HOUSE REJECTS "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" – AT 7:58 A.M. ET:  The House voted to permit the military to abolish the "don't ask, don't tell" rule regarding gays in the service:

 WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to let the Defense Department repeal the ban on gay and bisexual people from serving openly in the military, a major step toward dismantling the 1993 law widely known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The provision would allow military commanders to repeal the ban. The repeal would permit gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military for the first time.

It was adopted as an amendment to the annual Pentagon policy bill, which the House is expected to vote on Friday. The repeal would be allowed 60 days after a Pentagon report is completed on the ramifications of allowing openly gay service members, and military leaders certify that it would not be disruptive. The report is due by Dec. 1.

The full Senate is expected to take up the measure soon.

At the same time, the Senate rejected a demand from Sen. John McCain that more troops be sent to secure the southern border:

Senate Democrats managed Thursday to block deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, but the proposal still garnered a majority of senators, showing widespread support for a border-security-first strategy and underscoring why President Obama is having difficulty trying to win an immigration-legalization bill.

Ah, yes, abolish "don't ask, don't tell," but refuse to send more troops to the border.  Our soldiers may not be sent on too many useful missions by the Obama administration, but at least we know they'll be fabulous.

May 28, 2010