Ending DADT: Patrick Murphy Kicks Ass

Look, okay, I am fully up front about the fact that I am wholly biased when it comes to freshman Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-8). I'm proud to call him a friend, but if possible, even prouder today.

For the first time since the policy was implemented in 1993, the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee held a hearing today to review the disgraceful "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy which prevents GLBT Americans from serving openly in our armed forces.  One of the witnesses was Elaine Donnelly, President of the "Center for Military Readiness," who Pam Spaulding has properly identified as someone who "has never served in the military, and admits she has no qualifications or expertise on sexuality."

And after her inane testimony, Congress' only Iraq veteran was ready:

Let's remember the facts:

• Nearly 800 specialists with critical skills have been fired from the military under DADT, including several linguists who speak Arabic.
• U.S. taxpayers have paid $250 million to investigate and root out patriotic servicemen and women under DADT and as much as $1.2 billion in lost recruiting and training costs.
• More than two-thirds of civilians support allowing gays to serve openly in the military. And despite the fear-mongering about unit morale, nearly 3 in 4 troops say they are personally comfortable serving side-by-side with gays and lesbians.

More on today's hearing here.  DADT must end. Period.  Full stop.

•  tips, recs, etc.

  Watch the video, rec it up.  This is what Better Democrats do.

  by Adam B on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:54:07 PM PDT

  •  I Am With You On Murphy....

    I don't give a rats ass that he doesn't always vote the way I want him to (Note to all purity trolls: no member of Congress ever will).

    He is a brilliant guy, and a natural presence. He kicks ass, indeed.

    by Steve Singiser on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:50:18 PM PDT

•  I saw part of it

  including when Donnelly was rescued because Murphy was out of time.  Had it not ended because of lack of time, I wonder whether a mercy killing might have been in order.

  Oh, like you, I am biased on this one.  I don't now Patrick as well as you, but was delighted to do what I could (blogging, some policy advice, a bit of $$) to help with his campaign, went both to his party on Ivy Street and then to his office, and was delighted to see him come to the Netroots Celebration in Dupont Circle the idea for which originated with Rep. Brad Miller.

  by teacherken on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:58:56 PM PDT

  •  he's on our side

    He comes to Drinking Liberally when he can, among other things.  

    by Adam B on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:15:35 PM PDT

    •  That Could Just Be For The Drinking... :) N/T

      by Steve Singiser on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:51:03 PM PDT

    •  Could be he needs a few after sitting with

      some of those other congress critters!

      by SallyCat on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:57:11 PM PDT

      •  And a distemper shot.

        by homogenius on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:07:40 PM PDT

•  Forced cohabitation?

  What a hedgehog

  by alasmoses on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:02:07 PM PDT

  •  I liked how she tried to raise issue

    of woman assaulted by lesbians.  On that basis should whites be kicked out because blacks have been assaulted by KKK and skinheads?

    by teacherken on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:05:59 PM PDT

•  Murphy is great

  Was reading about him recently, very impressive background. Definitely a rising star in the party.

  by jj32 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:02:58 PM PDT

•  Go Murphy!

  Ending DADT is long overdue. With people like Patrick Murphy fighting the fight it soon will happen.

  by Populista on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:07:45 PM PDT

•  www.murphy08.com

  Anyone who wants to help keep this superstar in the Congress can donate here.

  by Jeffrey Feldman on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:07:57 PM PDT

•  Great link...and great congressman!

  What a wonderful progressive...and having served as enlisted a lifetime ago no big deal. I knew women I served with that were lesbians. We just didn't talk about it...except one that was awesome back in basic and MP school with me!

  You're right DADT must go.

  by SallyCat on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:10:47 PM PDT

•  This woman Ms Donnelly, gives an argument can

  be used to bar women from serving as well. pathetic;
  Murphy does a great job of showing the holes in her argument

  by alieninamerica on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:20:07 PM PDT

•  I saw Jim Webb on Charlie Rose the other night...

  ...talking about his (previous?) opposition to reversing DADT on the grounds that the reversal should emanate from the military and not from the government. Obviously the policy needs to be changed ASAP and it seems, given the data above, that members of the military are generally pro ending DADT. Does what Webb said hold any water? Would there be resistance to such a reversal if it came from Congress and not the military?

  by Scipione on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:34:21 PM PDT

  •  Only if our military is inferior.

    Among all our major allies (including the UK, Canada, and Israel) the government issued an order to allow LGBT people to serve openly and the military complied. It has been the biggest yawn never heard.

    by homogenius on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:43:47 PM PDT

•  Wow. I love to see good people taking a stand

  against bigotry.

  He's clearly one of the good ones.

  by Femlaw on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:36:56 PM PDT

•  I was shocked by Shays

  He gave Donnelly an excellent smack down. I didn't realize there were any Republicans with any sense at all.

  She seems terrified that the gays are going to turn the military into one big orgy.

  But I liked Murphy a lot. We need more like him. :)

  by cassidy3 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:37:34 PM PDT

•  Wow Murphy was great.

  He was articulate, strong, respectful and forceful.  And he tried hard not to let Donnelly (what a robot) to misinterpret his question.

  Did you notice how she mispronounced Automaton?  She said "Auto-MAY-ton."  I giggled.

  by ItsJessMe on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:31:17 PM PDT

•  no, this is great

  so, Sargeat Yoss was assaulted by a group of lesbians and Donnelly thinks that that justifies the position that gays shouldn't serve openly.

  Well, there are plenty of instances of heterosexual assault/rape in our military as well.  Does that mean that straight men shouldn't serve either?

  My blog. Come visit.

  by hekebolos on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:03:46 PM PDT

•  Just got home from work

  and I'm glad that I caught this before it scrolled off the page.  I think he did an excellent job on his cross examination or follow up or whatever it is called.  I particularly liked the fact that he kept hanging the unprofessional label on Donnelly's testimony.  It was a pleasure to watch.  Thank you for posting this diary.

  by sobermom on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:09:30 PM PDT

•  Thanks for this, Adam. n/t

  by Kirochka on Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 08:28:58 AM PDT