Withers: DADT vote set for tomorrow
As of this morning, the Senate will take up “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal this weekend.
Late last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for the end of debate. That means on Saturday the Senate will have procedural vote on repeal legislation. On Sunday there will be a final tally.
Three Republican senators, Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, and Olympia Snowe said they will join Sen. Susan Collins, one of the sponsors of the stand alone bill. If you are crunching the numbers that means there are 61 vote for repeal.
This means nothing. Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell runs a tight ship and ending DADT is counter to Tea Party/Republican talking points. Also don’t expect Sen. John McCain to allow this to happen minus a fight. The “maverick” is enjoying his status as the go to dude for social conservatives. He’s going to work overtime against gay and lesbian soldiers.
Time is tight and all hands are needed on deck. Here is a list of senators, provided by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, who still need convincing on why DADT needs to end:
John Ensign (R-NV)
George LeMieux (R-FL);
Richard Lugar (R-IN);
Judd Gregg (R-NH);
George Voinovich (R-OH);
Kit Bond (R-MO);
Mark Kirk (R-IL);
Kent Conrad (D-ND);
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
If your senator is on the list, give him a call today. Here is Senate contact information.
While we are on the topic of SLDN, members of the organization will be in the Senate gallery until a DADT vote is taken. This plan will be announced at noon today; joining the group at its press conference will be Sen. Joe Lieberman. Say what you will about the Nutmeg State’s senator, but his work on this has been inimitable. Give his office a call and say thanks.
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Related posts:
- Important Vote on DADT Repeal Tomorrow – ACT NOW
- Withers: DADT vote is scheduled
- Withers: DADT vote scheduled for today
- Withers: Lieberman says there are enough votes for DADT appeal
- Withers: DADT repeal is still uncertain
