i wish they had kicked her off too.

only because i don't know why taxpayers should for a plane ticket for the spouse of a politician.
Rob | Homepage | 04.02.08 - 11:47 am | #

I'm confused as to how this has anything to do with "Don't Ask Don't Tell". Yes, it's a ridiculous policy, no matter what side of the issue you stand on.

But neither Rep. Baldwin, nor her lady friend, are in the military. The policy simply doesn't apply to them. It's quite reasonable to take the Pentagon at its word here - House rules don't allow a "domestic partner" to travel on a CoDel. I haven't read them in a while, but if memory serves, they're limited to spouses and adult children.

If Nancy, et al want domestic partners to be able to travel on CoDel's, change the rules.

I have MUCH more of a problem with what happened here in the alternative - in effect, the rule was bent for someone, because she was able to pressure the SecDef personally.

Do you think that rule (or a similiar one) would be bent for you and I if we didn't have the Speaker and/or SecDef on speed dial? Fat chance.

As an aside, I have a good friend who is a civilian DoD employee. Who speaks often of how annoying the flamboyantly gay guy in his office is every Monday morning - talking in DETAIL about his (male) conquests over the weekend. And the guy still works there. Because Don't Ask, Don't Tell doesn't apply to civilians - be they Representatives or employees.
Displaced New Orleanian | 04.03.08 - 1:40 pm | #