Repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is blocked

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans blocked a major year-end push by Democrats to lift the military's ban on openly gay troops on Thursday, dealing a huge blow to gay rights groups' hopes for repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" any time soon. President Barack Obama instantly appealed to lawmakers to make another, last-ditch try before going home for the year.

The day's dramatic events left the fate of the issue in limbo, with lawmakers eager to adjourn and still facing numerous other contentious issues.

The Senate's 57-40 vote fell three short of the 60 needed to overcome procedural hurdles to lift the 17-year-old ban. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the lone Republican voting to advance the bill, and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote against it.

The rejection was a defeat for Obama, who campaigned promising to overturn the law and later called it one of his top legislative priorities for the year.

He said the ban "weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity and equality." And he said repeal is supported by the military and the American people.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was biting in his comments about Republican foes. "The other side may feel passionately that our military should sanction discrimination based on sexual orientation, but they are clearly in the minority," he said. "And they have run out of excuses."

But Republicans faulted him for the way the issue was brought to a vote, saying the procedure sealed the outcome.

The 1993 law bans gay troops from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation. A repeal provision was included in a broader defense policy bill and passed last spring in the House.

More than 60 senators were expected to support repeal of the ban, including at least four Republicans. But GOP senators were united in demanding that the chamber vote on tax cuts first. They also wanted assurances from Reid they would be given extensive time to debate the defense bill, which contained other divisive provisions including one that would allow abortions at overseas military facilities.

Two senators, Republican Collins and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, said they now would introduce a stand-alone measure to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." Its prospects are uncertain, though Reid indicated he was open to bringing it up before adjournment. If passed, it still would require House approval with time growing short.

Gay rights advocates were furious about Thursday's events.

"Instead of doing what is right, the world's greatest deliberative body devolved into shameful schoolyard spats that put petty partisan politics above the needs of our women and men in uniform," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.