David Wood of Politics Daily is reporting that Senate Republicans blocked repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" Thursday, significantly dimming prospects that the ban on gays serving openly in the military will be lifted during this lame-duck session of Congress. The 57-40 vote came on a motion to bring the giant defense budget bill, which included repeal of DADT, to the floor, with Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid unable to raise 60 votes needed to launch debate. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had pinned his hopes on the Senate for an orderly implementation of the change in military policy. The House voted this fall to repeal the 17-year-old law, and a positive Senate vote would have allowed the Pentagon to begin a lengthy process to actually lift the ban. Unless the Senate acts this month, it is likely the courts will order an immediate repeal, an outcome Gates has said would lead to chaos and precisely the kind of disruption of morale and combat readiness many critics of repeal have feared. Get ready for the chaos to ensue. Unless a measure benefits white, straight, Christian and wealthy folks, the Republicans will be blocking and voting against it. This is what the people wanted — more discrimination, which is as American as apple pie.
Read more at Politics Daily.