That’s right folks, break out the paddles — and the cell phones. Before we regroup for the holidays and move forward to what’s next for real immigration reform, it is critical that everyone who cares about the future of DREAM call the following Senators to let them know what this vote meant to you.
Be polite, and say something like:
“Thank Senator X for voting for the DREAM Act, we won’t forget.” -OR- “Shame on Senator X for voting against the DREAM Act, we won’t forget.”
Here’s a partial list of those to thank or “spank” — we’ll have another round soon. It was difficult to pick which of the Republicans who blocked DREAM deserved the most outrage, so we chose some of the moderates we most expected to do better.
Also, don’t forget to sign our holiday card to the leaders of the DREAM Act movement — tell them we won’t stop fighting for their right to give back to this great nation.
Republicans to thank:
Lisa Murkowski (AK) (202) 224-6665
Richard Lugar (IN) (202) 224-4814
Bob Bennett (UT) (202) 224-5444
Democrats to thank:
Claire McCaskill (MO) 202-224-6154
Mary Landrieu (LA) (202) 224-5824
Kent Conrad (ND) (202) 224-2043
Byron Dorgan (ND) (202) 224-2551
Republicans to spank (the short list):
George LeMieux (FL) (202) 224-3041 *
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) (202) 224-5922 *
Mark Kirk (IL) (202) 224-2854
Susan Collins (ME) (202) 224-2523
Olympia Snowe (ME) (202) 224-5344
Lindsey Graham (SC) (202) 224-5972 **
* Note: starred Senators have a large Latino voting population and the others are supposedly Republican moderates who should have supported the bipartisan measure.
** Former comprehensive immigration reform champion Lindsey Graham told DREAM youth that they’ve wasted their time and have what’s coming to them now for speaking out (what exactly does that mean, Senator?)
Other key Republicans to spank include: Scott Brown (MA), Sam Brownback (KS), John Cornyn (TX), Orrin Hatch (UT), John Ensign (NV), Jon Kyl (AZ), John McCain (AZ), and George Voinovich (OH), who ignored the outpouring of support from Evangelicals fighting for Ohio DREAMer Bernard Pastor.
Democrats to spank:
Joe Manchin (WV) (202) 224-3954 *
Kay Hagan (NC) (202) 224-6342
Jon Tester (MT) (202) 224-2644 **
Ben Nelson (D-NE) (202) 224-6551 ***
* Didn’t bother to vote, too busy attending a Christmas party
** Released misleading statement branding DREAM Act “Amnesty”
*** First Democrat to say he would vote no, even though he voted for DREAM in 2007.