60 votes to clear a Republican procedural hurdle and quash the military ban.

     Even the White House had backed the deconstrucion of DADT.

     Just one Senate Democrat, Joe Manchin, voted to sustain the procedural roadblock while one Republican, Susan Collins, voted to end it, according to the National Post.

     But campaigners say it's just a matter of time before the ban - which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the forces - is lifted.

     'While today’s vote was disappointing, it must not be the end of our efforts,' US President Barack Obama said. 'I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law. This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality,'"

Leaked Pentagon report supports lifting gay ban - PinkPaper.com

Leaked Pentagon report supports lifting gay ban - PinkPaper.com

Go Figure???? Suddenly it's not such a big deal!

Obama administration resuscitates Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban - PinkPaper.com

Obama administration resuscitates Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban - PinkPaper.com

Another broken promise...if Congress doesn't deal with this issue this year then it will die again and Obama's attempt to have it "go through the proper channels" will backfire and the policy will remain in force probably until another Court, The Supreme Court, takes on the challenge of making the decision. Left in the hands of politicians it will never change and a major policy of discrimination against gays serving openly in the armed forces will remain in force possibly forever. Recent polls indicate that 75% of the people favor ending the ban, but homophobic "men" serving in the armed forces now and current officers in charge of those men remain steadfast in their determination that it is their right to keep out gays from serving, even though there are many serving now, both closeted and open. It is the one area of our society where discrimination openly is flaunted by a group of BULLIES, leaving scars on those who continue to serve, or want to serve. I think President Obama's Administration is headed down a dangerous road and will lose the election to the GOP because of this decision, leaving us to the next "Bush leadership years" of more discrimination, less rights for Americans, more money for the rich, and the final downfall of the "middle class." This decision could have long-reaching effects and we need to follow it closely.

Breaking News: Sudden Problems in Army "DADT" Policy Reversal

Just when we make some advance that the "people" clearly want (and got), politicians and lawyers have to make it an issue to pull Americans away from the real issues facing this country, such as jobs (or lack thereof), poverty, the rich getting richer because the GOP refuses to let them be taxed (and why not, they're part of the group themselves and depend on the pockets of the rich for their own luxuries), and many more pressing issues before Congress and the President. The GOP is doing a great job of getting the people believing that all the problems we have today are a direct result of President Obama's time in office when some people, thinking logically, can go back to the GOP and remember that Reaganomics and the Bush administration allowed this country to decline to its present point by filling their own pockets at the expense of the middle class.

It's clear that past President Bush is enjoying his "earnings", defending his policies?. Have we seen him since he left office? Anyone? Anywhere?