Stephen Colbert who is broadcasting from Baghdad, Iraq this week broaches the controversial issue in front of a packed house of officers and soldiers. Watch:

It’s hard to read the applause and laughter of the audience. Was it because of Colbert “playing” gay or the absurdity of the policy? Or mixture of both? I did notice the lack of recognition in the audience when Lt. Dan Choi and Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, both victims of DADT were mentioned. Not even a smattering of applause. Hopefully they were simply unaware of the news back home.

It would have been interesting if they had done cutaways to the audience for their reactions during the segment… It would have been doubly interesting if Colbert had polled the audience about their position on DADT. But this is a comedy show… lest we forget.

I kid you not… but then again it is Pat Robertson we are talking about here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ibU4wUpCk[/youtube]

I’ve been reduced to many things, but never a biological problem… Theresa, I would suggest you get to know your son. He was not made gay or born with a biological problem. He was born a beautiful human being, and is worthy of a parent’s love and support.

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a case on DADT gave Rachel Maddow another opportunity last night to take President Obama to task on his promise to repeal the controversial policy. Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey lends a hand, one of the original cosponsors of bill (H.R. 1283) which would overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Watch:

Gay marriage in New York may be a distant dream now as Democrats Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens have defected to the GOP, giving Republicans 32 seats and a majority in the Senate. The re-shuffling of leadership puts the future of same-sex marriage for New York in doubt. Many have speculated that Senator Ruben Diaz a vocal opponent to gay marriage would also switch parties if any gay marriage legislation came before the Senate, but not today. Diaz remains a Democrat for now.

From the NY Times:

It was a noisy and acrimonious scene on the floor of the Senate as Senator Thomas W. Libous, a Republican from Binghamton and the party’s deputy leader, shouted for a roll-call vote, while Democrats attempted to stall the vote by asking to adjourn the session.

All 30 Republicans stood with their hands raised, signaling a vote for a change in leadership. Mr. Espada and Mr. Monserrate joined them, each raising his hand. Republicans won the vote by a 32-to-30 margin. The Senate will now be governed under a new joint leadership structure, with Mr. Espada serving as the president pro tempore, and Senator Dean G. Skelos, of Long Island, as the new majority leader.

A spokesman for former Democratic Senate Majority leader Malcom Smith called the action an “illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic majority.”

It is unclear at this time why Senators Espada Jr. and Monserrate defected to the GOP. Both men are currently under investigation by the authorities, Espada Jr. for not living in his own district, and Monserrate for felony assault charges.