Reid Makes a Promise to Dan Choi for Gay Rights
AP
He acknowledged as much today at Netroots Nation, the largest gathering of liberal bloggers and activists of the year: "I know there are times, I'm told, that I get on your nerves," he said, eliciting laughter. "I'm here to tell you, you get on my nerves."
Reid said, however, that he and the left need each other. And he promised to keep up his end of the bargain with two moves: a commitment to reforming the filibuster, and a moving pledge - made personally to Lt. Dan Choi - to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" law.
Choi this week was discharged from the military for being openly gay. Since coming out, the Iraq war veteran has been an outspoken advocate for repealing don't ask, don't tell.
Before Reid began to answer questions from the conference audience today, the discussion moderator handed him Choi's West Point ring as a gift. Reid expressed his gratitude but said he could not accept the gift.
"He earned his ring," Reid said. "I'm going to give it back to him."
Choi joined Reid on stage and gave the majority leader a hug. Audience members shouted at Reid to keep the ring until "don't ask, don't tell" is repealed.
"When the bill's signed, I'll keep it safely and then give it back to him," he said.
The whole episode won Reid a standing ovation and loud cheers from the liberal base that has so often derided him.
Reid also played to the crowd with a positive response to whether he would support reforming the filibuster - the Senate procedural rule that allows a single senator to indefinitely uphold a debate unless there are 60 senators who want to stop him.
"In the early days of baseball, you could throw a spitball, there was nothing wrong with that," Reid said. "They abused the system, and they outlawed the spitball. Now this Republican Senate has started abusing the rules, so we're going to have to change it."
While his pledge for gay rights and filibuster reform pleased the liberal audience, they were more interested in talking about what else Reid hasn't accomplished.
Reid said this Congress has a substantial list of accomplishments. He said, however, "I know you wish some of these reforms were more sweeping, and believe me, I do too. But we also have to be realists."
"I wish we had a public option," Reid said with reference to health care reform, eliciting cheers. "We're going to have a public option, it's just a question of when. That's why I included it in my health care bill."
Like health care reform, Reid said Democrats will have to wait for the kind of comprehensive energy legislation they'd like.
There is "not a single Republican to play ball with us" on energy reform, Reid said.
Indeed, the GOP's base, at the RightOnline conference today (also in Las Vegas), said that Republicans shouldn't vote for any Democratic-led energy bill, even if it leaves out contentious proposals like cap and trade.
Reid said that the scaled down bill he will introduce early next week is focused on holding BP accountable for the Gulf oil spill, restoring money for conservation, and creating jobs through HomeStar home retrofitting.
"I think we can get that done quickly," he said. "We're not going to do nothing just because we don't have a partner on the other side."
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Why do you feel you must come to the defense of your "butt buddy" Joe? Can't your lover fight his own battles?
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From my discussions with USA_is_back on these comment lines the past few weeks, I have come to the conclusion that he is in fact a Muslim and/or follower of the Islamic faith. We have been discussing this for the last several pages where I have been called a liar by all of you lovely folks. Empire_George was nice enough not to join in and I thank him and hate to see USA_is_back attack him on my behalf. I don't know for certain that he is a muslim but I do know he is a first rate jerk. Where, during this conversation has USA_is_back written the simple phrase, "I am not a muslim"?
can't read can you perish?
---------------------------------
I guess not?
Joe, what does your post have to do with perish's incoherent rantings? He was calling me a muslim, not Obama.
by perish2 July 26, 2010 5:38 PM EDT
I deny being a pedophile and am disgusted that you make such accusations.
I have discussed you being a muslim for two weeks with you and you have never once directly denied it. I mean you no disrespect if you are a muslim but please stand up right now facing Mecca and deny in print to the world that you are a muslim or follower of the Islamic faith.
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Once again?
Doesn't sound like you are calling anyone a muslim.
Perish clearly said...."If you are a muslim"
*****
He clearly implied it in a previous post.
It's been denied many, many times Joe. Perish apparently can't read. Pity, if perish is what is representative of the republican party.
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Once again, no direct answer. I don't really care and it makes you nothing less in my eyes. I don't agree with the Islamic faith for many reasons, but I respect that it is your faith and won't attack you for it like these others constantly attack Christians. Just don't make accusations about me on a personal level if you expect me to be nice to you personally.
democracy5, We have a chinese monestary (shaolin type munks, etc) nearby, where they pray to a giant statue of Budha, say prayers, light insense, etc.
Seems a little disproportionate attention for just a "teacher", don't you think ?
*****
They may admire and respect his teachings, but he is not considered to be a deity. At most, he is called The Enlightened One. He was an actual person, Prince Siddhartha from India. Look it up.
democracy5, I witnessed monks worshipping a giant statue of Budha, and many other Chinese visitors as well.....they weren't showing "respect" by any means....nice try
*****
How did you arrive at that conclusion, because they were bowing, perhaps? In case you haven't noticed, bowing is considered a gesture of respect in Asia. It is also used as a form of meditation. But, if you insist on remaining ignorant, that's your choice. Not my problem.
Atheism doesn't have a god, perish2. Look up the word in any dictionary.
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Many scholars believe that atheism is the god of self. Just like you claim that it doesn't have to be external. People such as you see yourselves as the center of all in your world. That is why so much attrocities can take place in the absence of belief in a higher authority. Those like you believe that they are the highest authority.
by slow-news-day July 26, 2010 5:04 PM EDT
Atheism doesn't have a god, perish2. Look up the word in any dictionary.
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Many scholars believe that atheism is the god of self. Just like you claim that it doesn't have to be external. People such as you see yourselves as the center of all in your world. That is why so much attrocities can take place in the absence of belief in a higher authority. Those like you believe that they are the highest authority.
*****
Slow never claimed to believe that HE is God. Your reading comprehension and/or memory is sorely lacking.
Many scholars believe that. Slow has professed his atheism in posts before although now he is trying to push some new angle.
As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
The First Commandment.
Thou shalt have no other gods.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The Second Commandment.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
The Third Commandment.
Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.
The Fourth Commandment.
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
The Fifth Commandment.
Thou shalt not kill.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body].
The Sixth Commandment.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse.
The Seventh Commandment.
Thou shalt not steal.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved].
The Eighth Commandment.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
The Ninth Commandment.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
The Tenth Commandment.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.
by perish2 July 26, 2010 4:24 PM EDT
No. Slo-news-day is a wierd atheist closted gay who can't argue on an adult level and you are his mommy coming to his rescue. that and Harry Reid needs to focus more on real issues and not pander to all you robotic netroots nation folks.
==========================================
You want to talk about WIERD perish? I saved all those posts of yours talking about 12 yr olds. They were submitted to the authorities. Your computer been running a little slower lately perish? Should I repost them now for everyone here?
Reply to this comment by perish2 July 26, 2010 4:46 PM EDT
Please do. I can't even remember what that discussion was about, but, it shows that you have stooped lower than low. Please post that so that I might be reminded of the discussion. Wasn't that where we were discussing priests molesting altar boys and I said that it was usually around 12 and you got upset with me and started making claims that I must like 12 year old boys since I mentioned that age several times. It really shows that once again you have no substance and don't stand for anything other than childish attacks.
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All of this was in the email I just sent to CBS.