Lieberman Comes Through On Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Editorial
The Hartford Courant
December 23, 2010

Gay Ban Repealed: Connecticut moderate didn't take a left turn, but upheld his principles

U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman pleased opponents of "don't ask, don't tell," the policy that bans gay men and women from serving openly in the military. He was instrumental in the repeal Saturday, when the Senate retired "don't ask" to a dark corner of the nation's history on a 65-31 vote.

But did he change the minds of liberals and moderates likely to abandon him if he runs for re-election in 2012? That's doubtful.

Repeal advocate Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, voiced the feelings of many when she lauded the Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent: "He's certainly one of my heroes today. His determination, his tenacity, has kept this going all year. This would have not happened without Sen. Lieberman."

Mr. Lieberman's consequential role has lately been the subject of speculation by those who think he's used the "don't ask, don't tell" issue to reach out to Democrats long unhappy with his hawkish foreign policy views and his support of Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.

His hard work on behalf of the fair treatment of gay and lesbian service members had nothing to do with crass political calculations.

The idea that gay service members should be able to serve openly in the military is broadly popular among voters and, according to a Pentagon study, will be accepted by a large majority in the military ranks. But it's probably not a game-changing issue among most voters. His advocacy probably doesn't help Mr. Lieberman recoup Democratic support that has eroded for other reasons.

But Mr. Lieberman's work was essential in getting repeal through Congress, by calming jittery senators and peeling away deep institutional resistance to change that clings like mold to Capitol Hill and among the officer corps.

He did it not because it would help him politically but because he believed in the cause.

Mr. Lieberman's long record shows that he believes in equality before the law. To him, commendably, this was a civil rights issue worth fighting for.

Link: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-lieberman-gay-ban-repeal-hero-120101223,0,4100781.story