We’ve received no response from Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s office to our weeks-old inquiry about whether she’ll support an amendment that would begin the process of repealing “don’t ask don’t tell.” But local activist Elizabeth Parker says she did receive a response from Hutchison’s office, and she’s forwarded it along to us.
In her response to Parker, Hutchison doesn’t say whether she’ll vote for or against the amendment, which is expected to arrive on the Senate floor this summer. But Hutchison does indicate she’s concerned that “a drastic change in the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy could hurt morale, recruitment, retention, and overall combat readiness at a time when our armed forces need to maintain a strong presence at home and abroad.” Hutchison also says she wants to hear from “present and former leaders of our military how they expect this change in policy to impact the military.”
As we said before, considering her recent record on gay rights, we’re pretty sure she’ll join fellow Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn in voting against the amendment. But local gay veteran and DADT repeal advocate Dave Gainer has cautioned us before not to give up on Hutchison just yet. So once more, if you’d like to call her office about DADT repeal, the number is 202-224-5922.
Read Hutchison’s full letter to Parker after the jump.
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding homosexuals serving in our Armed Forces. I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Officials from the Department of Defense previously testified before Congress that the current policy has served the military well. However, in recent months, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has publicly stated his support for repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy pending the results of an internal Pentagon review of the policy.
Our military has obligations around the world, including a surge in troop force as we intensify efforts to topple the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. I, along with many others, am concerned that a drastic change in the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy could hurt morale, recruitment, retention, and overall combat readiness at a time when our armed forces need to maintain a strong presence at home and abroad. I would like to hear from present and former leaders of our military how they expect this change in policy to impact the military.
On May 27, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 on a 234-194 vote. The amendment would repeal the relevant sections of the law 60 days after a study by the U.S. Department of Defense is completed, if the study indicates that repeal of the policy would not harm military effectiveness.
On the same day, the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced an identical measure in a 16-12 vote. The measure is to be included in the Senate version of the Defense Authorization Act. A final defense authorization bill must still come before each chamber of Congress for final passage, and it must be signed by the President before the law is repealed.
Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator
So the Dallas Voice uses a flattering picture of Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and an unflattering one of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?
Your texas log-cabin roots are showing. Guess we can’t expect more of a state that gave us George Bush(s).
Tom,
I don’t think there could be a group of folks that bleeds more blue than the Dallas Voice. Does the picture they choose really reflect partisanship? Stop being paranoid, sir.
Hillary has never been accused of being hot, Tom
It is a joke to think that ANY Republican in TEXAS is going to vote pro gay on ANYTHING.
It is a fact. Texas will be considered redneck and hillbilly until we get some Dems back in power and stop kicking our friends like Hillary to the curb.
Hutchinson…..Sessions…Perry….Barton…Armey….Wick Allison………will all stand in the way of gay rights and be made heroes for doing so.
Oh please, after she was beaten so bad in the last election, can you imagine that she will support the repeal.
I don’t know. Does Kay really have any other look than the soulless, dead-eyed airhead one shes been rocking for 20 years now?
Get out much? In the political blogging world, using an unflattering picture absolutely reflects partisinship. There are countless entries written about it, and for the Dallas Voice to use the picture of Hillary Clinton that they have used is not what I call, “bleeding blue.”
as for hijacking this thread, who cares, screw KBH.