If you missed the coverage, I was in the Senate today live-blogging the hearings on the Comprehensive Working Group report. You can find an edited transcript, some thoughts, and other coverage on this thread.
A couple reactions from being up close and personal:
If you read between the lines, Scott Brown may be a very real possibility (he announced his opposition to repeal over the summer, but has since said he would pay close attention to the report). His phrasing and even substance of questions, his body language, all are that of someone positioning himself to move.He asked for assurance of Secretary Gates, “you will not certify you feel the process can move forward without damage to safety, security of men and women serving, and that effectiveness to fight will not be jeopardized?” He mused about how he’s never asked whether veterans who have died in the line of duty, or gravely injured, whether they were straight or gay, and how he didn’t care. He asked a number of other thoughtful questions on timing, which units would be “integrated” first. He was even one of only four Senators left, with all three others (Levin, McCain, Lieberman) being a lot more out front on this issue than he. In other words, if I were someone concerned about my upcoming re-election who wanted to painstakingly make a case for why I’m switching positions, and ask for the kind of assurance that would make him and his constituents/supporters comfortable in their shoes with this, I would do exactly what Scott Brown did today.
Of course, he may be doing all this to justify “I’ve heard all sides at length and I remain opposed to repeal”. We’ll have to see. I do know that MassEquality up in his state, as well as HRC organizers on the ground, have been putting a good deal of pressure on him, and today’s performance was a good sign.
Ditto for Susan Collins, who voted for repeal itself while in committee earlier this year. She asked leading questions of Mullen regarding racial integration under Truman- a strong argument for a pro-repeal case. She asked a similar question of Jeh Johnson on whether it is fair to conclude that the report does represent the views of the military, and whether Johnson would have a professional obligation to report negative comments opposing repeal if that was important to note- all of which Johnson affirmed. She quoted anecdotal comments of service members not caring whether their comrades were gay. This, of course, is all helpful to other members, especially Republicans, considering supporting repeal and cloture on the DOD authorization bill.Of course, we know Collins is with us on this, but what we don’t know is whether she will stand by her signature to the latter swearing not to support moving forward on any legislation until the Bush-era tax cuts for those making over $250,000 are extended. As I was wolfing down a bagel on the way to the hearing this morning, I did read this nugget in today’s WaPo:
Activists want Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to stand by her promise to vote with Democrats on the measure if Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) allows for the introduction of Republican amendments.
Kevin Kelley, a Collins spokesman, said, “Preventing a tax increase and keeping the government operating are her top priorities, but passing a defense authorization bill is also a priority.“
So it’s possible that when it comes down to it, if the conditions are right regarding the amendment process, as I detailed in an OpenLeft piece here, she may be with us. Ever more important to contact her office and let her know you support repeal. All in all, though, it was helpful to have her present today.
Newly-sworn in Sen. Manchin, in what may have been his maiden hearing today, did not present a lot of optimism to back off his opposition to repeal with all his lines of questioning regarding military chaplains leaving the service or refusing to minister to openly gay/lesbian service members, out of their religious opposition. Johnson did his best to note that he believes as many would stay as would potentially leave. Of course, he also did say he’d carefully consider the report. We’ll have to see about him.
Watching the sparring this morning of two people diametrically opposed to each on this issue, both in position and amount of advocacy, you’d almost forget that Joe Lieberman endorsed John McCain for President in 2008. Almost. Sigh. Anyway, it really did make me stop and shake my head.
Polling expert Mark Blumenthal, along with John Aravosis, take McCain to task over his bevy of “only 28% were surveyed” complaints this morning. Both worth reading. And if McCain raised your blood pressure this morning and you’re looking to laugh it off, you’ll like my piece yesterday examining the remarkable similarities between Up’s Carl Fredrickson and this year’s incarnation of John McCain.
Courage’s Testimony campaign has a great set of testimonials from vets and military families, which are always useful but ever more so at this stage, when emotional appeals are sometimes what wins folks over.
On strategy and arguments, as I wrote during a break this morning, anti-repeal forces’ arguments appear to rely chiefly on (a) the 28% statistic (b) that the survey never directly asks service members or family members whether they support or oppose repealing DADT (c) that there is no longer a point to certification if Mullen and Gates have already made up their mind, and if that’s true, then the “safeguards” put in place by the deal cut earlier this year are no longer safeguarding anything.Each of these was strongly refuted by Gates and Mullen especially, along with Johnson and Ham- Think Progress has a quick compilation of responses- but I mention them especially to keep them in mind as you make calls this week, and ask others to do so. Some of them are cleverly worded and can resonate with wavering Senators.Which gets me to my final thought:
Of how important it is to call 202-224-3121 and ask swing Senators to support repeal. You can find my current list, verified by multiple sources close to the lobbying process, here. Asking family/friends/colleagues to take 5 minutes and do so, too, is important. Today’s hearings made a huge difference, as will personal meetings with military brass, like the one Susan Collins requested, but ultimately, Senators and their staff looking at those call sheet tallies will play perhaps an even bigger role. Let’s get to it.
