The homophobes are feeling emboldened these days.
On September 21st, two Democrats voted against ending the GOP filibuster of the Defense Authorization bill: Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln from Arkansas.
Looks like Pryor will vote with the GOPers on the filibuster again, because of DADT. He supports that law and thinks being gay is a sin. Via Max Brantley at the Arkansas Times:
You supply the adjectives for U.S. Sens. Lame Duck Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. I’d asked them for positions on repeal of the ban on gay military service last week. Lincoln repeated the same ringing support for the concept that she’d given shortly before joining Pryor as the only two Democrats joining a filibuster against repeal. She still won’t say she’ll vote for repeal no matter what.
Pryor, who dodged my question entirely, now tells the Democrat-Gazette that he opposes repeal; that he thinks homosexuality is a sin and that he has reservations about housing gay troops with straight troops (as if this hasn’t occurred forever). He’s been fully indoctrinated by the Religious Right’s false arguments — that military chaplains won’t be able to continue to preach morally justifiable discrimination; that gays are just lying in wait to assault straight soldiers if only given the cover of open service. Pryor, at his core, is a Religious Righter, so I get it (though why he’s fiddled around in coming out until now, I don’t know). But what possible reason is there for Lincoln to be hesitant to do right, for once, without the wobble? Take a cue from Brian Muller and woman up, senator.
Brian Muller is an Arkansan who was discharged under DADT. His story was profiled in the Democrat-Gazette. That’s where Pryor expressed his views on DADT and the sin of being gay.
The Democrat-Gazette charges to view online content. So, I paid the $.99 to read the full article. Pryor is a just a right-wing bigot. Despite the thorough Pentagon report, which will be released tomorrow, “Pryor said the armed services should deliberate a bit longer before making any policy changes.” He also said he doesn’t want to be “judgmental,” although “he said he considers homosexuality a sin.”
Pryor is up for reelection in 2012, so he’s basically becoming a Republican. And, we wonder why young kids think there is something wrong with them when a Democrat in the U.S. Senate tells them they are sinners.
Mark Pryor should be ashamed. And, Blanche Lincoln should do the right thing — for a change.
If Pryor won’t vote for cloture on the Defense Authorization bill, he’s putting his homophobia above the needs of our troops and our national security. Also, that means we’ll need three Republicans to get to 60. Mark Kirk got sworn in today, so the Democratic caucus is now at 58.
