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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 3:10 p.m.
Sun Coverage
Harry Reid’s been coming under fire for hedging his plans on a potential second swipe at repealing the military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy -- a possibility that’s now looking less and less likely.
In an afternoon tweet, Reid chief spokesman Jim Manley said the measure wouldn’t move unless Republicans would agree not to filibuster the measure right off the bat.
“@SenatorReid strongly supports repeal of #DADT but he can’t do it alone. @Senate_GOPs need to agree to at least debate the issue,” he wrote.
But lately, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t appeared to be in a compromising mood.
Last week, McConnell made clear the GOP’s primary objective in the next two years was to make sure President Obama is defeated in 2012 -- and said that if Democrats wanted compromise, it would have to be on Republicans’ terms.
That doesn’t bode well for controversial votes coming down the pike in the lame-duck session. Reid will still be working with a supermajority, but needs at least one or two Republicans to split off from their caucus to clear the filibuster-proof, 60-vote hurdle.
In September, Reid attempted to bring up both a repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," which prevents gays from serving openly in the military, and the DREAM Act, which would put some qualifying undocumented immigrant college students and military enrollees on a pathway to citizenship, under the umbrella of the defense authorization bill.
Republicans, led by McConnell and John McCain of Arizona, waged a successful filibuster against even bringing what is normally considered a must-pass up for debate. That measure to fund the military will be one of the first orders of business when lawmakers return to Washington next week; but it’s not clear if the two issues will be the same fight.
Many accused Reid of playing politics with the bill in September, and only including the ancillary measure as a way to make a play to his Democratic voter base in the midst of a difficult election season. The measures did not pass, and Reid beat Republican opponent Sharron Angle by 5 percentage points.
Reid has promised that the DREAM Act will be considered in the lame-duck session, but he has not made the same promise concerning "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."
In the meantime, the debate on DADT has shifted somewhat. Republicans had demanded in September that Congress wait until the military finished conducting a survey of active service members before pushing forward with any repeal attempt; that survey’s results are expected Dec. 1, and early leaks suggest that servicemembers’ overwhelming attitude toward gays serving in the middle is one of nonchalance.
The measure is also kicking around the federal courts system, after a California judge ordered an injunction on the practice. But the 9th Circuit Appeals Court has since issued a long-term stay of that decision while the government prepares an appeal -- meaning the DADT practice is still the status quo.
I'll start by saying that DADT should have been gotten rid of a long time ago.
If Obama was serious about this he would have issued an executive order a long time ago on it. Or the Democrats could have passed all by themselves during the period of time when they *did* have 60 votes.
But no, they stayed away from it until it could be used in the political game.
Now that it is in the courts, it would be even easier for Obama to just sign it out of existence just like Truman did with segregation in the armed forces and lift the appeal.
As for Dream, that is simply dead until at least 2012, and probably beyond then, too.
If Reid thinks he can get some GOP members to throw in with him, he may be in for a surprise! The current Congress is a crippled goose and Reid is a neutered big spender. And his power base is gone. Reid is persistent, though, and he keeps dreaming of ramming DREAM through.
He had a filibuster proof Senate for over a year and then a 89 vote margin after that.
Was he sleeping again?
That silly goose Reid....and all those gay agenda people just love him even though he support Nevada's gay ban on marriage.
Their hero....
For Repukeblicans, never under-estimate the huge voting power of gays and lesbians together with family and friends.
Yeah, just like the Dems were compromising with the GOP when the house as well was stil held by the libtards.
Don't think so, Harry. Grats on weaseling your way into office once again through union bribery and casino "bus tours". Now sit down and stfu.
Harry Reid is pandering to the gay community by saying that HE WILL GET IT FIXED.
Harry Reid did not ask for help from the Republicans during the time he shoved ObamaCare down our throats.
Hope Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will delay legislation until January when the new Senators are seated...
Why not let the troops vote if they want repeal. Wait, I forgot the government knows what is best for "we the people" and we just don't know what the hell we're talking about. Didn't help them on November 2nd did it.
Harry Reid is pandering to the gay community just like he did to the Hispanic community to get their votes.
Don't forget that Harry resorted to bribery to get the votes of a couple of Senators to pass ObamaCare...
the GOP needs to be run out of the country.
Hey voters, look at Harry's priorities after the election: Gays in the military and citizenship for illegals. "Screw jobs and taxes, I have important work to do." - Harry 'The war is Lost' Reid
Another personal attack there Tony???
"And Mary Vegas your charge of bribery is like everything else you spew here - bull crap. Prove it. You're lying Mary Vegas. Do you teach your kids to lie?"
Aren't these Liberals real sweethearts...
And yet, another personal attack from Tony...
"So MaryVegas AS USUAL is spreading lies. In other words Mary there is no proof. I repeat. Do you teach your kids to lie?"
And the name calling and demonizing continues from the radical left...
Larry,
Why do you want them to delay legislation? It seems to me that if there have been studies done, and our service people don't care, then why should we? Why play politics with soldiers lives? Makes no sense to me.