Senate passes "don't ask, don't tell" policy repeal; Arklatex senators split vote

      In a vote of 65-31, the U.S. Senate Saturday afternoon approved the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that will allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

      Nine Republicans crossed the aisle to join Democrats in voting to scrap the policy responsible for the dismissal of more than 13,500 people from the military since the 1993 law went into effect.

     Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Vermont) in leading the repeal effort. Other Republicans voting in favor of the repeal were:

Sen. Scott Brown, Massachusetts

Sen. Olympia Snowe, Maine

Sen. Mark Kirk, Illinois

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska

Sen. John Ensign, Nevada

Sen. Richard Burr, North Carolina

Sen. George Voinovich, Ohio

     Only Burr was a surprise. He had gone on record as being opposed to the repeal, and actually voted “no” in a procedural vote earlier in the day.

    On the Democrat side of the aisle, West Virginia’s junior Sen. Joe Manchin, who faces re-election in 2012 and has stated his opposition to repealing the policy was conspiciously absent when the vote was taken. An aide reported the senator had a family obligation. 

     Arklatex senators were in a dead heat – three in favor, three opposed. Both Texas Senators – Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Sen. John Cronyn – opposed the repeal of the policy, as did Louisiana’s Sen. David Vitter.  Louisiana’s senior Sen. Mary Landrieu, however, voted in favor of lifting the ban, as did both Arkansas senators – Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Sen. Mark Pryor.

      Repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” was a campaign promise made by President Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign, but the issue was a political football that was tossed hither and yon right up until the two-minute warning signal.

     A relieved Obama issued the following prepared statement after the vote:

   "The Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending 'don't ask, don't tell," no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.
    "It is time to close this chapter in our history," he stated. "It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law."