A motion to debate a defense bill which containing a measure repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy failed in the Senate on Tuesday. Arkansas Democrats Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor joined the Republican filibuster. Several Republicans claim they might eventually vote to end DADT but want to hear the results of a Pentagon review of the policy, due on or about December first, too late to realistically allow for further Senate consideration.
As Igor Volsky points out, 70 percent of Americans favor repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” while the 42 senators stalling the bill represent only 36 percent of the U.S. population.
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Tags: Congress, DADT, Don't Ask Don't Tell, GLBT, homosexuality, military, Republicans, Senate, sexual minorities
NotionsCapital 
September 22, 2010 at 8:36 am
This was not a vote against ending DADT. This was a vote against politics as usual. Harry Reid stuck an immigration bill, along with the military policy act, into a military funding bill.
I applaud those that voted against allowing politicians to use a funding bill as a cover to jam through their social agenda, this has to stop. (snip)
We’ll hold it right there, since you are either being disingenuous or plain clueless. DADT is certainly a military issue. I agree that pasting the immigration amendment on a defense bill is marginal, but the amendment does cover citizenship gained through military service.
Unrelated amendments clutter every congressional bill, especially the “must pass” ones — Defense, Farm, and Highway. Every member complains about unrelated amendments until his/her vital issue doesn’t make the floor — that’s when they shut up and tack it onto unrelated legislation headed for a vote. Like many Senate (and House) rules and traditions it is highly regrettable, and there is lots of talk about change, but there is no real political will for change. If you don’t know that, you should.
That said, DADT is a matter of military policy and germane to a defense bill. It was instituted as a temporary measure, has been around a decade and a half, and is overdue for change, since it weakens readiness and the nation’s safety.