Retiring Senator Joe Lieberman includes
repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” in listing his proudest
legislative achievements.
The 70-year-old Lieberman, a Democrat
turned independent from Connecticut, played a key role in passage of
legislation that ended the military policy which for 18 years made it
illegal for gay and bisexual troops to serve openly. The policy
ended the military careers of more than 14,000 service members.
In his farewell address, Lieberman said
America had moved closer “to the more perfect union our founders
sought, becoming a more free and open society in ways I would guess
those same founders never could have imaged.”
“Barriers of discrimination and
bigotry that just a few decades ago seemed immovable have been
broken. And doors of opportunity have been opened wider for all
Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, age or disability,” Lieberman said.
“When I look back at my own career,
the legislative achievements I'm proudest of being part of – like
passing the clean air act in 1990, stopping the genocide in the
Balkans, creating the 9-11 commission, and the Department of Homeland
Security, reforming the intelligence community, reorganizing FEMA and
repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' – all were achieved only because
a critical mass of Democrats and Republicans found common ground.”
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