While many Republicans and Conservatives are upset about the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” the vote might have a positive effect for the party in 2012. The “solving” of the issue will go along way to encouraging unity on the right. Could we be seeing a new dawn where homosexuality is no longer used as a political football for all sides to use for their political ends?
As AP reports its been a long time coming.
“Repeal would mean that, for the first time in American history, gays would be openly accepted by the armed forces 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.”
DADT has long been a wedge issue for the left to divide more libertarian minded folks from the social conservatives. Its been a bugbear on the right for its 17 year existence.
It has been used to convince homosexuals who might be prone to vote Republican on pocket-book issues of vileness of Republicans. Its also an issue that has been used by the Democrats for fundraising for the proportionally wealthy gay Americans. Or as a fundraiser put it in WGLB magazine.
“”Fund-raising is so emotional,” Szekeres told OpenSecrets Blog. “And if there is no boogie man threatening referendums or repeals, it’s much more difficult to reach those emotional donors.””
Now that the issue will be well and gone by 2012 the Democrats will have to find another issue to use for divide and conquer against Republicans. In forcing this issue on the Senate by trying to hide it in another bill, Reid & Pelosi wanted to use a down vote as a cudgel to bash Republicans. Instead the issue has been put to rest and will be forgotten by 2012.
It remains to be determined if the repeal of DADT will have any affect on morale or military preparedness. Military members and veterans are as divided on this as politicians and the general public on its effects. It might be useful to read the thoughts of an actual gay military man. Those expecting scenes reminiscent of the Monty Python’s “Swanning About Sketch” will be disappointed.
“For the majority (based on my experience) of gay troops, our lives will likely not change much on a day-to-day basis. I, for one, am not planning to “come out” to anybody save a few close friends where I work. I’m expecting, in fact, that they likely know about me anyway.”
This issue has been decided and is no longer viable. It may be the ones to benefit from this politically, which ever your take on the issue, are Republicans.
