from AlterNet:
.........(snip).........
We are, by the way, talking about legislation that funds the U.S. military during two wars. It even includes money for a pay raise for Americans troops. But it also includes allowing servicemen and women to wear the uniform, even if they’re gay. Republicans would have had an opportunity to push an amendment to keep the DADT policy in place, but that wasn’t good enough, and every GOP senator on the floor today stood in lock-step to say, “No.”
They were joined by one conservative Democrat: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) of Arkansas, who may be under the truly ridiculous impression that joining Republicans to kill a military spending bill will help her salvage a re-election campaign she’s losing by more than 20 points.
Of particular interest was Maine’s Susan Collins, who voted in committee for the same bill she filibustered today. To hear Collins tell it, she supports DADT repeal, but had to kill the legislation anyway, because of procedural issues — she wanted the Democratic majority to promise to allow more amendments during the debate.
She wasn’t satisfied with the response, so Collins ensured that there won’t be a debate, and the policy change she claims to support is likely dead for the foreseeable future.
In other words, in Susan Collins’ mind, Senate procedure matters more than fairness, equality, and decency towards U.S. servicemen and women. Collins — and Olympia Snowe and Scott Brown, the alleged “moderates” — sided with far-right, anti-gay conservatives over procedural nonsense. ..........(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/21/breaking-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-blocked/