Repeal of military gay ban gets key vote

Conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson said Wednesday he will support a proposed repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law against gays serving opening in the military — significantly upping the odds that the measure will pass.

The Nebraska lawmaker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced his decision as the panel gathered to mark up a military policy bill that is expected to include a provision to repeal the controversial policy.

“I don’t believe that most Nebraskans want to continue a policy that not only encourages but requires people to be deceptive and to lie.  The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy does just that,” said Mr. Nelson in a prepared statement.

Mr. Nelson said the current policy breeds suspicion within military ranks and encourages senior officers “to look the other way.”

In a military which values honesty and integrity, this policy encourages deceit,” he said.

Mr. Nelson said a key reason for his decision to support the measure, proposed by Connecticut independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, is that it would delay implementation of the repeal until the completion of a Pentagon study of the issue due Dec. 1. Repealing the law also would be contingent on Pentagon and White House approval.

“I will support the Lieberman compromise because it removes politics from the process,” Mr. Nelson said.

Mr. Nelson’s support comes a day after fellow committee member Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Maine Republican, promised her support for the Lieberman proposal. The measure is now expected to have enough support to clear the panel, setting up a full vote in the Senate.

The House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the Department of Defense Authorization bill last week without addressing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. But House Democratic leaders are expected to include an amendment calling for the policy’s repeal. A full House vote on the bill could happen as early as Thursday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that he wouldn’t oppose the Democrats’ approach, although he added he would prefer Congress to hold off until the Pentagon completes its study.

The White House a day earlier said it supported the proposal.