In Season 7 of The West Wing, The California Governor is faced with the choice of signing or vetoing a bill that would prohibit undocumented people from obtaining drivers' licenses. This is happening as Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) is campaigning in the state. When the governor asks why Santos won't publicly rebuke the bill and call for a veto, Santos replies:
Because people need to hear you say that, not someone that looks like me.
Now apply that to DADT.
We've heard rumblings this past weekend about a trial balloon released that says that Senators are considering a version of the Defense Authorization Bill that does NOT include the repeal of DADT, so they can "get it passed".
Naturally, the LGBT community is PISSED, and rightly so. My thoughts? If we can fax bomb Boehner's office asking where the jobs are, and if we can force Phil Griffin to change his email address and phone number over Keith Olbermann, why can't we do the same to ensure the repeal of DADT?
Why is only the LGBT community upset about this and talking about this?
Senators KNOW that LGBT people are against DADT. They don't need to hear it from them.
They need to hear it from US.
We mobilized for health care. We mobilized for Keith. We are mobilizing to make Boehner's life a living hell.
This one should be a no-brainer.
Here they are. Contact information for 98 Senators.
These are the Senators who will vote on the Defense Authorization bill during the lame duck session. I don't have the information for Manchin or Kirk yet.
This is perhaps the last, most important fight we have for this Congress. This is the LAST chance for a while to get it repealed. If these Senators flip off Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen, if they ignore the survey because it says that the servicemen and women DON'T CARE, then WE have let our brothers and sisters down. WE have let all those who are serving in fear NOW down.
One of the most enduring themes of the Civil Rights Movement was the fact that ALL people were involved. Not just African Americans, but ALL people. Because we ALL knew that as more people achieve equality, we ALL grow as a country and our country becomes STRONGER for it.
NOW is the time.
UPDATE: jpmassar gives us some specific information for swing votes:
MARK PRYOR, ARKANSAS
202-224-2353
501-324-6336
The River Market, 500 Clinton Ave Ste 401, Little Rock, AR 72201
BLANCHE LINCOLN, ARKANSAS
202-224-4843
501-375-2993 870-382-1023 870-910-6896 479-251-1224
912 West Fourth Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
SCOTT BROWN, MASSACHUSETTS
202-224-4543
617-565-3170
2400 JFK Federal Bldg, Boston, MA 02203
GEORGE VOINOVICH, OHIO
202-224-3353
216-522-7095, 513-684-3265, 419-259-3895
1240 East 9th Street, Room 3061, Cleveland, OH 44199
LISA MURKOWSKI, ALASKA
202-224-6665
907-456-0233, 907-271-3735
101 12th Ave, Room 216, Fairbanks, AK 99701
SUSAN COLLINS
MAINE
202-224-2523
207-622-8414 207-945-0417 207-780-3575
One Canal Plazam, Suite 802, Portland, ME 04101
I don't have email linkys up for them, but start calling!