The inevitable happens, finally.

[rubato]

Despite attempts by the Republican party to gain the votes of the hateful few by retarding the inevitable march to the future the civil rights of gays in America will be advanced one more notch:

"Senate votes to overturn military gay ban"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101218/ap_ ... n_military

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By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Anne Flaherty, Associated Press – 20 mins ago

WASHINGTON – In a landmark for gay rights, the Senate on Saturday voted to let gays serve openly in the military, giving President Barack Obama the chance to fulfill a campaign promise and repeal the 17-year policy known as "don't ask, don't tell."

Obama was expected to sign it next week, although the change wouldn't take immediate effect. The legislation says the president and his top military advisers must certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' fighting ability. After that, there's a 60-day waiting period for the military.
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]

"It is time to close this chapter in our history," Obama said in a statement after a test vote cleared the way for final action. "It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed."

The Senate vote was 65-31. The House had passed an identical version of the bill, 250-175, on Wednesday.

Repeal would mean that, for the first time in American history, gays would be openly accepted by the military and could acknowledge their sexual orientation without fear of being kicked out.

More than 13,500 service members have been dismissed under the 1993 law.

Rounding up a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate was a historic victory for Obama, who made repeal a campaign promise in 2008. It also was a political triumph for congressional Democrats who struggled in the final hours of the postelection session to overcome GOP objections on several legislative priorities before Republicans regain control of the House in January.
... "
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see link for full text.

I have to wonder how it feels to be consistently on the wrong side of history? Anti-women, anti-black, anti-immigrant, and anti-gay; do they want to be wrong forever?

yrs,
rubato

[quaddriver]

The democrats could have passed this any time they wanted 5 minutes after obama took the oath. It was never even brought up. I wonder why?