Senators Boxer and Feinstein Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., center, listens to comments by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010, to push for the repeal of the military Don't Ask Don't Tell rule. Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del. is at right. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Both of California's senators joined several of their Democratic colleagues yesterday at a press conference in Washington DC calling for the Senate to immediately repeal the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
In her remarks, Sen, Dianne Feinstein (D) said:
I'm an 18-year member of the Judiciary Committee. I’m not a lawyer, but I believe in my heart of hearts that "Don’t ask, don’t tell" is unconstitutional. And as a matter of fact, a federal district court has found that, in fact, this is the case. The reason is simple: this policy treats the same class of people differently, and that, I think, deprives them of their right to equality under the law. Additionally, as has been said, this policy denies our nation good talent. That’s just plain wrong.Feinstein went on to mention two Bronze Star recipients who were discharged for their sexuality, as well as the discharges of Steve Benjamin, and Tustin native Dan Choi, who has become the face of the campaign to repeal DADT.
"This law is unconstitutional," concluded Feinstein, "and the Senate should take action before the Supreme Court and make the record crystal clear that we agree."
Among the dozen other high-profile Democratic senators was the recently re-elected Barbara Boxer, who called the move to repeal DADT "a no-brainer," and reflected on the nation's history of moving towards equality.
"America is behind us repealing this," remarked Boxer. "I’ve seen numbers that range from 75 percent for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to 78 percent support (for repeal), so we are speaking for the majority—a clear majority of the people."
Boxer's full remarks are included in the video below: