In a 57-40 vote, the Senate failed to reach the necessary 60 votes move to block Republican opposition to debate (and vote on) the National Defense Authorization Act (aka the Pentagon's spending bill), which had DADT repeal language attached. Democrats will point the fingers at Republicans (but not Susan Collins, who voted for the bill). Republicans will point the fingers at Democrats (but not Joe Manchin, who voted against it) for not giving them enough time for open debate. And then everyone will say it's Harry Reid's fault. And also the Human Rights Campaign, because that Joe Solmonese promised you! But here's something interesting: Sens. Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins are telling the media right now they'll hold a separate, standalone vote on repeal that won't be attached to the NDAA. You know, because the sixty votes are there, but not here. It's like whack-a-mole, but with people's lives.
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Tagged: DADT, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Military, Senate