The U.S. House passed a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on Wednesday by a vote of 250 to 175 and the bill will now go to the Senate for approval. Rep. Tim Walz spoke out the Hopuse floor before the vote asking his colleagues to vote for the repeal. He called Republican arguments that soldiers on the ground wouldn’t be able to handle serving next to gays and lesbians offensive. Rep. Keith Ellison also praised the vote calling it a failed policy.
Reps. Walz and Ellison voted for the repeal along with Reps. Betty McCollum and James Oberstar. Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann, John Kline, and Erik Paulsen voted no along with Rep. Collin Peterson who was one of only 15 Democrats to vote against repeal.
Rep. Walz had strong words for his colleague prior to the vote.
“I am offended by the idea and the notion that they are able to handle change in policy,” Walz told his House colleagues. “These men and women make up the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. They accept and complete missions every day that require incredible discipline and bravery.”
He called for the repeal saying that DADT was harming, not helping, the military.
“This discriminatory policy is hurting our military readiness and weakening our nation, such as releasing dozens of Arabic linguists simply because they were homosexual,” he said. “Serving in the military we believe in duty, honor and country. asking these brave people to lie goes against all of our value. Our military heroes know it’s time to end this policy, the American people know it’s time to end this policy.”
Following the vote, Ellison released this statement:
I am proud to cast an historic vote today to end the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. This failed policy is responsible for the discharge of over 13,000 highly qualified Americans from our military and is forcing an estimated 65,000 more service members to lie about who they are.
At a time when we’re asking America’s finest men and women to fight two wars, often over multiple tours, we cannot afford to exclude competent soldiers because they refuse to lie about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Today, I joined the overwhelming majority of Americans, Minnesotans and military leaders — including President Obama, our Commander-in-Chief, and Defense Secretary Gates – in supporting an end to this detrimental policy.
Senate Republicans have disgracefully blocked this repeal, opting instead to comfort millionaires and billionaires with tax breaks. The brave men and women — both gay and straight — who sacrifice in service to our country deserve better from their elected leaders.
On the other side of the aisle, there was one member whose speech is raising eyebrows. Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas said allowing gays and lesbians to serve would destroy the nation. He said:
“To my friend who said that history would judge us poorly, I would submit if you would look thoroughly at history — and I’m not saying it’s cause and effect — but when militaries throughout history of the greatest nations in the world have adopted the policy that “fine for homosexuality to be overt” — you can keep it private and control your hormones fine, if you can’t, that’s fine too — they’re toward the end of their existence as a great nation.”