Spread of an unbelievable meme

You know, when Susan Collins tried to spin the repeal of DADT as a bipartisan victory over Democratic bigotry, I scoffed. For crying out loud, when Clinton passed DADT it was not a step backward from some time of equality and Gay Pride in uniform. Before DADT it was HDKO - Hunt Down and Kick Out. With, by the way, a Dishonorable Discharge that pretty much ruined your life as far as employment prospects went.

And now I'm seeing that show up elsewhere - in the comments at Digital Cuttlefish's place for instance, where a commenter said

"Oh yes. Me too! I'm glad that most Republicans support the GOProud... Further, the terribly stupid half-measure of Don't Ask, Don't Tell enacted by (Democrat) Pres. Clinton has GOT TO GO."

Look, I'm glad that some, maybe even many, Republicans are coming around. But let's not lie to ourselves and pretend that before Clinton gays were happily accepted in the armed forces. DADT was a sad compromise forced on us by Republicans. Fact.