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Published Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 | 10:54 a.m.
Updated Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 | 10:55 a.m.
It seems possible now: a repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" can pass.
Harry Reid got a pledge for what’s likely to be his 60th, filibuster-proofing vote in support of repealing the military’s long-standing policy against gays serving openly in the military Friday morning when Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, the Republican who replaced the late Ted Kennedy, announced his intention to back the legislation.
Whether it actually passes now is primarily a question of where Reid puts the bill on his lame-duck schedule.
Earlier this week, all 42 members of the Senate Republican caucus said they would vote to block any bill that Reid tried to raise before the Senate passes a tax cut extension and sets a budget for the coming months.
The Senate did pass a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Dec. 18, and the Senate is expected to take its opening tax votes this weekend, although on bills that most GOP senators aren’t expected to support.
Reid needs at least two Republicans to support the legislation, in order the pull together the requisite 60 votes to guarantee that the measure -- which is part and parceled with the defense authorization bill -- will not be filibustered as it was the first time he tried to bring it to a vote in September.
Then, GOP senators, led by Armed Services Committee Ranking Member John McCain, led a hard charge against repealing the policy, arguing primarily that the Defense Department had not had a chance to complete an ongoing survey of military personnel querying whether gays serving openly in the military would have a positive or negative effect.
That study has since concluded and the results revealed that about 70 percent thought that allowing gays to serve openly would have either a positive effect or no effect on the day-to-day functioning of the military.
But McCain and many other Republicans have now begun to question the substance of the survey — only 28 percent of active servicepersons responded, and the direct question: should the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy be repealed — did not appear on the survey.
Democrats in the Senate all supported the procedural vote to take up the defense authorization bill, complete with a repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," in September. It’s expected that they’ll do so again.
A handful of moderate Republicans — including Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Nevada Sen. John Ensign — have also indicated they could be votes in favor of a repeal this time around.
But to this point, only Maine Sen. Susan Collins has said firmly that she supports a legislative repeal, and voted for including it in the defense authorization bill in the Armed Services Committee.
Brown’s vote is potentially influential not only because it would represent a Republican switch — he voted against including a repeal in the overall defense authorization bill when it was going through committee — but because he’s also the Senate’s only actively serving member of the military, as a member of the National Guard.
Any senator who would fillibuster this should be ashamed. The military has said it needs to be repealed and it is definitely the right thing to do.
Can the Senate focus their energies on helping to get the economy back on the tracks and deal with this later? For crying out loud the Titanic is sinking and they're debating what song the band should be playing...give me a break!
It will be divisive, not nearly the "non-event" some think. (Note that three out of the four service chiefs spoke against it and that the front line combat units are not nearly as accepting as the support forces & dependents sitting stateside.) Additionally, the military will need re-assess their dependent, fraternization, housing, and assignment policies, something that will not be done overnight.
I really hope that pink dogtags will not be in vogue ever. This is truly disgusting.
[1. e4 c5] and Harry is a master!
Nope. No votes until the tax cuts are extended. Sorry.
"Nope. No votes until the tax cuts are extended. Sorry."
The Senate can't multitask? Of course they can.
The American people overwhelmingly support overturning DADT. The republicans have no reason not to take a simple 30 minute vote.
Hey Harry, it is still about jobs...
No votes until the tax cuts are extended. Period!!!
Until the rich get their tax cuts everything else will have to wait.
The Republican/Tea Party's smug indifference and uncaringness to do their job is on display here.
It is readily apparent their obsession with pandering to the rich and holding the government and the American people hostage, not to mention their hell bent fanatacism on the utter and complete destruction of President Obama and his entire administration, is on display here for everyone to see.
Just another nail in the coffin of the self disintegration of the Republican/Tea Party.
They've already taken steps for their own suicide by going on record in the House by all Republicans (except for three) voting to terminate the tax cuts for the middle class 98 percent of the population.
And that political falling-on-their-own-sword trend will continue today with 42 Republican Senators all going down on record to vote the same as they overwhelmingly did in the House.
This definitively shows they have no clue how to lead and govern. All they know is failed policies from before. All they know is their warped and unbelieveable mathematics that tax cuts for the filthy rich will fix everything. During wonderful economic times, it didn't create jobs. Now, when we are in an economic downturn, this tax cuts for the rich thing STILL don't work. But Republican/Tea Party types are stubborn, saying it will work. They could be in a building that crumbles from an earthquake, and they'd scream for everyone to not worry, stay seated, stay calm, the building is structurally sound. Really dumb.
They cleary don't care about everyday American people. They only want to yank power back by being intransigent, indifferent and uncaring about anyone except themselves. And their masters who pull their puppet strings...the filthy rich.
The Republicans right now are in this martyrdom mode of sitting down in the street, pouring gas over themselves and lighting a match. They want their way. Like a spoilt child.
I say let them self immoliate. Good riddance.
The sooner that happens, the faster we can concentrate on the main issues that need to be faced to get this country back on track.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40499055/ns/...
I hope Harry Reid does a better job of securing 60 votes for 'Don't Ask' repeal, than the job he did of not getting the Obama Tax Hike passed...