Blaming pressure from the Obama administration and congressional colleagues, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, has dropped an amendment aimed at weakening the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on gays.

Hastings’ amendment to a defense appropriations bill would not have repealed the policy that allows the military to discharge a servicemember for homosexual conduct, but would have withheld the use of federal money to investigate or discharge military personnel for revealing their sexual orientation.

“Due to pressure from some of my Congressional colleagues and from the White House, I have withdrawn my amendment. I would, however, like to note that it is most unfortunate that we are not addressing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell at this time. We should not be appropriating funds to enable qualified service members to be booted out just because they are honest about whom they are,” a Hastings statement late yesterday said.

Read his entire statement after the jump……

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