The Hill News

Tuesday's failed cloture vote on a defense authorization bill in the Senate was followed by sharply critical press conferences on both sides, with Republicans assailing Democratic leaders for attempting to attach the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and the DREAM Act to the defense bill and Democrats slamming Republicans for "shamelessly" blocking the bill.

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) went first, with McCain blasting the "blatant and cynical attempt to galvanize the Hispanic vote in regards to the DREAM Act, and also energize the gay and lesbian vote in the case of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'  Obviously we need a defense authorization bill. We need one very badly, and I hope that at some point we'll be address it."

McCain stuck to his pledge to consider a repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law only after a Defense Department study is finished. He also said Tuesday he wants additional assurance that the study's methods and p! rocess was fair and complete.

"This is just transparent, brazen, 'let's-check-special-interest-bloc politics, 40-something days before the election," Graham added. "I think it's backfired. I don't think anybody in the country is going to hold it against us [Republicans] for objecting to the way they're doing business with the defense bill."

But Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) called the GOP's stance "outrageous and sad," and that Republicans kept "flipping" their reasons for opposing the legislation. Levin said he wasn't sure how or when the bill would be re-introduced, although he said he has no special agreement with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to bring it up during a lame-duck session.

"I sure hope it's going to be different in November, because it's totally unacceptable for the first time in history we're not going to get to a defense authorization bill because it's been filibustered by Republicans," Levin ! said. "It's very difficult to know what the path is to getting! this bi ll considered. As the chairman of the committee, I'll do everything I can to get it before the Senate, but I can't discern what that path is at the moment."

Levin did say the DREAM Act is still very much an active amendment to the defense bill, although he said he would be willing to bring forward the bill without the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal if he has no other choice.

"We would proceed with a defense authorization bill without that language," Levin said. "I'm not going to say we can't proceed with a defense authorization bill for the defense of this country unless the language that's in there stays. I would never take a position like that. I think it would be inconsistent with my belief and our belief on a bipartisan basis that the defense of this country has got to come first."