Lady Gaga Will Rally Against McCain DADT Filibuster in Maine Tomorrow

Lady Gaga will rally in Portland Maine tomorrow against John McCain's filibuster of the Defense Authorization. It is a push to force Maine's relatively moderate Republican Senators - Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins - to join Democrats and end the Senate filibuster, bringing the bill (which contains a provision to end Don't Ask Don't Tell) to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the 60 votes to end the filibuster are NOT in place - so support fromSnowe and Collins  is crucial.  Via AmericaBlog

The votes to break McCain’s filibuster are not there. We need Sens. Snowe and Collins on board; they’re key to us breaking the filibuster. With the vote less than 48 hours away, we need everyone supporting repeal to call the Senate. We’re bringing gay and straight service members to Portland to help make the case. And we’re proud to have the support of Lady Gaga to bring grassroots attention to repeal at a critical hour. Like Lady Gaga, all New England senators, indeed all 100 senators, Democrats and Republicans, need to engage in a real debate on this issue, and not just posture and spin this week over procedure and Senate rules.

... SLDN member (and veteran) Aubrey Sarvis

The rally, called “For the 14,000”: A Rally for the 14,000+ Discharged" is tomorrow at 4:00 PM Eastern in Deering Oaks Park (near the University of Southern Maine). For those on Twitter, the hashtag is #4the14k.

Also, if you haven't called your Senators yet, tomorrow (Monday) is the day to do it.

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BunnyNation Action Alert - DADT!

Dearest DustBunnies,

I don't ask you for much - just reading my blog and maybe leave a comment or two is usually enough.  But today I really need you to do me (and your country) a favor.  TODAY you need to call your Senators (both of them), and ask them to vote to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) policy.

From the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN):

SENATE VOTE VERY TIGHT: For repeal to happen advocates need more senators on board to break John McCain’s filibuster. All supporters must call their senators now.

KEY SENATORS UNCOMMITTED ON BREAKING THE FILIBUSTER:

--Susan Collins (R-ME)

--Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

--Mark Pryor (D-Ark.);

--Richard Lugar (R-IN);

--Judd Gregg (R-NH);

--Jim Webb (D-VA)

--George Voinovich (R-OH);

All you have to do is call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred to your Senator's office. If you don't know who your Senators are, go HERE and find out.

It's really easy to do. Watch Lauren and Ellie from Boulder, Colorado call their Senator - and then encourage their friends to do the same...

I called both my Senators this afternoon - Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer - even though they are both strongly committed to repealing DADT.  I called the Switchboard, asked to be transferred to Senator _______ 's office, and when the receptionist answered I asked to leave a message for the Senator.  Both of my Senators' offices took actual messages (as opposed to voicemail) - so I courteously said:

"I am asking Senator _________ to vote in favor of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell".

That was it - easy as pie. Senator Gillibrand's office asked me my name and zip code (to make sure I was a consituent), Schumer's did not.

So, again, I am asking all of you to take 3 minutes out of your day - RIGHT NOW - and call your Senators at (202) 224-3121.  This is especially important if you are a resident of Maine, Arkansas, Indiana, Virginia and Ohio (see above), but EVERYONE needs to do this. Even if you live in a state with two conservative Republican Senators, call their offices and let your voice be heard.

Darlings, again - I don't ask you for much - but today I'm asking you to make two quick and easy phone calls.  The BunnyNation, much like Glen Close in Fatal Attraction, will NOT BE IGNORED!! ...

For more ways to get involved, go to SLDN HERE.  And please let us know (in the Comments) how your phone calls went.