Lawrence O’Donnell invited Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans, Clarke Cooper on his show to discuss prospects for legislative repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the lame duck. In brief, possible, but there’s very little time on the clock.
(Don’t you wish you could just go home, whether the job was done or not? That hasn’t been MY employment experiences over the years. Senator Reid seems like a great boss.)
Lawrence frames his questioning by calling McCain’s position “transparently fraudulently,” a bait that Cooper declines to take, breezing right past it. Cooper expresses his confidence that, if the leaks of the Pentagon report prove to be true:
“…once the comprehensive review is published and shared with members of congress, I do believe that he will come around and do the right thing.”
My faith in the good will of John McCain and of Republicans in general, is perhaps, substantially less than that of Cooper. But let’s hope he’s right. The fate of legislative repeal pretty much rests in them being complicit or Harry Reid playing some serious hardball, like keep Senate in session right through Christmas if necessary. They can filibuster their bigotry right through the Baby Jesus’ birthday if Reid wants to take a stand.
Another interesting question O’Donnell brings up is:
“Is there any Democrat who’s willing to filibuster the bill if it does not have a repeal of don’t ask don’t tell in it?”
Cooper appropriately doesn’t comment, because, well, he’s a Republican, and likely doesn’t have any insight into what Democratic strategies exist.
It does seem like a good question to put to our Democratic leaders: Will you use the filibuster on any NDAA bill that does not include repeal?
Pam’s House Blend – Front Page
