Leave a Comment Sagesse
Why repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still viable, and perhaps even more so than earlier today
December 9, 2010
By Adam Bink
Following the defeat of the National Defense Authorization Act which included repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this afternoon by a vote of 57-40 (more in this thread here), Sens. Lieberman, Collins, and Mark Udall have announced they would move a stand-alone bill repealing the statute. This move was endorsed by Majority Leader Harry Reid, who promised them he would use Rule XIV to bypass the committee process and bring it directly to the floor, not to mention that he asked to be added as a co-sponsor.
Privately and publicly, I’ve seen a lot of skepticism about this strategy, best articulated by Jenny at 5:18 PM PST in the previous thread, who wrote:
I don’t really see how putting the DADT repeal as a free-standing bill will change anything. Won’t they still have to overcome the inevitable filibuster that Republicans will put up. Since they’ve all agreed to not allow anything to come to a vote until they get their tax cuts, there still won’t be 60 votes- even with Sen Collins. Do they think other Republicans will go against the letter?
These are entirely legitimate questions, and these questions combined with my promise to get into the latest news lead me to a state of play post. A couple of things regarding where we stand, why repeal is still viable and why perhaps even more so than earlier today:
1. The first concern I have heard is that, so what, there will still be a filibuster. This ignores what the filibuster is based on. The biggest obstacle to repeal, at this point, is no longer policy, but process. For more on this matter, I’ve articulated the same argument here and here. It is clear that 60 votes in favor of repealing the policy exist. Whether or not there is commitment from 60 Senators to vote in favor the Lieberman/Collins/Udall/Reid stand-alone bill is something we have to find out- and something with which Courage Campaign and I will be asking your help, and I will be tracking over the next several days here on P8TT- but it is clear that there are 60 Senators who are pro-repeal.
Given that the amendment/debate process has become the biggest obstacle, the simplest and best solution to overcome this is a stand-alone bill. A stand-alone bill does away with much of the negotiation process on amendments/debate time on NDAA that Sens. Reid and Collins could not come to an agreement to. It is, simply put, and up-or-down vote on whether or not to repeal the statute. While it’s true that Republicans could still introduce and filibuster amendments, it is the best path forward. So to answer Jenny’s question, yes, they will still have to overcome the inevitable filibuster. But the filibuster you saw today was on process; not policy. As such, a filibuster on an up-or-down bill is a problem, but not an obstacle that can’t be overcome.
2. A second concern I have heard is that such a bill would have to re-pass the House of Representatives. These should be allayed by Speaker Pelosi’s announcement that “an army of allies stands ready in the House to pass a standalone repeal of the discriminatory policy once the Senate acts.” And yes, the House can bypass the House Armed Services Committee and bring a bill directly to the floor. Last, don’t forget that the House already voted in favor of an “up-or-down” bill in the form of the amendment offered by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) over Memorial Day weekend. This was a straight up-or-down vote on the policy with the same certification language- no other strings attached. Not to mention, given how the Pentagon report allayed some Senators’ concerns, we might actually pick up a few more votes in the House. So, this is not much of a concern.
3. A third concern is that none of this will go anywhere since the Republican tax cut letter is still in play, that letter pledging to not support moving forward on anything until the tax cuts issue is resolved. This is also a valid concern, and one articulated by Sen. Collins. But, that does not necessarily mean nothing will ever go through the Senate ever again. Two simple possibilities: (1) The tax legislation passes the Senate, or passes the Senate/House and is signed by the President (it’s not clear what the Republicans’ requirements are), and our problem is resolved, or (2) two Republicans cave. One of these is entirely possible, and frankly, along with the 3rd possibility that tax legislation doesn’t pass and the Republicans hold fast, one of those three is inevitable, since something has to happen one way or another. Given the urgency and attention being paid to this issue by everyone here in DC, it’s very likely the first will be the outcome. Also, given that Sen. Collins has personally exempted NDAA and thus DADT from her own letter “signature”, if tax legislation didn’t pass, we would need just two more votes- not the entire Senate Republican caucus- to give in and vote in favor, assuming Sen. Lincoln with us on the issue itself (she voted in favor today, but so did Webb back in September while opposing repeal- her position on the policy is not yet clear). Not crazy or impossible, to answer Jenny’s question. Frankly, having seen people on both sides of the aisle cave on pledges regarding this or that throughout the political years, there are crazier things to hope for.
So basically, it’s true that another bill would add onto an already crowded calendar. But that doesn’t mean the path to success is terribly worse off than the current path, or that “none of this matters since the Republicans signed that letter”. In this ever-shifting environment, the tax situation could change as early as tomorrow, and then the roadblock is cleared.
4. A fourth concern is timeline, given that Sen. Reid’s target adjournment date is December 17th. This is a very real concern, and it is unacceptable that the Senate would adjourn for the holidays without acting upon an issue that is important to our national security, not to mention a promise that all the legislative leaders and President Obama made. And rest assured we at Courage and elsewhere in the pro-repeal community have and will be keeping a careful eye on, and applying pressure to, legislative leaders regarding this issue. But it doesn’t mean that Sen. Reid can’t change his mind and the Senate can’t work through the holidays. Don’t forget when the first Senate vote on health care reform came: Christmas Eve 2009. This has been done before for critical issues. It can and should be done on this, and a cacophony of voices urging this to happen has risen.
5. A fifth concern is the length of time required to move such a bill. After speaking with Congressional procedure expert David Waldman, who blogs at Daily Kos/Congress Matters and organizes on Senate rules reform, there are several paths. One path could take approximately nine calendar days, which would include first and second readings, cloture vote on the motion to proceed, motion to proceed, cloture vote on the bill itself, vote on the bill itself, and House passage (the full list of motions and votes is so long it makes you pine for a functional, majority-rule Senate, but I digress). Another path could be taking a dormant House-passed bill that’s been passed back and forth between the House and Senate and amended once or twice, and stripping everything out and replacing it with the DADT repeal text and sending that back to the House instead. That’s shorter, and might not require a cloture vote on the motion to proceed. That might be doable in about 4 days, if you can really cut out the filibuster on the motion to proceed, according to David. So in short, this will take some time, but if its given priority over other bills and the calendar is extended, it can be done.
The bottom line is that we have some work to do- starting with acquiring commitments from 60 Senators to support this new stand-alone bill- and will need your help. But assertions that this is “dead”, or it will never work, are mistaken, and it can be done. It can be done starting with your help tomorrow on acquiring those commitments, and by attending the rally on Capitol Hill sponsored by a few dozen leading progressive organizations (if you’re in DC or nearby, you should come too).
Let’s get to it.
Courage’s statement is below.
MILLIONAIRES BEFORE SOLDIERS: COURAGE CAMPAIGN ISSUES STATEMENT ON FAILED DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION CLOTURE VOTE
Courage Campaign says Senate must not adjourn without passing legislation repealing DADT
WASHINGTON: Moments ago, a motion to proceed on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation which includes funding for our troops, a pay raise for U.S. military personnel, support for those injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, and repeal of the military’s failed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy was defeated by a vote of 57-40 in the United States Senate.
An NDAA including DADT repeal is supported by 80% of the American people, the President, majorities in both houses of Congress, 2/3 of our active military according to a recent Pentagon study, and America’s top military commanders (including the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).
With America at war in two countries, 42 Senate Republicans have vowed to block action on any legislation without passage of an extension of Bush era tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was the only Republican voting to proceed with the legislation.
In response to today’s developments, Rick Jacobs, chair and founder of the Courage Campaign issued the following statement:“With America at war in two countries, a small minority of U.S. Senators has declared war on our troops–holding our security, support for wounded warriors, funding for our efforts Iraq and Afghanistan, and the careers of thousands of mission critical specialists facing the prospect of unnecessary discharge hostage to tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. What’s worse is that these very tax cuts will make our country less secure by deepening America’s debt to countries like China and Saudi Arabia.
Today’s Senate vote is a betrayal of the sacrifice born not by millionaires and billionaires–but by the brave servicemen and women who enable them to prosper. Our troops do not get to come home for the holidays, and neither should the U.S. Senate until they pass this important legislation.”###
The Courage Campaign is a multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. Together with VoteVets.org, Rep. Patrick Murphy, and Outserve, the Courage Campaign has mobilized nearly 700,000 petition signatories from all 50 states and around the world advocating DADT Repeal–including more than 12,500 veterans and military families. Watch videos and read the stories of Veterans and military families who support repeal at www.couragecampaign.org/testimony.
Having technical problems? E-mail equalityontrial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
70 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Alan E. | December 9, 2010 at 11:57 am
Still too much to do to read through and comment.
2.
Ann S. | December 9, 2010 at 12:00 pm
√
3.
Ronnie | December 9, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Today the Ratpublicans made it clear….their money is more important then the lives of our soldiers who are risking everything for these repugnant, selfish, greedy paper pushers….shame on them…Patriate does NOT equal rat…..
>( …..Ronnie
4.
Kathleen | December 9, 2010 at 12:06 pm
+√
5.
Rhie | December 9, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Hm…
6.
Anonygrl | December 9, 2010 at 12:25 pm
My head is going to explode with all of this.
It is absolutely ridiculous. It is something that the President, a whole bunch of the top brass, a majority of the service men and women, much of the Senate, enough judges to count and MOST OF THE COUNTRY want to see happen.
McCain and company, sit down, shut up and do the right thing.
7.
JPM | December 9, 2010 at 12:26 pm
We would need one more vote if we have every Democrat plus Collins.
8.
Ronnie | December 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm
yup….like my Speciality Design Professor always says…"Just do it"…..<3…Ronnie
9.
Sagesse | December 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Wondering what it would take for voters to wake up to what their Republican elected representatives are doing.
Or is this just government business as usual.
10.
adambink | December 9, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Whoops, I meant just Lincoln. Manchin is, at this moment, not with us.
11.
Scottie | December 9, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Question.
You write "Two simple possibilities: (1) The tax legislation passes the Senate, or passes the Senate/House and is signed by the President (it’s not clear what the Republicans’ requirements are), and our problem is resolved, or (2) two Republicans cave. One of these is entirely possible, and frankly, along with the 3rd possibility that tax legislation doesn’t pass and the Republicans hold fast, one of those three is inevitable, since something has to happen one way or another."
Well, couldn't the tax deal pass and then couldn't Republicans say, "Well, now that the tax cuts have passed, we should move on to the NDAA and we won't vote for cloture on anything until the NDAA is done. That IS what you've been asking for all along isn't it?"
It seems to me that they could easily say that and push back repeal until after NDAA and then until after the continuing resolution to keep government open, and on and on.
12.
paul | December 9, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Any successful strategy will have to accept that Manchin (just like 'footnote in history' McCain) is determined to remain forever on the wrong side of history on this issue.
13.
charles m | December 9, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Adam, I appreciate your positivism through a long and frustrating process.
But when you say we have 60 votes vis a vis the substance of the issue, and we only have the small remaining difficulty of objections to issues of process…
Doesn't it seem at least as likely, that some senators who privately oppose us as to substance are finding it easier to say their objections are procedural?
I'm yearning to vote for you, if only Senator Reid would do x, y and z, first… And x y and z keep moving away from us as we walk.
14.
Jenny | December 9, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I feel the same way as Anonygrl- "My head is going to explode with all of this". It's so frustrating that everything is right for finally repealing DADT and it's being held up by unrelated politics (meaning the "not until we get the tax breaks" letter). I have to think someone will have to cave eventually. They can't keep this "work stoppage" -as Sen Brown (OH) called it this afternoon- from continuing forever. And in the case of DADT, it's obvious now that this is the will of the Pentagon, the White House, the majority of Congress and the American People. Only a minority of Senators are holding it back. It's so wrong. I also really hope they stay in session until it's done. I've heard a handful of Senator's urge this already, so I'm hopeful the target deadline won't be our downfall.
Thanks for this post addressing mine and others questions. I love you all for laying it all out and helping me understand all the political/legal procedures. It's nice to have a place for all that, so sincerely thank you to everyone for what you do!
As an only slightly unrelated side note, I just read on CNN that the 9/11 responders bill was defeated again by filibuster. That just disgusts me to no end that they can't even do right for the people who risked their lives to help the 9/11 victims. Who do the republicans think they are helping with this ridiculous refusal to do their job?
15.
Jeremy | December 9, 2010 at 1:04 pm
This might be unpopular, and tantamount to heresy, but I honestly hope that the dems in the senate hold the line against the "welfare to the rich" bush era blood-letting… er I mean tax breaks.
I would rather let the tax breaks die by default, and let DADT stand, than capitulate to, and negotiate with, extortion(ists).
They are afraid of what happens when it comes down the pipe via judicial review, fine… don't hold america, and it's struggling budget, randsom. Once you back down, and shovel more debt onto the books, what's to keep them from continuing to use that "carrot" while the beat us with the "stick."
Screw 'em. Let them lose both their carrot & stick as well as show them to be the bigots they really are. Let them see what JUSTICE in ACTION looks like. Let all 42 of them twist in the wind on their own ropes; I'll bring the makin's for s'mores.
<3 Jeremy
16.
adambink | December 9, 2010 at 1:06 pm
On your first question, sure, that could happen. Of course, there aren't any indications anything like that are set to happen. Also, a continuing resolution could be passed. In short, you never know with things- half a dozen pro-repeal Senators could all get meningitis tomorrow, too- but there aren't yet any signals that would happen.
17.
Richard A. Jernigan | December 9, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Will read in detail later. Right now I am too damned steamed over the fact that our democrats still have not grown enough balls to get rid of this discriminatory turkey!
18.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 9, 2010 at 1:07 pm
!!!
19.
adambink | December 9, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Here's what I see: assuming Lincoln is with us on the substance, there are 60 Senators who have publicly said they will vote to repeal this policy. Done, end of story.
Are there some who are in the position you outline? Sure. That's why obtaining public commitments from 60+ to vote in favor of a stand-alone bill is so important. I'm not living in a world of assumptions that Sen. Brown is thrilled about moving forward on a stand-alone bill and wants in all the world to vote on this so desperately. But he made his public statement, and now he's going to be given a chance to either show he's serious, or that he was lying. That, in another respect, is the value of a stand-alone bill without procedural noise arguments around it.
20.
adambink | December 9, 2010 at 1:16 pm
You're very welcome. Hope I didn't put you on the spot, but I thought your comment well encapsulated the concerns I had been hearing.
21.
Floogle | December 9, 2010 at 1:28 pm
One thing the Repubs may not realize that the shoe will be on the other foot after the first of the year and then the Dems can block their preferred bills.
22.
Bob | December 9, 2010 at 1:57 pm
thanks for the update Adam,,,,,
okay everyone, take a deep breath, it ain't over, we can bitch and complain about how things are and the reasons we think they are that way…
we can be tired , frustrated pissed off, and fed up,,, but we cannot stop moving ,
continue with the phones, call call call, for those who can make the rally be there,
let's keep our momentum going, no matter how narrow the margins, we fight now with what we got, take our chances, push your elected officials, learn how to talk to them,,, make our voice heard,
we have to do this with the energy we had the first day, make some fun of it, talk with each other between calls, support each other,,,,,, see who we can get to call who hasn't yet…… (lets give up our virginity for the cause, first timers, tell us what it feels like) prize for anyone who actually engages a senator in a conversation…..
will Courage Campaign send someone to the rally, videos would be nice for those of us who can't attend…..
shake rattle and roll, give it all we got, cause this will all be over in a few days to a week, or so, and I'd rather say we tried, than not
it's not about anyone else, this is about each one of us, and what we do, thank god we're in this struggle, thank every one of you for what you do,,,, make America proud..
if you feel discouraged , think of those who we're fighting for,,, they are in the trenches, they don't get to rest, they have to soldier on, and on,
those fat cats, can't push us around any longer, this is THE PLACE TO TAKE OUR STAND, DON'T ASK TELL THEM TO REPEAL DADT BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE,,,,,,,,,,,,
23.
JonT | December 9, 2010 at 2:07 pm
'Why repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is still viable, and perhaps even more so than earlier today'
Stop playing with my heart Adam!
24.
Kate | December 9, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Just when you thought the Westboro Baptist Church could not possibly get more bizarre:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/elizabet…
25.
Keppler | December 9, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Very good summary, although reading it makes me more pessimistic than I was before. It's true that the biggest obstacle to repeal was process. But process was always a red herring. It's not clear to me that senators will be any more supportive when pushed to confront policy directly. In fact, I'd expect the opposite. The reality, though, is that this is the ONLY legislative way forward. I'll be surprised, frankly, if it succeeds, but we have to try. Because, let's face it, Obama will never be on our side if this becomes a judiciary matter. If that happens, repeal will take years as the DOJ pushes the appeal up to SCOTUS.
26.
Kathleen | December 9, 2010 at 2:57 pm
According to WaPo, Maryland poised to extend marriage equality: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
27.
Michelle Evans | December 9, 2010 at 3:24 pm
The one thing I have not heard yet in this debate recently is about the ability that still rests with Obama with regard to an Executive Order to Just End DADT!!
With the report in hand, and the majority of Americans behind him, why he can't he–even once–step up to the plate and do the right thing. He's seen that the Senate has not accomplished their job, so he could easily get this over and done with. If the Senate wants to come along later in some capacity, that's fine, but at least Obama would have shown some leadership for the first time in his nearly two years.
I find it so unfortunate that in the long run, his presidency–which many of us here originally had such high hopes for–will go down as one of the most ineffectual in history. Sure he got health care reform as his one big "win," but he gutted that before it was passed, and he didn't even have to do that since he had a supermajority. And it may get gutted even further in 2011 when the 112th congress takes session.
Just really tired of Obama's supposed compromises that accomplish nothing but to line the wallets of the rich even further, while the rest of us–and especially our military men and women serving with honor–get thrown under the bus.
As a trans woman, I know about being thrown under the bus–and it is happening again even with possible DADT repeal, but at least the lesbian and gay people will be safe even if trans people will still be required to hide like I did.
28.
Terry Chasteen | December 9, 2010 at 3:36 pm
None of this surprises me one bit. I believe that we have seen over and over and over again the insincerity and self-righteous greed of the Republican party; that they are more concerned about pandering to their wealthy right wing and discriminating 'financiers' to get reelected than they are concerned about the welfare of the average American citizen. What does surprise me, however, is that the voters continue to fall for their ranting against those who fight for fairness and continue to either DO NOTHING at the polls (who cause the greatest loss by allowing the GOP to take over once again) or actually vote these people back into office to start the complete process of taking everything that they can get their hands on over and over and over again. It's sad that middle class Americans can be so apathetic to allow themselves to be so repeatedly abused and then wonder "How could this happen?".
29.
Roger | December 9, 2010 at 6:33 pm
"You can always count on the Americans doing the right thing, though not, of course, until after they've tried everything else."
Mr Obama (and the Congress) seem determined to keep Churchill's words alive.
30.
DK | December 9, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Saw this on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-huffhannon/t…
and this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9KTIkuh6Dw&fe…
31.
Sagesse | December 9, 2010 at 9:51 pm
One step at a time
.
32.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 9, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I hear you Alan! Crunch time at work for me too…
33.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 9, 2010 at 10:28 pm
I saw that too….their behavior is certainly inexplicable : /
Happy Friday to you Kate – hope you are well : ) Love, Gregory
34.
Lesbians Love Boies | December 9, 2010 at 10:37 pm
☺ need some happy emails today!
35.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 9, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Does President Obama have the ability to get rid of DOMA too?
36.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 9, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Beautiful message and BEAUTIFUL people! Thank you DK for a msg to wake up and warm my heart : )
37.
adambink | December 9, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I will be at the rally. Hope to see some of you there.
38.
Kate | December 9, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Hi Gregory!!!! I hope you and your husband are OK — the failure of the DREAM Act is a dreadful bruise on our country.
39.
Ronnie | December 10, 2010 at 12:20 am
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/12/iowa-focus-o…
MAIN | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010
IOWA: Focus On The Family Files Federal Lawsuit To Stop Court Appointments
Focus on Destroying the Family is trying to violate the judicial process by attempting to stop the appointments of the new judges in Iowa…. they really have no civics education what-so-ever……You see? proof that NOM & the rest of their Fascist Un-American Theocratic ilk want to force ALL of the American people to be their version of "Christian"….They want to put judges in place that will force us to follow their Bible & their "God"……I say…NOT WITH MY TAX MONEY!!!!…… : / ……Ronnie
40.
mackenzie | December 10, 2010 at 12:31 am
Just finished my one final of the day. Already called Collins and thanked her for voting with her morals and for sponsoring the stand alone bill. Will be doing more calling as the day goes on.
41.
Lesbians Love Boies | December 10, 2010 at 12:38 am
Happy to say, IMHO, the idiotic and extremely misinformed Focus won't get their way. Not only because it's wrong, but it would take too much time to get the 'judge vote' on as a ballot measure – they need those judges in place now.
42.
Freddy | December 10, 2010 at 1:04 am
Kate, from what I gather, the Dream Act was just tabled so it could be brought up at a later date.
00268 09-Dec S. 3992 On the Motion to Table Agreed to Motion to Table the Motion to Proceed to S. 3992; DREAM Act of 2010
on the other hand, Motion to invoke cloture on NDAA was rejected, I don't know if the bill is outright dead or if it can be called up later for another vote.
43.
Freddy | December 10, 2010 at 1:13 am
So is this going to be NOM's next focus?
44.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 10, 2010 at 1:19 am
tx Kate and Freddy for weighing in : )
yes, delayed, but odds are much worse to get passed with tea-baggers next year : /
45.
Kate | December 10, 2010 at 1:20 am
Thanks Freddy and Gregory; I get SO mixed up with all this stuff………
46.
Sagesse | December 10, 2010 at 1:23 am
Indubitably. Problem is, there is virtually no way to stop a ballot petition. If they get the signatures, they get the signatures.
47.
Gregory in Salt Lake | December 10, 2010 at 1:36 am
ditto Kate!
48. Halliburton May Pay $500 &hellip | December 10, 2010 at 2:37 am
[...] Why Repeal of DADT is Still Viable, and Perhaps Even More So Than Earlier Today. Read more [...]
49.
Ann S. | December 10, 2010 at 3:04 am
DADT and DOMA are both federal laws, enacted by Congress and signed into law.
While Obama might be able to issue a stop-loss order and halt discharges under DADT, unless the law is repealed by Congress or overturned in the courts, another President can just reverse the stop-loss order.
50.
Ann S. | December 10, 2010 at 4:04 am
The irony here is rich — FOTF trying to claim an equal rights violation, when half the time they or other conservatives are trying to get the 14th Amendment repealed.
Idjits.
51.
Carpool Cookie | December 10, 2010 at 5:44 am
Okay…my boss is on the phone, so I sneaked in a call. I did an easy one first; complimenting Susan Collins for her initiative in trying to get this done.
Called toll free #…woman answered after three rings, "State Capital." I said I was hoping to speak with Susan Collins office. Three more rings.
AIDE: "hello?"
(sounds like younger male aide, good diction."
ME: "Hello, I was just calling in hopes of leaving a message for Ms. Colling, if that's possible."
(I usually use that approach, even if I know what I'm doing, as it puts the other person in the position of making a sign of good faith, and offering to help.) (BUT I also use good diction myself, so they know they're not dealing with a loony, unawares streetperson they'll have to lead by the hand.)
AIDE: Yes. Go ahead.
ME: I know you're busy, but I was just watching on the news about how Ms. Collins has developed a stand alone bill on Dont Ask Don't Tell along with Mr. Lieberman, and I just wanted to leave a message saying I think that's the right way to go, and to thank her."
(I hear swift typing on a keyboard)
AIDE: Okay.
ME: Thank you!
———————————————————————–
I think it also makes you less nervous if you look up the senator's pic online, or see a newsreel on youtube….because then you don't feel like you're stepping into a void of nothingness. You can actually picture WHO you are talking about.
Will make other calls when boss goes to lunch, and get more specific with highlighting language re: support, stand alone bill, etc.
52.
Kathleen | December 10, 2010 at 5:52 am
I think it also makes you less nervous if you look up the senator’s pic online
I did that with Kit Bond to see if it was a man or woman, so I'd use the appropriate pronoun. His picture creeped me out so much I decided I'd rather not know what these Repubs look like.
53. ACTION: Whip the Lieberma&hellip | December 10, 2010 at 7:54 am
[...] wrote last night about why the Lieberman/Collins stand-alone bill to repeal “”Don’t Ask, [...]
54.
Jenny | December 10, 2010 at 10:04 am
Oh no, I was pretty excited to be mentioned… it's the little things
55. Freezing, but fired up fo&hellip | December 10, 2010 at 1:12 pm
[...] I just read the comment thread on this morning’s post and saw how many of you are hitting the phones. THANK YOU. The information you’re reporting is extremely helpful and I am following up on folks like Sen. Murkowski. The folks who came to the rally told Congress this isn’t finished and let’s let that be our message too. There is a clear path to repeal. [...]
56.
Ed-M | December 10, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Yes, but I have this uncertainty that this country will not do the right thing even then, on many fronts — in that case it'll spend a century starting fifteen years from now trying to overcome pariah status. (It only took West Germany less than a decade after WW2)
57. Focus on the Family clinc&hellip | December 11, 2010 at 4:20 am
[...] ALSO: Why repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is still viable, and perhaps even more so than earlier… [...]
58.
Michael Ejercito | December 11, 2010 at 6:30 am
And a bigger problem for the pro-SSM side is that Maryland has a huge Catholic voter base, while Maine did not.
59.
Michael Ejercito | December 11, 2010 at 6:39 am
For some it is not so much a lack of balls but that they actually support DADT.
60.
Ronnie | December 11, 2010 at 8:08 am
maude….. 8 / ….Ronnie
61.
Ronnie | December 11, 2010 at 8:11 am
& they would be ungrateful & unpatriotic little selfish porcine's who do not deserve the freedoms our soldiers risk their lives for…. 8 / ……Ronnie
62.
Richard A. Jernigan | December 12, 2010 at 5:07 am
Actually, the Catholics in Maryland are not the problem. the biggest problem in Maryland is "Bishop" Harry Jackson, the NOMbie psuedo-pastor who thinks that because he calls himself a bishop he has the right to infect the legal system of this country with his own personal moral code, in violation of the Establishment Clause which sets up the foundations for the separation of Church and State. You can believe anything you want, and you can speak about your own personal moral and religious code, but you cannot inject that same personal moral and religious code into the law and thereby infringe on the rights of others to freely express their own religious beliefs, and you cannot use those same personal moral and religious codes to tell other church congregations and other synagogues that are in favor of marriage equality that they cannot perform wedding ceremonies for same gender couples.
Now, would you kindly go back to your Algebra I homework and leave the adults alone?
63.
Richard A. Jernigan | December 12, 2010 at 5:08 am
Projecting much, Sister Ejerkcito?
64.
Sagesse | December 12, 2010 at 6:23 am
@Richard
You are absolutely right, the Catholic voters in Maryland are not the problem. Having DC right next door helps, as many people who work in DC live in Maryland. And Maryland recognizes out of state same sex marriages.
65.
Ed-M | December 12, 2010 at 6:30 am
The Catholics are more liberal there than in some other states, I can name Maine and Minnesota as fine examples. And the NOMbies will come out with their "but what about the children" and "homosexuality is somehow wrong" (the ick factor) lines and all bets are off. How can our sisters and brothers head those two lines off at the pass? One thing in our favor, though, is that if they put it on the ballot, it'll be a people's veto like in Maine and not an amendment like in the other states… :p
66.
Ed-M | December 12, 2010 at 6:34 am
The irony is, Citizens United was based in whole or part on the 14th Amendment!
67.
Richard A. Jernigan | December 12, 2010 at 6:41 am
Actually, since Maryland already recognizes marriages performed in other states, the people there are already seeing for themselves that the statements made by NOM and their ilk are nothing more than sound bites. This will help. The best way we can counter NOM's attacks is by our very visibility and just being ourselves.
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