Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies, applauded Monday's news that Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) would soon be introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Liberals are perplexed at Lieberman's move after his resistance to Democratic orthodoxy on issues like health care reform, reports CBS News.
The surprise came by way of an interview given to James Kirchick for an article published overnight by the New York Daily News.
"This is yet another historic step for the movement to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law and a welcomed moment for the tens of thousands of men and women who continue to be impacted by this unnecessary and outdated law," said Alexander Nicholson, a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the current Executive Director of Servicemembers United.
"We are exceedingly proud of the courage and leadership that Senator Lieberman is showing, and we strongly urge the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress to proactively support Senator Lieberman's forthcoming bill."
"I will be proud to be a sponsor of the important effort to enable patriotic gay Americans to defend our national security and our founding values of freedom and opportunity," Lieberman said Monday.
"To exclude one group of Americans from serving in the armed forces is contrary to our fundamental principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and weakens our defenses by denying our military the service of a large group of Americans who can help our cause," he added.
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