Republicans Hurt in 2012 by Failure on 9/11 Health, DADT, DREAM Act

Despite whiny protests by a handful of Republicans aggrieved at having to work a week before Christmas, the U.S. Senate will take up a number of vital bills this weekend that address the very core of American values:

• Don't Ask, Don't Tell, which would allow gay Americans to openly serve in the U.S. military.

• The DREAM Act, which would provide legal residency to upstanding, educated minors brought to this country illegally as young children by their parents. The minors would be required to attend college of join the military.

• The START Treaty, which is a Strategic Arms Reduction Agreement between the U.S. and Russia. START 1 expired on December 5, 2009. President Obama negotiated and signed START 2 on April 8, 2010. The Senate must ratify the treaty.

To all liberals, it's abundantly obvious that these bills should be passed and swiftly implemented into law:

• DADT and the DREAM Act legislation aim to ensure justice and fairness in American life.
• The START treaty aims to ensure continued peace, and common sense arms reduction, between two of the most armed nations in the world.

But one bill has been shamefully, cruelly blocked by Republicans and, thus far, omitted from the 111th Senate's last gasp agenda: the "James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010," which is "named after a first responder who died from a respiratory disease attributed to his rescue efforts on the morning of the Sept. 11 terror attack," per Media Matters.

Briefly, the bill extends medical care coverage for first responders (firefighters, police officers, public safety personnel, clean-up workers) to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a result of exposure to harmful toxins released on 9/11, responders are suffering a high rate of cancers and cardiac and respiratory diseases.

The House passed the 9/11 Responders Health Act by a strong bipartisan vote of 268 to 160.

In a conscience-shocking display of callousness, Senate Republicans filibustered last week to block this bill from a vote by the full Senate. Describes ThinkProgress.org:

"Not one Republican senator came to the floor to explain why the desperately needed, fully paid-for compensation didn't deserve to pass. When Fox News' Don Imus pressed Sen. John Thune (R-SD) for an explanation, Thune said the tax cuts are a bigger priority because 'there is a deadline.' And when first responders came to the Senate to advocate for the bill yesterday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) actually called the Capitol police on them to prevent a sit-in."

Hopefully riding to the rescue of this humanitarian legislation, Jon Stewart skillfully skewered Senate Republicans last night by devoting his entire Daily Show to:

• Four ailing first-responder heroes from 9/11 who spoke of their actions that day, of their deep devotion to America and Americans, and who shared about their crippling health concerns stemming from 9/11.
• Republican Mike Huckabee, an ordained pastor whose father was a firefighter, who told Stewart, "Every Republican should vote for this bill... I wish that the Republicans would say, 'we'll fight the battle.'"

Passage of the "James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010" is about decency and about taking responsibility. About the character of the United States, and especially, about the character of the U.S. Senate.

I agree with others who've blogged today that it was an honor to listen to Jon Stewart's Daily Show guests last night. It's an honor and privilege to be served by Americans patriots such as those four men and their comrades.

As New York City Mayor Bloomberg commented when the House passed the 9/11 Responders Health Act:

"Today's vote acknowledges that the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks were an attack on America, and addressing its health impacts is a national duty. This bill recognizes that the country should be there for the tens of thousands of responders who were there for us on 9/11."

Passage of DADT, the DREAM Act, and the START Treaty all deal directly with justice, fairness, and peace. Passage of the 9/11 Responders Health Act deals with moral values and basic human decency.

Failure of whiny, self-absorbed Senate Republicans to pass these bills will not be forgotten by Americans, and I absolutely guarantee, will be acutely remembered by voters in 2012.

For more about Jon Stewart, read:

• Profile of Jon Stewart, Political Comedian
• Jon Stewart, Smart Pugilist, Hopes to Bring Sanity to Politics
• Daily Show's Jon Stewart Wins Top Journalism Award

(Photo of Jon Stewart taken on Oct 30, 2010: Kris Connor/Getty Images)