I've been posting action diaries on Daily Kos for the last several months, to support the movement to repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which is currently perched at a very precarious crossroad. In the next 30 days Congress will decide between two legislative strategies. There is a stark choice:
- Fold repeal into the impending Military Spending Budget, essentially making it filibuster proof
- Delay repeal vote until later, and attempt to pass it as a standalone bill in the Senate. This will require 60-vote filibuster threshold: every Democrat and one Republican (there are merely 26 sponsors currently). The bar for collecting GOP votes will be even higher if the vote comes in the 112th Congress, not the lame duck session.
Senate sponsor Mark Udall is a strong advocate of attaching it to the budget, as is House Lead Sponsor Representative Patrick Murphy. Udall has said it's "within a vote or two." LGBT press reports have confirmed repeal lobbying groups agree. If these reports are not overly optimistic, we are at the 10 yard line here. This is the time to double—no—triple down and snatch a victory! This should be easy: Democrats outnumber Republicans on the committee 16 to 12. And there are 3 possible GOP votes: Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins and Scott Brown. (Although, I wouldn't hold my breath. This vote IS a GOP two-fer: 1. vote against Obama 2. vote against teh gays. It's all they live for these days.) The GOP possibilities are hard targets, particularly with Brown on record opposing repeal and Graham already in hot water with the teaparty folks.)
Repeal supporters have to shift into "Whip the Vote" mode now. Which means shoring up support, and being realistic about who we can get for repeal in the month of May. In my opinion, it does no good to call David Vitter and James Inhofe's offices in the next 30 day. If you want to, you have my blessing. I can only hurt if you think it's a substitute for calling one of our many unconfirmed allies. The Democratic party owns the issue, not the GOP. The GOP is under no obligation to come along, they have made no promises.
Now, what pamelabrown did, that touched off a flurry of calls. In response to my diary yesterday, pamelabrown posted this comment:
Reporting for Bill (milquetoast) Nelson (9+ / 0-)
(weasel-FL): While he supports the repeal of DADT, he'd like to see the Pentagon's study to see how we should move forward. So when I asked if that means he won't support the repeal until after the sudy is completed, I was told "not necessarily".
The key, and tiny, piece of information she managed to elicit was that Senator Bill Nelson would not rule out voting for repeal before December. This shouldn't been new information, he IS a Democrat and repealing DADT IS in the Democratic national platform. But still, it touched off a glimmer of hope.
We are not aware of who the 1-3 holdouts are on the Senate Armed Services Committte. But we are aware that repeal activist have identified six key targets:
- Bill Nelson, 202-224-5274
- Ben Nelson, 202-224-6551
- Evan Bayh, 202-224-5623
- Jim Webb, 202-224-4024
- Robert Byrd, 202-224-3954
- Scott Brown, 202-224-4543
I thanked pamelabrown for putting the information that Bill Nelson was still in play. I then Tweeted this to my followers:
We can get #FL Sen Bill Nelson to support #DADT repeal: Call his office: 202-224-5274 #LGBT #getEQUAL #getDADT @getEQUAL
The folks at GetEQUAL picked it up and retweeted it as:
RT @Clarknt67 We can still get holdout #FL Sen Bill Nelson 2 supprt #DADT repeal: Call his office NOW 202-224-5274 #LGBT #getEQUAL #getDADT
From there, it got picked up by group called QueerUnity, and the folks behind the National Equality March, and Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate. Just those followers alone represented 16,400 LGBT supporters across the country who got the encouraging news and hopefully at least some of them were prompted to action. And there's no telling how many other people retweeted their tweets.
A friend of mine sent me this:
@Clarknt67 must be lots of people calling because I have been on hold for 10 minutes
I, too, had a substantial hold time before speaking with a staffer, who was quite pleasant, I'll say.
This is how it works folks, this is coalescing around a goal and making it happen. So KEEP IT UP! Make the calls, and better yet, post a comment sharing what they said. Little pieces of information are very important at this time when everything looks bleak and amorphous and no one really wants to get pinned down until the victory is clear. The Senate Armed Services Committee is answerable to not only their state, but the country too, by virtue of their power to decide what other Senators get to vote on. Tell them to vote to let YOUR Senator vote on DADT this year.
Sample script:
I'm calling to encourage the Senator to vote to attach DADT repeal bill to the next military spending budget. I understand the Pentagon has concerns about waiting for a study that is due in December. Those concerns can be address by marking the date for actual repeal for sometime in the 2011 calendar year. We can vote for repeal in the next two months, and make it effective for some date after the study is done and reviewed. Thank you.
Please note: The study in question was always about HOW to implement repeal. There was never a question of IF. That question has been settled. Politicians with a goal of delay will try to obfuscate that fact. Do not allow it.
Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network, has a proposition in today's Roll Call. Far from an expression of infantile impatience, it is an extraordinarily reasonable compromise. Deferring full authority to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and individual branches service chiefs, it can be summed up as: "Vote now, no changes for at least 180 days." That timeline will still undoubtedly cost us the service of hundreds of good men and women, but it is likely the most optimistic scenario possible right now.
WHY THE NEXT 30 DAYS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL:
- The House Armed Services Committee markup of the Defense Authorization bill is expected May 19.
- The Senate Armed Services Committee markup of the Defense Authorization bill is expected the week of May 26.
- The House may move the Defense Authorization bill for a floor vote as early as the week of May 24.
The silence and ambiguity from the White House has been deafening. Repeal advocates have called for leadership, Barney Frank has described the White House "as ducking" the issue, Harry Reid publicly called for leadership last year. Adam Bink over at Openleft posted an excellent piecethat clearly delineates (in a neat list) ways the White House could be of assistance, but is not.
To raise awareness to the need for Presidential leadership, DADT repeal activists have launched “Stories from the Frontlines:Letters to President Barack Obama.”The new media campaign launched in partnership with Servicemember's Legal Defense Network,is intended to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.
Participating blogs: AfterElton, AmericaBlog, AKAWilliam, Bilerico, BoxTurtleBulletin, GoodAsYou, HRCBackStory LGBTPOB, Michael in Norfolk, Mile High Gay Guy, Open Left, PageOneQ, Pam's House Blend, The Queer Times, Towelroad.
Today's Letter: "I have remained faithful to my country; please be faithful to me."
April 28, 2010
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I was humbled to have earned the title of U.S. Marine just two years ago – my goal since I was 14 years old. But just nine weeks ago, I was informed of my discharge under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
Mr. President, if I could be serving my country right now – I would be. Instead, I was fired while you were my Commander and Chief.
The stories we hear of discharged service members are becoming far too common and are based around a primitive law that we should have eliminated years ago. As this injustice continues to hurt our country, we are in desperate need of your support and leadership as we work to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
After I finished my training, I was a 20-year-old reservist. I returned to school to continue working on my undergraduate degree with hopes of becoming an officer. I wish I could tell you about my distinguished service, about stories from the war overseas, or about how being a Marine has changed my perspective on life, but I can’t.
My discharge came from the fear that my sexual orientation was going to be revealed by a third party; a group of unknown Marines who threatened to use my sexuality as a way to retaliate after a dispute in a bar. I had spoken with two fellow Marines from my unit; both of whom I trusted. They calmed me, told me that it wasn’t a big deal, and reassured me that everything was going to be fine.
I returned to drill only to find out that the two Marines – the Marines I confided in -- had mentioned it and word had reached my 1st Sergeant and Commanding Officer. They told the two Marines to submit written statements detailing everything I had told them.
When I walked in to my 1st Sergeant's office the first question out of his mouth was, "Are you gay?"
I answered honestly. The investigation was now underway.
The 1st Sergeant proceeded to tell me that there was no way he could protect my privacy in the matter, citing the “grapevine,” and having no control over what people within the unit said or did. I was told by my CO to hang tight and wait to hear from the Battalion Commander.
Ultimately I was discharged, a fate I found out only through my persistent calls and emails. My dreams of being an officer had been shattered and it felt as if the world was tumbling down on me and all I could do was step aside.
Upon earning the title of Marine, I took an oath and vowed to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” This enemy is a domestic one, and with your direction as Commander and Chief, this is a war in which we can be victorious.
“Semper Fidelis” is the Marine Corps motto meaning “Always Faithful.” Not only am I willing and anxious to go overseas, but I am prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedoms.
I have remained faithful to my country; please be faithful to me.
Very Respectfully,
LCpl. Danny Hernandez,
USMC (Separated)
CALL TO ACTION!
Fate of repeal will be decided in the next 30 days. As time grows short, repeal advocates have multiple strategies are in place. One thing they all share is a need to hear from the public the time is now. Now is the time for LGBT allies to get off the fence and call for equality for their fellow Americans.
• Contact your House Representatives: Tell them to support Representative Patrick Murphy's plan to offer DADT repeal legislation as a floor amendment to the military bill.
• Contact your Senators: Tell them to support adding repeal to the Senate Defense Spending Budget: these Senators are most key: Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh, Jim Webb, Robert Byrd and Scott Brown. But call them all. Show them there's a grassroots movement to vote now.
• Contact the White House: Tell our Commander in Chief to call for repeal in 2010, repeal can't wait until 2011. The moment is now.
UPDATE 1: Thanks for the rec list. With all else that's going on, with finance reform, immigration, this 30 day window is not being reported at all by the traditional media. If it flies under the radar entirely, repeal will be lost. This TOO, is Kos at it's best, the ability to pierce through the 24/7 MSM's obsession with one topic at a time.
UPDATE 2: Thanks for your support in comments, recs, and phone calls. I have an very exciting piece of news I'll be sharing tomorrow, so please watch around noon for the diary and rec it so we can keep this issue in the public's eyes.
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