Conservative Dem Mark Pryor Signs On To DADT Repeal, Calls For Vote This Year

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor (AR), long on the fence about the future of the military's ban on openly gay service members, has come down on the side of repeal.

"On many previous occasions, I have said that I would oppose repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell until I had heard from our servicemen and women regarding this policy," Pryor said in a brief statement this morning. "I have now carefully reviewed all of the findings, reports, and testimony from our armed forces on this matter and I accept the Pentagon's recommendations to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Pryor was one of the few Democrats whose support of repealing DADT was not assured. A growing number of Democrats are supporting keeping the Senate on Capitol Hill longer than scheduled to see a vote on repealing DADT, and Pryor says he "will support procedural measures to bring it to a vote this year."

Though Pryor's public backing of repeal gives credibility to Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) past statements that repeal supporters have the 60 votes they need to force cloture on the defense spending bill with DADT repeal attached to it, the focus on how to move the bill remains on Republicans like Susan Collins (ME), who's said she'll vote for repealing DADT after a long period of debate and amendments on the defense bill.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/conservative-democrat-signs-on-to-dadt-repeal-calls-for-vote-this-year.php?ref=fpi

[MineralMan]

1. Good! Let's do it now!

[sabra]

2. Arkansas Democrat (Sen. Mark Pryor) flips to support 'Don't Ask' repeal

Source: MSNBC

Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor says he will no longer oppose the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Pryor told NBC today he has come to accept this is a military policy and while not setting aside the "moral aspects" believes the Pentagon is prepared to make the transition. He acknowledges support for the repeal is not particularly popular in his home state.

Pryor also said he is unsure the repeal as part of a large Defense Authorization bill will actually make it to the Senate floor before the end of the year. He said regardless he wanted his constituents to know he is prepared to support it now.

Here's his written statement:

"On many previous occasions, I have said that I would oppose repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell until I had heard from our servicemen and women regarding this policy. I have now carefully reviewed all of the findings, reports, and testimony from our armed forces on this matter and I accept the Pentagon's recommendations to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I also accept the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs' commitment that this policy can be implemented in a manner that does not harm our military's readiness, recruitment, or retention. We have the strongest military in the world and we will continue to do so by ensuring our troops have the resources necessary to carry out their missions. Therefore, I support the 2011 Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate Armed Services Committee and will support procedural measures to bring it to a vote this year."


Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/08/5611437-arkansas-democrat-flips-to-support-dont-ask-repeal

[LiberalArkie]

3. Wal-mart and big business must be supporting the repeal now.

[Tippy]

4. K&R

[TwilightGardener]

5. Good. He has a conscience, maybe.