(Military Times) Poll: Should 'Don't Ask' be Repealed? (xpost from Veterans)

http://www.military.com/pollresults?poll_id=4221&poll_frame_src=/votingpoll/results.do


Do you agree with Rep. Tauscher's letter to fellow lawmakers that states that "it makes no sense to discharge capable service members for something as irrelevant as their sexual orientation."

Yes. It's high time to end "don't ask, don't tell." Sexual orientation has nothing to do with mission readiness. 71%

No. Military life is about living in close quarters and being able to trust the buddy next to you when the shooting starts. Gays in the mix makes that impossible. 24%

Maybe. I'd like to see how the law is written before I make the call. 5%

WTF?

Being gay means not being able to aim?
Homophobia cloaked in "trust" language. I repeat. WTF?

There is never a cogent argument justifying discrimination.

Unworthy opponents, geesh, :eyes: grasshopper.

That the percentage in favor of ending the ban is HIGHER than the percentage in favor of integrating the military was when Truman did it. The same dire predictions were made then and now the military is one of the most egalitarian (when it comes to race) institutions in our society.

And for all the people on DU who like to scream "Obama can't do it! Congress has to!" Well... Truman did it by executive order.

Edited to add: I found this - http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/07/1253311.aspx

"With Gallup polls in 1948 finding that 82 percent of Americans disagreed with his civil rights program, President Truman faced an uphill battle integrating the military. Coming just 100 days before the national election, the order sparked a revolt amongst Southern Democrats led by Dixicrat Strom Thurmond. Hechler noted that during this time Truman penned a diary entry showing his resolve, writing "how far would Moses have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt?""

if we did, the south would probably still have slaves.