Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Surprise vote is setback for DADT repeal

  • by Deirdre Shesgreen
  • December 9, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

WASHINGTON–Efforts to repeal the Pentagon’s ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military hit a fresh Republican blockade in the Senate Thursday but proponents, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman, say they have a fall-back plan that could revive the bill before the end of the lame-duck session.

In a surprising and dramatic Senate vote, supporters of repealing the military ban, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” fell three votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a threatened GOP filibuster. The final tally of 57-to-40 included only one Republican, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voting in favor of taking up the bill.

The result thwarted action not only on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but also on a sweeping defense authorization bill. The repeal is included in that broader measure.

The timing of the vote, if not the outcome, took advocates by surprise, since Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, and Collins were deep in negotiations with Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., on an agreement that they said would have almost certainly guaranteed several more GOP votes in favor of starting debate on the legislation.

“This afternoon, process triumphed over those principles” that dictate an end to the discriminatory policy, Lieberman said. “As a result, we have suffered a setback.”

But he and Collins said they had a new strategy: stripping the DADT language out of the broader defense bill and pushing it as a stand-alone measure. And they said Reid had assured them they would get a vote on that slimmed-down bill before the end of the year.

“I am convinced that there are 60 or even 61 or 62 votes to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ under this carefully constructed language,” Collins said.

A stand-alone bill would still be subject to filibuster and possibly other procedural stumbling blocks. “We’re not kidding ourselves–this is not going to be easy,” Lieberman said. “On the other hand, if you have a free-standing bill… it’s going to be a much more limited debate.”

If it does clear the Senate, it would also still have to win approval in the House, although that chamber is already on record supporting repeal of DADT. And President Barack Obama has called for Congress to nix the policy.

“I hope it will be one of the remaining priorities” of the lame duck session, Lieberman said.

Still, he and Collins acknowledged disappointment in Thursday’s untimely defeat.

Republicans have said they would block all legislation until the Senate acts on a measure to renew the Bush-era tax cuts.

Lieberman and others had argued in private negotiations that there would still be time to take up the defense authorization bill, with the DADT repeal included, after that had been dispensed with. And he and Collins were working on a deal that would have allowed debate on 15 or so amendments to the underlying defense bill, including one to strike out the DADT language.

They said they had the votes to win on those terms.

“I guess we lost the argument with Sen. Reid,” Lieberman, who caucuses with the Democrats, said at a news conference after the vote. He said Democrats were operating under a false notion that they had to adjourn for the year by Dec. 17.

In the meantime, however, he argued “we are wasting time” on a gamut of other bills that are virtually certain to end up in the legislative dustbin–not on the President’s desk.

“I’m perplexed and frustrated, given the progress we had made, that [Reid] called the vote so suddenly,” Collins said. “There was a clear path to victory and for the life of me, I can’t understand why the majority leader failed to take it.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., who supports repealing DADT, was among those who stuck with her party to block taking up the bill on Thursday.

“Nothing was offered in terms of a reasonable process,” said Murkowski. Reid “shut it down.”

Before he called the vote, Reid said on the Senate floor that he’d done everything he could to work out a reasonable process but that Republicans, other than Collins, were being intransigent.

“I have bent over backwards to find a way to get this bill done. But it is clear that Republicans–led by a couple of senators who simply do not want to have a vote on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’– are doing everything they can to stand in the way,” Reid said.

“They want to block a vote on this issue at all costs, even if it means we do not pass a Defense Authorization bill for the first time in 48 years. And even if it means our troops do not get the funding and the protections they need,” he added. “It’s quite clear they are trying to run out the clock and just don’t want to get this bill done.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deirdre Shesgreen

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Lamont sets the stage for a debate on marijuana taxation by mid-2022
by Keith M. Phaneuf

The governor's draft bill proposes taxing marijuana and erasing convictions for possession that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2015.

In the grip of a pandemic: What would Dr. King say?
by Suzanne Lagarde MD

No one can dispute that we are in the midst of a history making week —the inauguration of a new President and the departure of a President under the cloud of accusations that he incited an insurrection against American democracy. However, the coming week will prove to be a week like no other in American history for more reasons than what is happening in our country’s capital.

Connecticut’s broad access to internet making at-home work more doable
by Timothy Wilkerson

When it comes to ranking public access to broadband networks, Connecticut has been consistently among the top five U.S. states for over a decade. In 2020, Connecticut topped two lists including best broadband access by BroadbandNow and WalletHub recognized the state as No. 1 in internet access to households as part of their Best States for Working from Home report.

The elephant in the Metro-North station
by David Moyer

All over the world, businesses are discussing their revised needs for space as a result of the pandemic. White-collar professionals who have successfully adapted to working from home will have, when they do go to their companies’ offices, fewer of them, with less square footage. Exactly how much is still a matter of debate since the post-pandemic habits of and requirements for in-person face time are still in flux. One thing’s for certain. It isn’t going to increase.

Separating myth and reality in aid in dying
by Lisa Blumberg

The virus is surging and the death rate is increasing as the already overburdened health system is in crisis. Yet, there is talk of the legislature again considering a bill to permit doctors to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally ill adults requesting them. This is despite the fact that such bills have stalled in committee five times in the past and due to the pandemic, the legislature may meet virtually for much of the upcoming session. Proponents will be talking about choice and compassion. Let’s separate rhetoric from reality.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion In the grip of a pandemic: What would Dr. King say?
by Suzanne Lagarde MD

No one can dispute that we are in the midst of a history making week —the inauguration of a new President and the departure of a President under the cloud of accusations that he incited an insurrection against American democracy. However, the coming week will prove to be a week like no other in American history for more reasons than what is happening in our country’s capital.

Opinion Connecticut’s broad access to internet making at-home work more doable
by Timothy Wilkerson

When it comes to ranking public access to broadband networks, Connecticut has been consistently among the top five U.S. states for over a decade. In 2020, Connecticut topped two lists including best broadband access by BroadbandNow and WalletHub recognized the state as No. 1 in internet access to households as part of their Best States for Working from Home report.

Opinion The elephant in the Metro-North station
by David Moyer

All over the world, businesses are discussing their revised needs for space as a result of the pandemic. White-collar professionals who have successfully adapted to working from home will have, when they do go to their companies’ offices, fewer of them, with less square footage. Exactly how much is still a matter of debate since the post-pandemic habits of and requirements for in-person face time are still in flux. One thing’s for certain. It isn’t going to increase.

Opinion Separating myth and reality in aid in dying
by Lisa Blumberg

The virus is surging and the death rate is increasing as the already overburdened health system is in crisis. Yet, there is talk of the legislature again considering a bill to permit doctors to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally ill adults requesting them. This is despite the fact that such bills have stalled in committee five times in the past and due to the pandemic, the legislature may meet virtually for much of the upcoming session. Proponents will be talking about choice and compassion. Let’s separate rhetoric from reality.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO