Yes. Didn’t you know? Sure it happens near the end of the clip but it’s totally worth the wait.

This is what we are up against folks, and I wonder, sometimes, how we are going to make it.

The Senate today voted to strip funding for F-22 fighter jets from the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act rides as an amendment to the DoD legislation, which was under the threat of a veto if funding for the controversial aircraft remained.

The 58-40 vote reflected an all-out lobbying campaign by the administration, which had to overcome resistance from lawmakers confronted with the potential losses of defense-related jobs if the F-22 program was terminated.

“The president really needed to win this vote,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said. Levin said it was important not only on the merits of the planes but “in terms of changing the way we do business in Washington.”

While the termination of the F-22 program increases the likelihood Obama will sign the hate crimes bill when it reaches his desk, it is unclear if the “unwelcome” amendments added just yesterday, including a provision for the death penalty, will pose further problems.

The ACLU also has issues with the Senate version of the bill, preferring the House version.

Update: Visit our National Equality March section for the latest news on what’s going in DC this weekend.

Despite earlier news, permits have been secured for the National March for Equality, also known as “Meet on the Mall for Equality,” to take place on October 10-11, 2009 in Washington, DC. Organized by Cleve Jones, the goal of the event is to “demand EQUAL protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.”

A promotional video for the event has been released. Watch:

To find out more about the event please visit the links below:

National March for Equality website
Facebook
Twitter

On a personal note: I’m not sold on the idea… at least not yet. It’s on Columbus Day weekend, so won’t legislators be out of town? The notion of descending on our representatives en mass is very appealing, but if no one is there when we are there… then what’s the point?

Cleve Jones, whom I deeply respect also said “most people on the west coast will be able to come to this march for less than $700.” Cleve, in this economy, plus being unemployed, $700 isn’t cheap, I don’t have the cash just lying around to make the trip. Twice that if my husband comes. On top of that we pissed a lot of money away on Obama and Prop 8 last year. I suspect a lot of folks are in a similar boat.

So I am wondering if our time and money is better spent on a local level, than making a trip to Washington, DC… which may ultimately be ignored by our leaders, and the media.

What do you think?

So said Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) according to a staffer when one of Shirley Tan’s sons broke into tears as his mother testified at the UAFA hearings in Washington yesterday.

In the clip below, Senator Patrick Leahy stops the hearing briefly near the 5 minute mark as Tan’s son weeps.

When it was his turn to speak, Sessions cited the usual arguments and suspects in his remarks, his opposition to same-sex marriage in full view of the hearing. His remarks can be viewed here.

Just to get a sense of who we are dealing with, watch the clip from Rachel Maddow Show below which digs into Sessions’ “colored” past…

The Senator’s press secretary did not return a call seeking comment. And as for histrionics… I think this is a much better example.

As reported in the New Republic.