Washington D.C., Dec 18, 2010 / 14:01 pm
The U.S. Senate voted on Dec. 18 to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy barring open homosexuals from the military. Opponents of the repeal warned it will turn the military into a tool to impose “a radical social agenda” on the country.
In a 63 to 33 procedural vote, the Senate decided to hold a final vote on the policy. Sixty votes were necessary to prevent a Republican filibuster.
Six Republican senators voted for the motion: Mark Kirk of Illinois, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, George Voinovich of Ohio, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Maine senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who opposes repeal of the policy, was the only Democrat not to vote for cloture. He also did not vote for or against the final bill.