On the recordDecember 18, 2010
I rise to ask my colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to support this cloture motion. The fact is that removing a form of legalized discrimination from our books, allowing people to serve our military regardless of sexual orientation, is not a liberal or conservative idea; it is not a Republican or Democratic idea; it is an American idea consistent with American values. We have come to a point in our history, I hope, where neither race nor religion, ethnicity nor gender nor sexual orientation should deprive Americans of serving our country as the patriots that they are. This measure would accomplish that result in an orderly way to be determined by the leaders of our military when they decide that the military is ready to implement the change, repeal don't ask, don't tell, without negative effect on military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and military morale. It is time to right a wrong and put the military in line with the best of American values.
