Senate blocks move to lift ban on gays in US military

[ErnstBlofeld]

Defense Talk:

The US Senate blocked a bid to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the military, thwarting the move with political maneuvering which now puts the issue on a back burner indefinitely.

Democratic supporters of repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy -- a 1993 compromise aimed at resolving the thorny issue of gays in the military -- ran up against a wall of Republican resistance.

A total of 56 senators to 43 voted to advance debate on the annual Pentagon military spending bill to which the repeal of the gays ban had been attached, falling four short of the 60 votes needed to move forward.

"We're disappointed at not being able to proceed to the legislation, but we'll keep trying," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a swift reaction after Democratic Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln also voted against.

"I think you have in the defense bill obviously very important funding for the priorities of our Pentagon and our troops," Gibbs added.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Rheo
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