TPM LiveWire
Hatch: I'm Open To Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Ben Frumin | February 3, 2010, 2:07PM
Share
Send to a friend!
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said on MSNBC moments ago that he's open to repealing the military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy -- which prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military, and prevents recruiters from asking about sexuality.
Hatch said that members of the military "shouldn't have to lie about being gay" before acknowledging an argument often touted by opponents of repealing the current policy.
I think a lot of people are concerned that if you do away with the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that literally then they'll come back and ask for special rights and preference and privileges that others don't have. I don't see that either, so like I say, I just plain to do not believe in prejudice of any kind.
Andrea Mitchell pressed Hatch: would he be willing to vote to change the policy?
"I don't know about that," he said. "I'd have to look at it."
I can see why people on both sides are upset. I just wanna do what's right.
Mitchell closed the interview by saying she would categorize Hatch as someone who was open to changing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"I am," he said.
Here's the video:
Comments (13) | Join the Conversation!
Leave a comment
Follow us!
Most Popular
TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com
TPM Top News
© 2010 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
nova voter
February 3, 2010 2:32 PM
Bee. Ess.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
docrocktex
February 3, 2010 2:34 PM
GOPers will not just come out and say they're for anything on the Dem's agenda and at the same time prove it by actually voting for our legislation. Hatch is pathetic. If he supports a repeal, then he should be able to say he'll vote to repeal it. He acts as if he needs to look into it instead, and by the way, what does that even mean? This has been an issue for 17 years! Gosh they make me sick.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
jolly ranchero
February 3, 2010 2:40 PM
Watch Orin completely 180 that view the minute he gets off that TV. Cant be a solid pol in Utah if you favor gays.
Not a chance he ends up supporting this if forced to a vote.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
MikeE
February 3, 2010 3:08 PM in reply to jolly ranchero
Moran Orrin is Lucy holdin' that football, waiting for a blockhead to give it a run.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
glblank
February 3, 2010 2:49 PM
Special Rights, didn't we end that bullshit with Brown v the Board of Education. Leave it to Hatch to resurrect that bullshit. And forget Stare Decisis in a Roberts court. Intellectual Filth.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
glblank
February 3, 2010 2:52 PM
Repugs are looking to frame the issue in their own narrow, restrictive semantics. This shit is getting the Fox treatment very soon.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Marinus van der Lubbe
February 3, 2010 3:12 PM
Maybe he wants to team up with Pete Burns and do a CD?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Sailormarlowe
February 3, 2010 6:03 PM in reply to Marinus van der Lubbe
Hatch open? Sounds like your act, fan der Lube. Heh heh.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Marinus van der Lubbe
February 3, 2010 6:07 PM in reply to Sailormarlowe
OMG...slitting my wrists in the face of such acerbic and telling wit...
Please, when you finally take the penis out of your mouth for the day, dont write me as youre in such a state of stupefaction you dont even know what youre saying.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
farnsworth
February 3, 2010 6:12 PM in reply to Sailormarlowe
Boy, you really have sex on the brain these last couple of days. Not only are you stupid, you are a sick fuck.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
jeffgee
February 3, 2010 3:58 PM
Has Johnny Walnuts confronted him about it yet?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
des
February 3, 2010 7:16 PM
Hatch is afraid that the repeal will be part of the Defense Appropriations Bill for 2011 (which would be hard to vote against; not impossible, but definitely hard), so he's fluttering the "bi-partisan" flag to see how many pathetically mis-named "moderate" Democrats he can snare into supporting a separate bill for repeal of DADT. He knows full well that a separate bill won't even get to the Senate floor. And that crap about "some people" fearing gays/lesbians might ask for "special rights" is both disgusting and interesting as it gives a window into his thinking: Instead of viewing repeal of DADT as removing a form of discrimination, allowing gays/lesbians to serve openly in the US military is giving them special rights. The "right" not to be discriminated against is "special? Who knew?
I thought Hatch was a lawyer; has Regents been open THAT long?
I say ruin his day; include the repeal in the 2011 Defense Appropriations Bill and let him vote against THAT if he wants to!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Tosh
May 21, 2010 5:05 PM
He knows full well that a separate bill won't even get to the Senate floor. And that crap about "some people" fearing gays/lesbians might ask for "special rights" is both disgusting and interesting as it gives a window into his thinking: Instead of viewing repeal of DADT as removing a form of discrimination, allowing gays/lesbians to serve openly in the US military is giving them special rights. The "right" not to be discriminated against is "special? Who knew?
cialis lovegra
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?