Manchin votes against 'Don't ask' repeal, then apologizes

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) appeared to take a stand on the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" Thursday, becoming the only Senate Democrat to vote against a procedural motion to move the measure forward. 

But after the vote, Manchin blasted out a statement apologizing to anyone angered by his vote and said he believed the policy "probably should be repealed in the near future." 

"While I believe the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' policy will be repealed someday, and probably should be repealed in the near future, I do not support its repeal at this time," Manchin said in the statement. "I truly understand that my position will anger those who believe repeal should happen now and for that I sincerely apologize. While I am very sympathetic to those who passionately support the repeal, as a Senator of just three weeks, I have not had the opportunity to visit and hear the full range of viewpoints from the citizens of West Virginia."

Manchin went on to explain that his 'no' vote Thursday doesn't reflect concerns with repealing the ban on openly gay service members. He said it's "an issue of timing."

He also suggested that President Obama should just leave the Senate out of the equation and take it upon himself to stop the policy, noting in his statement that some believe it's within Obama's power to suspend the military discharges "if he deems it a matter of national security."

"If this is correct, and the President was to make such an order, while I may disagree with it, I would respect his authority as President to do so," Manchin said in the statement.

Manchin won a special election last month to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and will have to run for a full term in 2012, when he is likely to be a top Republican target.