Key vote on 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' repeal fails

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

Carrie Dann writes: A key procedural vote on the bill containing a repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy failed Thursday, dealing a final blow to advocates who hoped to overturn the 17-year old ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military during this session of Congress.

Democrats needed 60 votes to advance the Defense Authorization bill for debate on the floor. The vote failed, 57-40.

Ultimately, Majority Leader Harry Reid called for the vote without having reached a procedural agreement with moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who supports repeal but wanted greater openness for the process of amending and passing the bill. Collins voted aye on the measure, but other Republicans who support repeal but had voiced similar procedural concerns -- Sens. Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowski -- voted no.

One Democrat, newly-elected Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, broke with his party to vote no.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/09/5619090...

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It's my opinion that nothing will get done before Congress adjourns.

[MaineDem]

1. Don't give Collins any credit

She knew it would fail so she voted Aye to give herself cover.

[dennis4868]

2. Sen. Joe Manchin

should just change parties already....what's the use of having him in the dem party?

[MineralMan]

4. +1

If he can't vote for this, he's no Democrat at all.

[lobodons]

3. Congress blew it

The military wanted Congress to overturn DADT knowing that the Judiciary will overturn in the courts. Congress blew it and went against what the military wanted.

[brooklynite]

5. More specifically

the Military worry was that a Court ruling would require immediate implementation, whereas a Congressional Act would likely incorporate time to develop an implementation process.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Who didn't vote?

Is there a rollcall yet?

[MaineDem]

7. Lieberman and Collins say they will introduce free-standing bill to repeal DADT

Well, that's something.

[tpsbmam]

11. That was my immediate response....vote on it NOW as a free-standing bill. Too bad

it's not Dems proposing it. Oy, really sick of this shit.

[droidamus2]

8. What amazes me

I have checked a couple of sites including Yahoo and when they reported the House Democrats refusing to take up the Obama/Republican tax deal it was reported as 'Democrats block Obama Tax Deal' or something like that. Now with this DADT story I check the same sites and they are all reporting 'Senate blocks DADT repeal' or again something like that. Is it interesting how when it is something corporate America and the conservatives want it is reported as 'the Democrats' doing it. Yet when it is something the corporations (read military industrial complex) and conservatives don't want to see happen it is given the generic 'Senate blocks' treatment.

[groundloop]

9. Excellent point.

This needs to get passed, but repukes and their media whores are still doing all they can to stop it (and deflect blame to the Democrats).

[soleft]

12. Really important catch

Try and get if to maddow

[brooklynite]

13. Why would the MIC care one bit about DADT repeal?

Doesn't matter who's holding a gun or driving a tank.

[RussBLib]

10. This filibuster is pure BS

Why is it that the House can pass things by simple majority, but the Senate always seems to need 60%?

This is a rhetorical question.

The Dems should have changed that BS when they had the chance. They really have only themselves to blame.