Comments on: DoD: Looking for Flexibility in DADT

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:39:50 +0000

I’m pretty sure Tauscher has gone to the State Department, or that she will be very soon…

By: Leonard Drake

Leonard Drake — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:45:34 +0000

In response to both of those polls concerning self-identified “conservatives,” weekly church-goers, and Republicans: what percentage of ACTUAL conservative voters support the repeal of DADT? Do data collected via exit polls suggest equivalent conservative support for DADT repeal? More, less? Or does such information not exist?

I pose these questions as Congressional representatives in opposition to the repeal of DADT often cite they are representing the “will of the voters” (as opposed to some “survey”). Even so, exit polls are still surveys just the same.

By: Jim Burroway

Jim Burroway — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:30:26 +0000

That same Gallup poll also found that 60% of weekly church goers, 58% of Republicans also were in favor of repealing DADT.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:08:42 +0000

David,

A Gallop Poll in June showed that 58% of self-identified “conservatives” said “favor” to:

Do you favor or oppose allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military.

By: Burr

Burr — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:04:20 +0000

If you’ve seen any of the recent polls on DADT you’d know that yes, even Republicans/conservatives support its repeal by a sizable majority. So it is very believable.

It’s absurd that Congress is so cowardly to take action in light of the overwhelming support of their constituency to move on this issue.

By: David

David — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:55:27 +0000

I agree with most of this, but one part stands out as being a bit Orwellian in its denial of reality.

Holding a press conference and stating that conservatives support overturning DADT? What conservatives? Wander over to FreeRepublic.com and see if any of those conservatives support overturning it.

Let me quote Edward R. Murrow: “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.”

Besides, I don’t want to let conservatives off the hook when this issue and this era is reflected upon in another 50 years. There was a time when racial discrimination and miscegenation laws were supported by conservatives as being common sense. Today they are viewed as an abhorrent shame in the history of America’s social justice.

I don’t want anyone trying to claim, 50 years from now, that conservatives were anything but belligerently opposed to overturning DADT.

By: Stefano A

Stefano A — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:11:00 +0000

Just an FYI . . . When I commented in the other thread and cited the AFP article the transcript of the press conference wasn't online yet. The transcript has now been posted by the Dod on their web site which shows Gates comments in the context of a Q&A. Press Conference with Secretary Gates En Route From Germany(Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:37:00 -0500