Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Gaga Rallies in Maine as Senate Prepares to Vote on DADT (video)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) hits the Senate today for a vote on cloture, a procedure that puts a time limit on debate over legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is hoping to avoid a Republican filibuster over the inclusion on language in the bill which would repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT).

Even without the DADT repeal language, NDAA faces some tough obstacles. The bill includes $500 million in funding for a controversial jet engine that nobody, including the president, wants to fund. If the vote does not take place before the November elections, then it it not likely to happen until next year. Support is still too close to call. The 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster may not be there.

Lady Gaga appeared at a rally Monday in Portland, Maine, called 4THE14K, referring to the 14 thousand service men and women dismissed under DADT since it became law in 1993. The bisexual pop diva addressed a a crowd estimated at 2,000 in an effort to get moderate Republican Maine senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to commit to crossing the aisle and voting for repeal. The two have indicated in the past that they would support overturning the discriminatory policy, but now may be waffling.

It's not too late to get involved. Call your senators today and tell them to support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The number for the congressional switchboard in DC is 202-224-3121.

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