'DADT' Repeal Stalls as Senate Motion to Invoke Cloture Fails
Efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" faltered today as the Senate voted 56-43, refusing to approve a motion to invoke cloture and move to consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, containing both the DREAM Act and the DADT repeal amendments.
60 votes were needed to proceed.
Very disappointing.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted "no" on the motion to invoke cloture, reportedly a procedural move so he can bring the bill back to the floor at some point for another vote. If Reid had voted "yes", that would not be possible.
Said Alexander Nicholson, founder and Executive Director of Servicemembers United:
"Today's vote is a failure of leadership on the part of those who have been duly elected to serve this nation and to put the best interests of the country ahead of partisan politics. The Senate could learn a good lesson from those who serve in uniform and who stand to benefit from proceeding to debate on this bill - serving this country means putting politics aside and getting the job done. It is simply inexcusable that this vote failed today."
Said Army veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis:
"Today’s Senate vote was a frustrating blow to repeal this horrible law. We lost because of the political maneuvering dictated by the mid-term elections. Let’s be clear: Opponents to repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ did not have the votes to strike those provisions from the bill. Instead, they had the votes for delay. Time is the enemy here. We now have no choice but to look to the lame duck session where we’ll have a slim shot. The Senate absolutely must schedule a vote in December when cooler heads and common sense are more likely to prevail once midterm elections are behind us. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will continue to take this fight to the American people, the vast majority of whom support repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”
ROLL CALL, AFTER THE JUMP...
YES - 56
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Burris (D-IL)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Goodwin (D-WV)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaufman (D-DE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Reed (D-RI)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NO - 43
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brown (R-MA)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
** Lincoln (D-AR) **
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
** Pryor (D-AR) **
** Reid (D-NV) [procedural vote so he can bring the measure back up] **
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wicker (R-MS)
Not Voting - 1
Murkowski (R-AK)
I am struck by the idea that Bill Clinton, newly rehabilitated, was the Democrat who brokered DADT from a hostile Congress and that Obama, our "fierce advocate" continues to show no leadership here - he can stage a "beer summit" for a black Ivy professor bud, but can't utter a word about gay kids wanting to be in uniform to fight and die. History has a long lens, though, Barack. I commend you to your predecessor from Missouri, Harry Truman, who ended a cruel divide with the stroke of a pen:
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/desegregation/large/index.php?action=chronology
Posted by: Wavin' Dave | Sep 21, 2010 4:34:24 PM
GAYLIB,
I know the president, personally, and you are wrong. This is a dangerous political situation for the Democrats and they can least afford another rallying cry for the Republicans to re- energize their voters come November ,when Liberals are sleeping on the fence.
Think, think, think!
Posted by: Brains | Sep 21, 2010 4:35:21 PM
Not a single Republican voted to Yes on this. That is the only issue here. Not President Obama. While we may be upset with is tepid support of gay rights, don't lose sight of the fact that NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN voted to support a vote to repeal DADT. If we don't support the Democrats, the Republicans will take over the Congress. That is an alternative I am not willing to support.
Posted by: jcflondon | Sep 21, 2010 4:35:57 PM
I'm not an activist or reactionist, but for me this is a final straw. If you can't pass this legislation with overwhelming public support already in place, then you as the Democratic party are truly worthless, spineless and pathetic. My days of active donations, canvassing, calling, advocating, defending and believing in change from within the Democratic Party are over. Truly a sad day for our LGBT service members whose lives and careers will continue to be destroyed for decades to come.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 21, 2010 4:37:19 PM
It's a failure of leadership on the part of Obama. Bad political strategy by Reid if the votes were there to block the Rethuglicans attempts to amend and remove the DADT provision. With Rethuglicans and ConservaDems bringing up the rear by playing pure politics.
DADT was originally implemented as part of the Def Auth bill, which actually has been used many times as a vehicle to get measures past. Dems seriouly need to take a page from the Rethuglican playbook on how to enforce discipline in the ranks.
It's really a shame there aren't many politicians who actually care about doing the right thing, and that the election cycle really comes down to a choice between the lesser of two evils.
Posted by: Rich | Sep 21, 2010 4:38:09 PM
Partisan bickering at this point is asinine since there is ample blame to go around: the failure of the Obama administration and the Democrats to show leadership and get this done while they had the chance, the dependably, actively anti-gay Republican party who will always obstruct any gay civil rights legislation if they can. No one can legitimately point fingers in one direction on this, unless they're playing the same idiotic politics as Congress.
If you're a liberal and sane, this won't make you vote Republican in Nov. But it will surely make you reluctant to donate $ and it could make you stay home entirely. If you're a conservative on everything but gay issues, you'll vote anti-gay Republican because it's increasingly easier to justify that vote given the failure of the Dems.
Despite the hyperbole about Obama being a one-term president or facing a credible primary challenge in 2012, there is currently no evidence to support that. He's unpopular, but most everyone else is even more so. DADT is big on our radar but not on the country's. No Dem is hinting at running. And, fortunately, none of the current homophobic Republican possibilities are winners. Our only choice is to continuing to pressure the powers that be (and that means more than Obama) or to sit out the political process entirely, depending on the strength of your stomach.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 21, 2010 4:45:21 PM
I was all ready to defend Obama today after this legislative fiasco occurred. But when I saw his choice to head the Marines testifying AGAINST DADT before the Senate committee before the vote, I thought: FUCK OBAMA! He can't stand up to the military! He's appointing people to top jobs who don't agree with repeal. I hate to say it, but I don't think Hilary would have caved in to the military brass like Obama has.
Posted by: allan | Sep 21, 2010 5:01:48 PM
We gave the Democrats the House, and they said "We can't deliver on our promises because we need the Senate!"
So we gave the Democrats the Senate, too, and they said "We can't deliver on our promises because we need the White House!"
So we gave the Democrats the White House, and they said "We can't deliver on our promises because we need 60 votes in the Senate!"
So we gave the Democrats 60 votes in the Senate, and they said "We can't deliver on our promises because...um...gee, we really mean to do what we say, it's just that...um...yeah. Nope."
Why bother voting?
Posted by: thegreasybear | Sep 21, 2010 5:09:31 PM
Most of the "Obama and Dems suck!!!" posting around here is from obvious republican trolls, of course, but let's just for a moment take some of it as real. I have a question, well several questions.
When you were a kid and wanted a puppy and mom said "yes" and dad said "no", did you go around the neighborhood telling everyone what a whore your mother was?
But more seriously, go ahead, be pissed at the Dems. Be pissed at Reid. Be pissed at Obama. Then get over yourselves.
Every freaking Democrat in the Senate could have voted for this and it still would have failed. Instead of getting 100% -- which you would have bitched about anyway, of course -- we got 95% of Dems (rounding) and 0% of Republicans. So, go ahead, stop giving to the only party that cares about your rights.
And one last point. Pay attention to the numbers. 56 YES votes. Of the wavering Dems you were all supposed to be phoning, FOUR hopped on board, including WEBB, who carries a lot of respect on military issues. The Defense Authorization will come up again. There's no way to avoid it. No one who voted YES today is going to vote NO in lame duck session. That's 56 YESes going into that vote.
On the GOP side, all the YES votes we had hoped for chickened out. But they won't in lame duck session. This authorization will pass in November or December with near unanimous support from the Dems and a small handful of GOP senators.
Some of you, of course, will still be bitching about Obama and the Dems then, too.
Posted by: BobN | Sep 21, 2010 5:18:41 PM
@gaylib Nah, don't think I will. You're a self-satisfied jerk who thinks blustery insults rather than substantiated argument are an appropriate or effective mode of discourse. Frankly, being a jerk because I object to the way you treat other people on a board just reinforces my original point.
Posted by: BCLance | Sep 21, 2010 5:27:54 PM
Olympia Snow and Susan Collins knew the vote result before it happened of course and took the safe route. Their no vote will not really hurt them in Maine. A yes vote likewise wouldn't hurt them. I don't think a no vote would really hurt in any state actually. Scott Brown in my state of Massachusetts will not be hurt by his no vote, even though I don't think most Massachusetts are against repealing DADT; most people are of course heterosexual and apathetic on gay issues.
It was really a very cynical vote on the part of the Dems. They of course knew it wouldn't pass but it gave them the opportunity to claim they tried but those damn Republicans blocked us.
Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 21, 2010 5:35:00 PM
As a liberal from Arkansas, I am completely disgusted. This why Blanche Lincoln is losing her job. She has completely lost her base and this is an indicator why. To those who wish to blame Obama and his leadership consider that he is very unpopular here in Arkansas. He has no real sway over Lincoln or Pryor. I would count on Collins, Snowe, Voinovich, Lugar, and Brown to move this forward before I would count on Lincoln or Pryor. I'm surprised they got Webb.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Sep 21, 2010 5:35:01 PM
Fucking Republicans....How can these Log Cabin people sleep at night?...
Posted by: John Normile | Sep 21, 2010 5:36:25 PM
Such a sad day. Another blogger I read a bit ago suggested we stop paying taxes if we can't serve EQUALLY in the military and can't get married. I know it's unrealistic, but think if all the LGBT community collectively quit paying their taxes until they had 100% EQUAL rights in these United States of America. I guess they would use stimulus money and build more prisons to house us all. It doesn't feel good to be gay today...
Posted by: Mike | Sep 21, 2010 5:43:05 PM
Brains...was that a rhetorical question? Of course I'm that naive and stupid. Otherwise, I'd be you, obviously.
Posted by: Bruno | Sep 21, 2010 5:45:07 PM
I would have voted no on this due to the attachment of the amnesty provision. That was the poison pill. As long as there is an Amnesty attachment this thing needs to die.
Posted by: Jason | Sep 21, 2010 5:54:42 PM
Still no acknowledgment of the fact that the Democrats larded up this bill with non-related items like immigration amnesty measurers.
If the Democrats really wanted this passed, they could have made it a single-issue bill and opened the amendatory process. Instead, it's a hodgepodge of unpopular stuff 45 days before an election. Harry Reid is a coward. Too bad his opponent is such a nutjob.
Posted by: LincolnLounger | Sep 21, 2010 5:55:50 PM
Lincolnlounger...Exactly. The Dems sabotaged this thing in recent weeks, it's so obvious that leadership DID.NOT.WANT.THIS.TO.PASS.RIGHT.NOW. Anyone of reasonable intelligence can infer what happened here.
Posted by: Bruno | Sep 21, 2010 6:02:39 PM
All closeted Reublican Congressmen need to be outed. Starting with Messers Graham, Boehner and McConnell. No more excuses.
Posted by: chasmader | Sep 21, 2010 6:13:40 PM
DADT already would have been repealed if our "Fierce Advocate" Obama put his muscle into it earler in his term and the Democrat leadership in Congress really cared. Instead, they tried this phoney election-season charade to try and fool people into thinking this was a priority.
POSTED BY: LINCOLNLOUNGER | SEP 21, 2010 3:36:00
Right Miss Lounger faggots like you love every fucking republican that voted AGAINST IT!
Posted by: Chris | Sep 21, 2010 6:50:36 PM
Miss GayLib you Clinton cocksucker it was his ass who signed this shit.
SHUT THE FUCK UP PUNK ASS FAGGOT!!!
Posted by: Chris | Sep 21, 2010 6:52:25 PM
Obama could care LESS if he looses the Congress to the GOP he welcomes it...and so do I it will FORCE him to use his veto power.
And then we can see what he's really made of.
Look as a progressive I hate to see the House go GOP but the Senate is gutless.
And if u don't think that a GOP Senate will change the fillibuster rules on day 1 I HAVE A BRIDGE TO SELL YOU.
Posted by: mcNnyc | Sep 21, 2010 7:14:59 PM
Isn't it funny how not having 60 votes never stopped George W. Bush from passing anything and everything he wanted? Most of those GOP bills passed with 52-58 votes. So what happened? The Dems won the presidency and both chambers, then raised their own bar so nothing gets done? And Dems wonder why their base is staying home this November. I know I am.
Posted by: Joe H | Sep 21, 2010 7:16:25 PM
I never thought the bill was going to pass this time but I started to build my hopes up. Well so much for that.
I am beginning to doubt America and democracy. This country is pathetic. America has always been slow. Slow to let women vote, slow to count blacks as people, and now slow on gay rights. We’re not even talking about marriage here, just the ability to serve in the military. Which other developed country is this backward? Instead of preaching freedom, equality, and justice around the world, live up to your actions, America. As for democracy, it cannot function when more than half of the populace is bigoted and ignorant, not to mention our leaders who do not actually lead and only pander to the lowest common denominator.
If we cannot pass this now, then when? Not one Republican broke ranks. Republicans are morally bankrupt and a danger to rationality and equality everywhere. As for the Democrats who voted with the Republicans, all I have to say is: with friends like you, who needs enemies?
Posted by: Brian B. | Sep 21, 2010 9:36:36 PM
Gee, wonder why this didn't pass...
Reid makes the last minute call to disallow amendments by the Republicans, losing us Collins (and probably Snowe as well).
Adding DREAM was just asking for disaster, but it was added anyway. Sure, let's add amnesty for illegals in a military appropriations bill.
No active leadership from the Dems leading up to this; as a matter of fact we went, in less than a year, from full repeal to an "amendment" left to the discretion of the very people who didn't want to see DADT repealed. Oh, and we got to see the new MArine who publicly blasted the DADT repeal earlier this morning.
Posted by: DR | Sep 21, 2010 9:46:47 PM