Barney Frank: “First let's strip away the smoke screen: the argument that we are holding up the defense bill. It passed this House over…”

“First let's strip away the smoke screen: the argument that we are holding up the defense bill. It passed this House over the objection of almost every Republican, and it has twice been filibustered in the Senate when the Senate leadership tried to bring it up. It is the Republican Party that has been holding it up because of their opposition to a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. So let's talk about the merits. First of all, we are told it would be a distraction to repeal it. It is a grave distraction to maintain it. People have said, the gentleman from Texas: Well, we know there are gay and lesbian people now serving. That's right. What they are telling us, Mr. Speaker, is let's have people serving who are in fear of being thrown out. How much of a distraction is that? What sense does it make to say, okay, you come in here but we are going to watch you, and you may get kicked out? And what about the money that is spent? What about the good people that are lost, translators and others? The maintenance of this policy is the distraction. The repeal of it would not be. Why are we told repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell would be a problem? People keep quoting Colin Powell. Let me quote him from 20 years ago when I asked him about this. I asked him if the problem was that gay and lesbian and bisexual members of the military weren't good at their jobs. He said: No, that is absolutely not the case.…”