Maj. Ldr. Reid (D-NV)
In a bit of a reversal from his back-seat, wait-on-the-House view last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today said that he would support a permanent moratorium on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell investigations.
From The Washington Blade, Reid’s comments today:
“I feel on this issue that we’re having trouble, we’re having trouble getting people into the military and I think that we shouldn’t turn down anybody that’s willing to fight for our country — certainly based on sexual orientation. I feel strongly that — I support the president. I support the members of the Joint Chiefs who have not spoken out publicly. If Kirsten [Gillibrand] offers this amendment I will support it, at least as far as I understand it. What you’ve just told me, it would basically change the current policy for 18 months, is that right? I would support that. My only difference I would have is I would make it permanent.”
I’ll have more later, but I didn’t want to miss this development. I discussed Gillibrand’s possible amendment here.
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Chris Geidner is the award-winning senior political editor at D.C.'s Metro Weekly and has written for The Atlantic Online, The American Prospect, Advocate.com, Salon and other publications, as well as at his blog, Law Dork. In 2011, he received the Excellence in News Writing Award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his coverage of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. Prior to moving to D.C. in 2009, he served as an attorney on the senior staff at the Ohio Attorney General's Office and had earlier worked for a leading Columbus law firm. An extended biography can be found
Though a permanent moratorium is not a repeal, it’s still a start.