Military DADT survey response leaked

Timothy Kincaid

November 12th, 2010

The New York Times is reporting that the report resulting from the Military’s survey of service personnel and their families over ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell speaks favorably about repealing the policy.

The draft of a new Pentagon report comes to the conclusion that repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law will not cause overall harm to the military but might cause temporary disruptions, people familiar with the report said on Thursday.

In the case of any temporary disruptions, the draft report says they can be mitigated with effective leadership.

This is hardly shocking. The Rand Corporation, hired to study the issue, found exactly the same thing in 1993.

What is new, however, is the finding that while a number of active-duty service members remained opposed to openly gay service, a majority of active-duty service members and their families did not care if gay men and lesbians served openly. (WaPo)

More than 70 percent of respondents to a survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops over the summer said the effect of repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent, said two sources familiar with the document. The survey results led the report’s authors to conclude that objections to openly gay colleagues would drop once troops were able to live and serve alongside them.

Spartann

November 12th, 2010

I think now it’s safe to say the problem with the suspension of DADT squarely rests on Obama’s shoulders. It’s unfortunate the rhetoric of the 2008 campaign has not manifested itself into a swift end to this tyrannical governmental infringement on the rights of those who voluntarily place their lives in harms way. That being said Mr Kincaid, I find the claims in the above thread to be nebulous at best. No names or dates; no nothing. Anonymity only works in AA my friend. Personally I would have appreciated had you provided further information in support of the number of troops, which either do or do not support an end to DADT. Yes I know of all the reports surfacing every where that vary from scores in support of ending it, to even enlisted men now coming forward and accusing the military of being in breach of contract if Mr Obama ends DADT… But they too are not something I would consider to be reference material either. That only comes from the work of an author who’s due diligence makes what he claims rise above the fray.

Ryan

November 12th, 2010

This won’t change a single Republican vote, so what does it even matter!

Ben in Oakland

November 13th, 2010

Spartann– I’m not exactly sure what you are saying here, except that it sounds not a little bit like what Tony Perkins had to say. Which would make me question your questions and their motivation

I myself would be very curious about the response rate to the survey. Last I heard, it was around 40%, which owuld mean that 60% of those surveyed didn’t care enough to respond.

JimInMa

November 13th, 2010

Ben – so therefore it sounds like the 40% who responded said they couldn’t care less about gay people serving, but the other 60% that didn’t respond are basically saying they care even less than the other 40%. Comical, and a big statement.

Ben in Oakland

November 13th, 2010

my point exactly.

Charlie

November 13th, 2010

The real fear here on the right is that, as the author notes, once the 30% opposed begin to serve with OPENLY gay soldiers they will rapidly become less opposed. When they return to their homes in rural America their views on gay people will be changed. Ending DADT will be one of the biggest nails in the coffin of homophobia. Will it die out completely? Of course not but it will definitely diminish. Social conservatives have to oppose this change at all costs because it largely means the end of their ability to demonize gays for political gain. This so called needed survey will be completely ignored by them.

Timothy Kincaid

November 13th, 2010

Charlie,

That is, indeed their fear. When the military integrated racially, the impact on society was tremendous.

Black and white communities could exist side by side and still hold onto power inequalities and presumptions and fear. But when forced to work together in the military, and forced to evaluate each other on the merits of their abilities, it changed attitudes and presumptions.

That’s what anti-gays fear. That soldiers will go home with changed attitudes.

Kith

November 13th, 2010

Another reason they want to keep gays out is it is very hard to justify denying rights to people who are out there sacrificing their lives for you.

Paul J. Stein

November 14th, 2010

The “Big Mystery” of what Gays, Lesbians are like will be exposed. The lies will have been countered with the truth and personal experience. Very threatening to the “New Generation” of McCarthy-ites. The 50’s all over again.

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