Los Angeles 9th
Los Angeles city council became the ninth major US City calling for the repeal of the homophobic Clinton policy of DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell). The bill in Congress supposedly has over 120 co-sponsors, yet as usual, it lays languishing in limbo. I suppose partly because we all know Herr Bush will wield the mighty VETO PEN.
In a unanimous vote this week city council approved a resolution calling on Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the legislation that would end the ban signed into law during the Clinton administration. (source)
It amazes me how so many object to this measure, this law of discrimination, yet they focus on George Bush as being Homophobic, while giving Hilary Clinton near Sainthood Status, for her ALLEGED SUPPORT of Gay Rights. I mean this piece of garbage legislation was ENACTED BY HER HUSBAND, and does anyone really believe it was done AGAINST her own beliefs?
Not like she supports Same Sex Marriage, now does she?
Yet at the same time, this RACIST LEGISLATION has cost over $360 Million and has put a strain on the Military need of specialized people. Since CLINTON came up with this law, it is estimated that over 12000 people have been summarily turfed, denied their benefits, because they are Gay.
A report prepared by the Government Accountability Office shows that nearly 800 people with skills deemed ‘mission-critical’ by the Pentagon have been dismissed under the law, including more than 322 language experts, at least 58 of whom specialized in Arabic.
The GAO said that DADT has cost American taxpayers more than $364 million since it was implemented. (source)
You would think this would be a ‘no brainer‘. Given the need, the desire to give the best support money can buy for the Troops, that the last thing you would do is deny them ‘mission critical personnel‘. But then again, guess not. Even though supposedly 3 out 4 surveyed military personnel, including veterans of Iraq, have no problem with Gays in their unit.
Still, it would be nice if this so called Democratic Congress would pull its finger out of its ass, and get on track to passing legislation it promised in 2006. Veto or not.
