Senate blocks repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Anne Flaherty, Associated Press – 11 mins ago
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Anne Flaherty, Associated Press – 11 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Republicans blocked a last-ditch effort in the Senate to lift the military's ban on openly gay troops on Thursday, dealing a major blow to gay rights groups and making it unlikely Congress could repeal "don't ask, don't tell" any time soon.
The 57-40 vote fell three short of the 60 needed to overcome procedural hurdles to lift the 17-year-old ban. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was the lone Republican voting to advance the bill, and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote against it.
The rejection was a defeat for President Barack Obama, who campaigned promising to overturn the law and later called it one of his top legislative priorities for the year.source