Now or Never: Call Harry Reid and Demand DADT Repeal!

If the written and spoken words of Senators and Nancy Pelosi are to be believed, there is a single man standing in the way of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell now: Harry Reid.

It is his decision, and his alone, to either bring S.4023, A bill to provide for the repeal of the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", to the floor of the Senate and see it through to a final vote or not.

If I understand Senate procedures, it is his decision, and his alone, to decide whether to keep the Senate in session long enough to vote on this bill.

Call Harry Reid NOW and tell him, as a citizen of the United States, you demand that he see through S.0423 the bill that will repeal this disgusting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional law:

HARRY REID 202-224-3542



Now that the Senate has all but passed the giveaways to the rich temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts and extended unemployment benefits, there is no reason for Republicans to continue to block other legislation (not that they are not capable of creating new reasons out of thin air...).

S.4023 currently has 41 sponsors, including Blanche Lincoln, who failed to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act last week, the bill that contained the DADT repeal provisions. That vote 'failed' 57-40 (insofar as the Senate fails to be a democratic body, demanding cloture -- 60 votes to allow consideration of any legislation). Assuming no aye would switch to nay, Lincoln's implied vote by virtue of her sponsorship would bring the total to 58.

Call Harry Reid NOW and tell him, as a citizen of the United States, you demand that he see through the bill that will repeal this disgusting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional law:

HARRY REID 202-224-3542

Where do the other two votes for cloture come from?

Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, December 3, 2010:

"I pledged to keep an open mind about the present policy on Don't Ask Don't Tell. Having reviewed the Pentagon report, having spoken to active and retired military service members, and having discussed the matter privately with Defense Secretary Gates and others, I accept the findings of the report and support repeal based on the Secretary's recommendations that repeal will be implemented only when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed."

Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, December 10, 2010:

Lugar said he supports "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and his decision to vote "no" is unrelated to the repeal provision in the bill.

That's enough, if these Senators can be taken at their word, to push the bill through a cloture vote.

Call Harry Reid NOW and tell him, as a citizen of the United States, you demand that he see through the bill that will repeal this disgusting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional law:

HARRY REID 202-224-3542

And then there's Joe Manchin, a few days ago on Morning Joe:

"It's something that probably will be, it needs to be repealed, and it will be repealed."

Not that he stated he would vote to repeal it, mind you...

There are also other potential votes for the bill:

Senator Snowe of Maine
Senator Voinovitch of Ohio
Senator Murkowski of Alaska
Senator Kirk of Illinois

Taken all together, the chance to get Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal past a cloture vote seems very high, if Harry Reid has the will to see the bill through the Senate.

Call Harry Reid NOW and tell him, as a citizen of the United States, you demand that he see through the bill that will repeal this disgusting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional law:

HARRY REID 202-224-3542

For good measure, here is contact information for those key Senators whose votes will decide the matter, if Harry Reid allows them to:

OLYMPIA SNOWE
MAINE
202-224-5344
email
207-786-2451 207-622-8292 207-945-0432
3 Canal Plaza, Suite 601, Portland, ME 04101

SCOTT BROWN
MASSACHUSETTS
202-224-4543
email
617-565-3170
2400 JFK Federal Building, 55 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203

DICK LUGAR
INDIANA
202-224-4814
email
812-465-6313 317-226-5555
180 Market Tower, 10 West Market St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

JOE MANCHIN
WEST VIRGINIA
202-224-3954
email (governor's page)
304-205-5889 (senate campaign office phone)

GEORGE VOINOVICH
OHIO
202-224-3353
email
216-522-7095, 513-684-3265, 419-259-3895
1240 East 9th Street, Room 3061, Cleveland, OH 44199

LISA MURKOWSKI
ALASKA
202-224-6665
email
907-456-0233, 907-271-3735
101 12th Ave, Room 216, Fairbanks, AK 99701

MARK KIRK
ILLINOIS
202-224-2854
707 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 350, Northbrook, IL 60062
312-886-3506

KIT BOND
MISSOURI
202-224-5721
email
816-471-7141 314-725-4484
7700 Bonhomme, #615 St. Louis, MO 63105

JUDD GREGG
NEW HAMPSHIRE
202-224-3324
email
603-225-7115, 603-622-7979
125 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301

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Oh, did I mention:

Call Harry Reid NOW and tell him, as a citizen of the United States, you demand that he see through the bill that will repeal this disgusting, discriminatory, and unconstitutional law:

HARRY REID 202-224-3542

Thanks!