McConnell Doubts DADT Repeal This Year

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell appeared on Meet the Press and said that he doubted repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" could happen before the end of this year.

"Once you get on a defense bill it typically takes two weeks," said the Republican from Kentucky, who cited other hot-button items in the National Defense Authorization Act including abortions at military hospitals. "I don't see how we can possibly finish the defense authorization bill, a two-week bill -- wholly aside from these controversial items that are in it, there are a whole lot of other things in it -- before the end of the year."

Asked whether he thinks that support exists for repealing the ban in Congress, Sen. McConnell replied that he plans to follow the lead of Sen. John McCain, the outspoken opponent of repeal, and reiterated that he did not see how debate could be completed on the bill before the end of the year.

Watch the segment.