Joe Lieberman to Take Lead on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in Senate

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Social Issues

(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman will be the chief sponsor of Senate legislation to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

"I will be proud to be a sponsor of the important effort to enable patriotic gay Americans to defend our national security and our founding values of freedom and opportunity," he said in a statement Monday in which he noted his longtime opposition to the policy.

"To exclude one group of Americans from serving in the armed forces is contrary to our fundamental principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and weakens our defenses by denying our military the service of a large group of Americans who can help our cause," said Lieberman, who has angered liberals with his resistance to Democratic orthodoxy on issues like health care reform.

The New York Daily News, which first broke the news, interviewed the Connecticut senator about his opposition to the policy, which was crafted under President Bill Clinton in 1993 following a divisive battle over gays in the military.

"My own experience as a member of the Armed Services Committee, visiting our troops on bases here in this country and abroad, particularly in war zones, the most remarkable quality you'll find is unit cohesion," the former Democrat said. "What matters is not the gender of the other person in your unit or the color or the religion or in this case the sexual orientation. It's whether that person is a good soldier you can depend on."

(CBS/iStockphoto)

Lieberman's argument is backed by a new study from the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which has been pressing for repeal. The study, "Gays in Foreign Militaries 2010: A Global Primer," finds that fast-track integration of openly gay service members was not disruptive in countries like Britain and Canada, where it has already taken place, the New York Times reports. The study will be released Tuesday.

President Obama has repeatedly vowed to end the policy, which has meant the discharge of thousands of members of the military since implementation. He has been criticized by gay rights group for not moving more quickly on gay rights issues, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal.

Momentum seems to be building for repeal, thanks in large part to comments earlier this month before Congress by Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he personally believes the policy is wrong.

But the military's timeline has been a source of concern for advocates of repeal. Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have announced a working group to study integration of openly gay service members, which has a deadline of the end of 2010. The working group, which will poll service members for their attitudes about serving with openly gay peers, makes repeal this year unlikely.

On NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, Gen. David H. Petraeus defended the timeline, saying the process is necessary to determine the best "policies that could be used to implement a change if it does come to that."

Lieberman, who calls repeal "an extension, the next step of the civil rights movement," says limiting the pool of possible service members by banning those who are openly gay amounts to "diminishing military effectiveness."

Republicans have resisted a repeal of the policy, which they say has been effective, and argue that this is not the time to make a change. With polls showing that a majority of Americans support repeal, it is not clear whether Senate Republicans would use the threat of filibuster to force Democrats to garner 60 votes to overturn the legislation.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by MattHenn October 20, 2010 7:16 PM EDT: For those religious fanatics that believe it is a sin too be gay i ask you this, "doesn't god love everyone?" seriously Christianity says that god forgives all and that he loves all right?, so why does he in you opinions dislike gay people. this doesn't make sense to me and a lot of other people? or is this the god you created and portray? did the people who wrote the bible add their own personal views and not the views of god? because that really makes the most sense to me! --- Matt Gay Supporter; Reply to this comment


by MattHenn October 20, 2010 7:15 PM EDT: For those religious fanatics that believe it is a sin too be gay i ask you this, "doesn't god love everyone?" seriously Christianity says that god forgives all and that he loves all right?, so why does he in you opinions dislike gay people. this doesn't make sense to me and a lot of other people? or is this the god you created and portray? did the people who wrote the bible add their own personal views and not the views of god? because that really makes the most sense to me! --- Matt Gay Supporter; Reply to this comment


by tieradelfuego February 24, 2010 3:33 AM EST: Listen Joe Lieberman, dahling, the cause does not need you or want you. You have trashed every gay issue in the past so what is your motive now? I suggest bobbikins, that you quit the US Senate and retire from public life as no body wants you or likes you, well maybe Ann Coulter.; Reply to this comment


by jcnbma February 23, 2010 9:32 PM EST: by jollypants February 22, 2010 6:45 PM EST
Welcome to the new Obama Army. Government issue will no longer be uniforms, boots, and field gear ... but dresses, panties, and makeup. It used to be that the objective of the U.S. Military was to win wars, but nowadays it's the advancement of left wing political agendas. You can bet this will lead to declining recruitment, internal conflicts, more men coming home in body bags, and lost wars ... but a least the homosexuals will be happy. Isn't that the important thing?

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Hey Jollypants: How ironic. Gay soldiers are over there fighting and dying for this country - and to protect your freedom, and you're talking about panties, dresses and makeup. I'd love to see you say that same comment, face-to-face, to one of our gay service personnel. They'd kick your a$$! (Heck, I'd love to!) You're nothing but a sniveling, whining Keyboard Coward - a sissy in every sense of the word.; Reply to this comment


by mensarino February 23, 2010 7:14 PM EST: Notice that the two most nasty and neanderthal posts are from one who cites jesus and the other who claims to be a cleric...how come I'm not surprised.; Reply to this comment


by steveweller February 23, 2010 5:18 PM EST: It's nice that Lieberman has finally located the conscience he has apparently been missing for the past two years. But, really, do the gays actually want this amoral weasel leading the fight for their rights?; Reply to this comment


by KPeters_from_UK February 23, 2010 3:11 PM EST: by live4jesus February 23, 2010 1:46 PM EST
I have no problem allowing my religion to be my private matter. It always has been until I have been forced to to swallow the liberals immoral beliefs. I was minding my own business, worshiping as I believe and free to do so until sin has been shoved in my face, and forced to say it's okay. Well it's not okay. If you want to shove your beliefs down my throat, then expect mine to be shoved down yours. Amazing how I'm doing the same thing you are but according to you, I'm the one in the wrong. HYPOCRITE!!!

________________________________

I seriously doubt anyone is going to perform homosexual acts in your face. Just as I expect hetersexuals to behave properly I also expect homosexuals to be descreet.; Reply to this comment


by KPeters_from_UK February 23, 2010 3:05 PM EST: by live4jesus February 23, 2010 1:07 PM EST
by daffy64: Yeah. Imagine everybody being treated equally. Our forefathers are rolling over in their graves.

Well let's just treat rapists and child molesters equally because after all they were born that way too. And why stop there? Since gays are demanding to be able to marry and express their sexuality, let's just allow people to marry animals. After all they just want to express their sexuality too. Now who are the "scum-meisters"? Like I said, shameful.

Rapists and child molesters are not born as criminals. And before you make another stupid mistake you better realize that rape and child molestation HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEXUALITY BUT ALL TO DO WITH POWER.

The idea that gays are born with a homosexual gene is gaining strengh. I don't think we can discriminate against a person's skin colour or a person's sexuality. You can't change your skin just as you can't change your sexuality.

I think your lot needs to pack up and move to Iran. You'll be very happy there.; Reply to this comment

by cleric60 February 23, 2010 1:51 PM EST

From history we also learn that both the Nazis and the Communists condemned the practice of homosexuality within their armed forces?
Why? It should wasn't a religious reason.
Why do you think they condemned and imprisoned homosexuals???
Acts against nature? Temptation for straight guys to become bi-sexual?
while on duty?

Reply to this comment


by AOCGUY February 23, 2010 4:14 PM EST: Cleric, I'm curious, are you suggesting that the US military be more like the former Soviet and Nazi armies. What country are you really from?

by cleric60 February 23, 2010 1:35 PM EST

Do you guys remember a movie called Kelly's Heroes? In the movie the Sgt asks the Captain for liberty for their men...saying if they don't go on liberty they will begin_____________ each other. (You fill in the blank.)
If we have gays in the units, will the straight men have to take liberty so often or will they ask the gays to relieve them of their "stress"?

Reply to this comment


by AOCGUY February 23, 2010 1:39 PM EST: Cleric - We already have gays in the military and many of us know who they are and DONT CARE. Using some stupid line from an old movie hardly constitutes an argument against equal rights for all Americans.