joining us now, major margaret witt and lieutenant colonel victor fehrenbach. thank you for being here and congratulations on the ruling. >> thank you, rachel. >> thanks, rachel. >> major witt, let me ask what you think this means practically for you in the short-term. do you expect you will be reinstated right away? >> you know, i sure hope so. i'm ready wherever they are. >> what are you been doing since you were discharged under the don't ask, don't tell policy? what have you been doing in civilian life? >> pediatric physical therapist and also the rehab coordinator for the veterans hospital. >> and if this goes through, if what the judge says has to happen ends up happening, if the air force does take you back, you are -- you're eager to get back to the air force? >> oh, absolutely. i can't get -- i can't wait to get back to my unit and be with my incredible unit members. they're wonderful group. >> colonel fehrenbach, you're currently fighting your own discharge from the air force, like major witt. you did not tell anyone anything about your sexual orientat

. >> reporter: margaret witt was all smiles when she went into court to hear the decision she has waitedor since 2004. federal court judge ronald layton ruled the military violated her rights when she was discharged for homosexual conduct under the military's don't ask don't tell policy. the judge ruled she should be reinstated at the earliest possible moment. what do you think of the decision? >> i'm absolutely thrilled. all i have ever wanted to do is go back to my unit and do my job. for that chance, i'm excited. >> reporter: it could do more than just get her nursing job back. it already has. after she sued in 2006, the ninth circuit court of appeals ruled the military must prove that discharging someone for homosexual conduct can only be done if the individual does something to harm the military or morale. they said discharging her did more damage to the morale than her sexual orientation ever did. her case was sponsored by the aclu. her attorneys say today's ruling could someday overturn the don't ask, don't tell policy. that, legal experts say, won't happen soon. >> if i help one

keith eldridge with komo when margaret witt got the word. >> smile. >> can you express what you feel?> i'm thrilled. i mean, all i ever wanted to do is go back to my unit and do my job. just for that chance i'm really excited. >> reporter: former air force major margaret witt fought to convince a job to give her her job back. she was a decorated flight nurse. but when the air force found out she was a lesbian, they kicked her out. six years later, she convinced a judge that not only did her sexual preference not affect her unit's military readiness or cohesion, just the opposite. former unit members say her dismissal caused harm. he ordered the air force to reinstate her and said she was blessed to have loving parents stand with her. >> i think he understands how important that is, and i -- i love them. >> she's courageous, she's dedicated. >> reporter: her attorneys say the battle isn't over. the government is likely to appeal the decision. but in the meantime, they hope the air force does what the judge has ordered. >> i think she should be reinstated and soon. >> reporter: as far a

a federal judge in washington state ruled the air force violated the constitutional right of margaret wittwhen it discharged her for being a lesbian. the white house ordered the military to give her her job back. >>> a family spokesman for sarah shourd says the uc berkeley graduate met with iran's president today to plead for the release of her fiancee and their friend both of whom are still being held in an iranian prison. shourd has promised to do everything she can to try to obtain the release. >>> get ready for some high school football. there's a great match up our game of the week. >> that there is. we'll have the details in our report. >>> the cast of hamlet for the final touches on their performance today on alcatraz island. the production is put on by a troop of actors called we players. they've spent the last two years trying to weave together the theme of the shakespeare play and the alcatraz history. >> whether you can be free or granted and taken away. hamlet is grappling with how to live, what to do. >> reporter: the audience also becomes part of the play. the first scene tak

in any event, rachel maddow's guest at 9:00 is major margaret witt. arianna huffington of "the huffington post," a pleasure. have a good weekend. >> thank you. >>> to get back to the tax cuts, we have tonight exclusive practical mathematical analysis of the impact of the bush tax cuts for the rich on the economy from 2001 to 2008. david k. johnson crunched the numbers and they are pretty sad numbers next on "countdown." at remax.com, you can find the experts you need, whether you're trying to sell of hoping to buy. nobody sells more real estate than re/max. visit remax.com today. ♪ when it's planes in the sky ♪ ♪ for a chain of supply, that's logistics ♪ ♪ when the parts for the line ♪ ♪ come precisely on time ♪ that's logistics ♪ ♪ a continuous link, that is always in sync ♪ ♪ that's logistics ♪ ♪ there will be no more stress ♪ ♪ cause you've called ups, that's logistics ♪ [ woman ] chopping and peeling can be kinda relaxing at the end of the day. [ female announcer ] relaxing for who? try new market creations from lean cuisine. the new steam pouch l

it's about the case of a former major margaret witt. the pentagon gave her a discharge under the don't ask don't tell policy but wit sued to get her job back and now a judge in washington state ruled the pentagon violated her constitutional rights and he's ordered that she be reinstated as soon as possible. >>> now to a highly decorated veteran of world war ii who was laid to rest at arlington national cemetery. vernon baker, his family and friends traveled from idaho for the service. for his heroic actions during the war, he was awarded the medal of honor. vernon baker was 90 years old. >>> the funeral for a navy seal from silver spring, killed in afghanistan, will be october 4th. the dematha high school graduate brendan looney was among the american military personnel killed on tuesday. his funeral will take place at st. john the baptist roman catholic church in silver spring. there will be a prayer service for him tomorrow at dematha high. >>> at waller reed the army honored two soldiers with a purple heart. rick zimmerman and privat

. >> margaret witt fought to get her job back, but she certainly won't mind if her action changes the policy. >> can you only hope. >> when we return, remember the who's magic bus, we'll take you on a ride on the trippy tour bus here in the bay area, providing a portal into the 1960s. >>> we have more heat intore for you, i'll have the seven-day forecast coming up. [ male announcer ] barbara boxer. she fought to get our veterans the first full combat care center in california. her after school law is keeping a million kids off the street and out of gangs. and she's fighting every day to create new jobs. i'm working to make california the leader in clean energy. to jump-start our small businesses with tax credits and loans to create thousands more california jobs. i'm barbara boxer, and i approve this message... because i want to see the words made in america again. texting...blogging... all this technology, but you're still banking like pilgrims! it's time for new school banking, bubbie. interest plus savings at capitalone.com. why earn bupkis, when your savings can earn three times t

. >> that is air force veteran margaret witt reacting to a judge's ruling that found her discharge unconstitutionale air force to reinstate her to duty. >>> the new york film festival is under way this weekend and one of the more an sticipated films highlights mark zuckerberg, as he builds the website facebook. actor seven spacey says the movie captures the essence of the subject. >> i think it's great if you can set out to make a movie that does capture its to make a movie that does capture its time. there are few movies that do it. we certainly know the movies that have done in the past, and those are movies that stay with us that we love to watch again and again that you capital ever get enough of, and every time you see, you see something new. i think this film has that level of complexity and depth and great direction, great writing. all the things you hope a movie will do. >> the social network will be in theaters october 1st. if it gets as many viewers as facebook, it will do really, really well. >>> it's motivation to get moving. >> you could sing songs about lowering your cholesterol, but

. >> that's air force veteran major margaret witt found herself discharged unit don't ask, don't tellund it unconstitutional. the supreme court asked to reinstate her to duty. >>> they have unsuccessfully blocked a bill that would allow the repeal of don't ask don't tell. the legislative stand overis watched by current and former members of the u.s. military who were never asked and never revealed their sexual orientation for the sake of their career. >> my name is dan zabrowski. i joined in '85. i was in the air force for 20 years and retired in 2006. what was different about me being in the air force was being gay and having a partner. >> it's kind of running there. you've got to make sure you don't get too much on your brush. >> okay. >> my name is mark byrd. i'm originally from ellisville, mississippi. we've been together 19 years. every time dan has had orders for a permanent change of station, pcs, i've gone with him. i was happy to do so, because, you know, i love him, and that's what a spouse or partner would do. when dan had functions at work, i would not attend. >> if it was

the judge in washington ste ruled the discharge of major margaret witt was unconstitutional. removedher under its don't-a, don't-tell policy. it bans gays from serving openly in the military. the judge said testimony proved witt was an outstanding nurse. >>> a decorated world war ii veteran laid to rest at arlington national cemetery. he waited 60 years to be recognized. >> lieutenant baker fought at a time when african-american soldiers were not awarded medals of honor. he never considered himself a hero button lie member of his you no it live to receive a long overdo honor. it is one of the most solemn yet regal responsibility arlington cemetery has to carry out. taking a soldier to his final resting place. he joined a segregated army before the united states entered world war ii. he served in the first all-black unit to enter combat and he was fighter who wanted to just be a soldier. >> we have two leg, two arms and a brain just like everybody else except the colo of our skin was different. we thought just like everybody else. >> it was april 1945, baker killed or wounded

. >> that's major margaret witt saying she's thrilled to be back into the air force as she was discharged military's don't ask, don't tell policy, banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. yesterday, a federal judge ordered she be reinstated. the judge said the military's don't ask, don't tell policy violates the major's constitutional rights. >>> an attempt to repeal don't ask, don't tell failed in the u.s. senate this week. we have a story of an air force master sergeant who retired after hiding his sexual orientation for 21 years. >> my name is dan dabrowski. i was in the air force for 21 years and i retired in 2006. what was different about me being in the air force was being gay and having a partner. >> make sure you don't get too much on your brush. >> okay. >> my name is mark byrd, originally from mississippi. we've been together 19 years. efficient ref time dan had ordered for a permanent change of station, i've gone with him. and i was happy to do so, because, you know, i love him and that's what a spouse or partner would do. when dad had functions at wor

. >> that is air force veteran major margaret witt. found her discharge under the don't ask don't tell policy unconstitutional. the judge ordered them to reinstate her duty. >>> from washington state to washington, d.c., where they repealed the don't ask don't tell bill. it's being closely watched by current and former members of the military who were never asked and never revealed their sexual orientation in order to save their career. >> i joined the air force in '85. i was in the air force for 21 years and retired in 206. what was different about me being in the air force was being guy, and having a partner -- >> you've got to make sure you don't get too much on your brush. >> my name is mark bird. i'm originally from ailistville, mississippi. we've been together 19 years. every time dan's had originalers for a change, i've gone with him, and i was happy to do so because i love him and that's what a partner would do. when dan had functions of work, i would not attend. >> if it was a gathering of friends, it would be easier to go to

margaret witt sued after being discharged because of her relationship with another woman.judge says her right to due process was violated. >>> and late word tonight, actress lindsay lohan ordered back to jail today after a failing drug test will now be allowed to post bail. it won't be cheap, though, the judge is setting that bail at $300,000 and anderson, she must agree to wear an alcohol detection device as well. so the saga continues. >>> up next, the latest on the deadly home invasion trial in connecticut. eerie text messages allegedly sent between the suspects hours before the home invasion attack on the family. >>> and what did pope benedict know about the sex abuse scandal when he was still cardinal ratzinger and head of a powerful office at the vatican? it's drive to places with views that'll leave you awestruck...month. fit every stick, pad, helmet and puck month. easily conquer pavement, dirt, rocks and muck month. and get it all while keeping a few bucks month. great deals on the complete family of chevy trucks all backed for a hundred thousand miles. it's truck

major margaret witt was discharged in 2007 under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. but the judge said it violated witt's constitutional rights. they blocked a bill that would have repealed the "don't ask, don't tell." >>> the separation of church and state watchdog group staged at fort bragg, north carolina. it was put on by the billy graham evangelistic association, which has staged similar events on other u.s. military bases. critics said the gathering blurred the line between the state, in this case, the military and religion. >>> the leader of one of the biggest churches in america is under siege right now because of a string of sexual allegations against him. we're talking about the bishop eddie long of missionary new baptist church outside of atlanta. he said he will speak tomorrow to his congregation about the charges made in civil lawsuits this week by four young men who had been church members. long's address to his flock, it could make or break the huge religious empire he built since he took over back in 1987. according to the church website, the church h

it calls margaret witt an exemplary officer. >>> the nation's drug enforcement agency is asking people000 locations today. those are your fast five headlines. >>> a new report in "the washington post" said the risk of small scale attacks by al qaeda and its allies is on the rise. the reports cite senior obama administration officials who say the terrorist network is likely to attempt less sophisticated attacks in the united states. and it is extremely difficult to detect these kinds of threats in the advance. joining me is evan coleman. good morning to you. how worried are you about this? >> it's concerning. 9/11 we had 19 individuals. a very elaborate plan, airplanes, international travel. what al qaeda and other terror groups have realized is that trying to re-create a scenario like that is exceptionally difficult. very low rate of success. and you expend a tremendous amount of resources trying to get a plot like that. the model of hasan, the model of one man motivated to do this by his own motivations or one woman. and able to carry out an act that will create chaos, that will creat

major margaret witt was discharged back this 2007.r discharge violates the constitutions. >> republicans are out with their pledge to america. they promise to cut taxes, downsize government, repeal president obama's health care reform plan if they regain control of the house. some specifics. weekly votes on spending cuts, slicing the congressional budget, putting a hiring freeze on nonsecurity federal workers, and voting on every regulation that costs more than $100 million to implement. democrats say the republican agenda is nothing new. well, midterm elections six weeks away, and on the campaign trail, some members of congress are keeping their own parties at arm's length. our political producer joins us from washington. peter, you've seen that first hand. >> that's right. i just got back from a week in wisconsin where there's a tough senate race for democrats. feingold, three-term senator, is losing by six points among republican voters according to a cnn poll we've had out this week. feingold, obama has been in the state. feingold

this calls for major margaret witt to be an exemplary officer. >>> and rivers and streams are recedingally. those are your fast five headlines. >>> another week of gapes in the books for the stock market. the fourth in a row, yeah, the end of gapes were out of the ordinary for investors banking on the rising price of gold. brian shankman is here. we like this news when things are looking up. historically, september is not usually good. >> usually the worst month of the 12 in terms of the stock market. and we are looking at right now maybe the best in more than 70 years. now, i can honestly say some people think that everyone thought it was going down and that's why it went up. things are not logically spinning correctly, but the data we have gotten economically, i won't go through all the inside numbers, but we may have slowed down a bit, but we are not necessarily heading back into a recession. for a lot of people that's a positive. >> oh, my gosh, yeah. what about people who have invested in gold? wow was that a smart thing to do. >> listen, it touched 1300, which is pretty amazing.

the washington state judge ruled major margaret witt should be given her job back. nstitutional rights were violated under the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. major witt spoke to rachel maddow about the judge behind that ruling. >> it was very heartfelt. he spoke to me directly. i think he really understands the impact that it has on everyone around you, particularly family and how thankful i was to have my parents behind me. and i think he really gets that and he knew that it was a big struggle and a big event. >> you can all catch the "rachel mad dow show" here weeknights on msnbc. >>> republicans knew there would be pushback tho their manifesto known as a pledge to america. what's surprising is just how many conservative activists are disappointed with the plan. they say the gop missed an opportunity to get serious on spending and now some democrats actually seem happy to have a specific gop agenda to tear into. let's bring in perry bacon jr. with "the washington post." good to see you. >> good to see you. >> clearly this pledge was aimed at winning over

margaret witt sued after being discharged because of her relationship with another woman.udge says her right to due process was violated. >>> and late word tonight, actress lindsay lohan who was ordered back to jail today after a failing drug test will now be allowed to post bail. it won't be cheap, though, the judge is setting that bail at $300,000 and, anderson, she must agree to wear an alcohol detection device as well. so the saga continues. >>> up next, the latest on the deadly home invasion trial in connecticut. eerie text messages allegedly sent between the suspects hours before the home invasion attack on the family. >>> and a cnn investigation. what did pope benedict know about the sex abuse scandal when he was still cardinal ratzinger and at the time head of a powerful office at the vatican? down the hill? man: all right. we were actually thinking, maybe... we're going to hike up here, so we'll catch up with you guys. [ indistinct talking and laughter ] whew! i think it's worth it. working with a partner you can trust is always a good decision. massmutual. let ou

they call margaret witt an exemplary officer. >>> swollen rivers and streams are receding in southernouthwest wisconsin. that's good news for residents there. >>> this week, rumors flying about some major shake-ups to president obama's inner circle in washington. white house chief of staff rahm emmanuel could resign in weeks to run for the mayor of chicago. and senior adviser david axelrod is expected to leave the white house soon to focus on the president's re-election campaign. christina belanton si from talking points memo. good morning. interpret all these changes. what do you think they reflect, if anything other than a typical midterm reaction? >> there's a couple of things going on. you have the typical midterm reorganization. it's not shocking people would leave. it's a very intensive job. people sort of have one or two years in them and then they shift around. that happens often with chief of staff. there's also a little bit of signaling to the democratic base that's been frustrated with president obama for a while. he's make something changes to make sure that people are ent

major margaret witt was discharged under the military's don't ask don't tell policy after she revealed she a lesbian. the judge found the dismissal violated witt's constitutional rights. president obama traded barbs with iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad today, in a new war of words. the iranian leader addressed the u.n. general assembly yesterday, and suggested the u.s. government played a role in the 9/11 attacks. today, in an interview with the bbc persian news service, mr. obama condemned the remarks. >> it was offensive. it was hateful. and particularly for him to make the statement here in manhattan, just... just a little north of ground zero, for him to make a statement like that was inexcusable. >> sreenivasan: ahmadinejad refused to back away from his claim at a news conference in new york. he called the background to the 9/11 attacks "suspicious." >> ( translated ): what i raised is a very clear discussion and a precise one. don't you feel that, if a fact- finding mission was present from the start to explore the true reason behind september 11, that we would not see the

margaret wit and sued to get her job back. they honor bli discharged her in 2007 because of an affair with a woman. wittback for the obama administration's attempt to end the policy. >> i'm absolutely thrilled. i mean, all i've ever wanted to do was to go back to my unit and do my job. so just for that chance, i'm really excited. >> the air force still says witt's discharged fully consistent with the law. >>> the critical midterm elections are coming up in 38 days and 2012 presidential hopefuls are already looking at ways to gain support in a very important state. mitt romney, the former governor of massachusetts and a 2008 republican presidential candidate, gives the key note address this morning at the new hampshire republican party state convention. new hampshire holds the nation's first presidential primary, which is still 16 months off. romney is the first of three potential republican presidential candidates targeting new hampshire. mississippi governor haley barbour, the former national republican committee chair will be there monday for a plant tour. minnesota governor tim pawlenty is also going