BREAKING: Senate panel votes to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Hopefully, not for much longer

Friends, it’s a success – just maybe! The Senate Armed Forces committee has just voted 16-12 to give the Pentagon the power to strike down that wretched discrimination-legalizing policy that’s caused so much grief and destroyed so many careers (and lives). Indeed, for the first time since the Clinton years, it would seem that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the rule stating that gays must do all they can to hide their true sexual orientation from others lest they be dishonored and thrown out like filthy mutts, may very well be on its last legs.

Naturally, though, you can’t have a shining chance at liberty and equality without the usual suspects trying to oppose it:

But key Republicans adamantly oppose the move, and are willing to take extraordinary measures to prevent the repeal from going through.

"I'll do everything in my power [to stop the repeal]," said Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who serves as ranking member on the Armed Services Committee yesterday.

McCain was echoed by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who made his promise to obstruct explicit: "If it is adopted, I will not sign the conference report, and there will be an attempt to filibuster the bill on the floor," Wicker said.

Oh, go fuck yourselves, you spineless, bigoted, lobbyist-sucking asshats. (Sorry for the bile – well, not really – but after months and years of the same tedious and nonsensical bullshit, I just don’t have the patience anymore to restrain myself from expressing my true thoughts about just where they can shove their unscrupulous opposition to the removal of systematic discrimination.)

Thankfully, though, even the characteristically douchey Republicans don’t stand much of a chance if they keep up their hardlined martyr pose, here. Even the very highest military officials, from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, in addition to the White House and all Democrats but one, are vying for the passage of this repeal. It’s going to happen, and the bigoted idiots who stand in its way are just going to be crushed.

The vote might even happen sooner than expected, according to Metro Weekly’s senior political writer Chris Geidner:

BREAKING Multiple sources now reporting that House #DADT amendment vote is likely tonight, within hours.

We may be just hours away from the real chance at finally allowing all people to serve their country with pride, honor and dignity, regardless of their intrinsic and irrelevant sexual orientation.

Come on, Democrats, please don’t fuck this one up.

(via @todayspolitics)

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UPDATE: (05/28/10 1:08 AM) – The House has passed the amended bill, 234-194.

(via The Daily Dish)