But every once in awhile politicians and the political process can surprise you. A great deal of credit goes to Harry Reid. He could have just as easily let this matter drop but didn’t.
One of the best lines Reid used was this:
“As Barry Goldwater said, ‘You don’t have to be straight to shoot straight,’ “ said Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), referring to the late GOP senator from Arizona.
And if Barry Goldwater, Mr. Conservative no less, can see how silly the policy was then anyone should see how silly it is.
More on Reid’s strategy:
Recall what happened before the vote on the defense authorization bill containing DADT repeal was blocked by the GOP. Reid made a whole range of concessions to GOP moderates, bringing them to the brink of casting a Yes vote. When it became clear that Susan Collins’s procedural demands risked throwing the lame-duck session into chaos, Reid’s decision to fast-track the vote — even though vote counters knew it would not pass if he did — was roundly criticized.
In retrospect, it turns out Reid’s gamble worked. Scheduling that first vote allowed moderates the room to register their procedural objections with a No vote. As Reid knew, he could then schedule a second, stand-alone vote, giving the moderates a bit more time and maneuvering room (and another round of meetings with military leaders) to come around to the Yes camp.
There will be few bumps in the road. Any sort of trouble will be jumped on by the people opposing the policy most notably John McCain (who’s tone becomes more and more shrill everyday on every single issue). But that will pass.
More important is the soldiers who won’t be lost with DADT. With man power at a premium, with our troops stretched, DADT made no sense. With it gone it will help with both of those problems. The military in the end will better off with the policy gone. And if I do say so it’s about time.
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