A Majority of Conservatives Want "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Eliminated

categories: LGBT Rights and the Military, Republican Party and LGBT Rights

Published August 18, 2009 @ 05:02PM PT

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Despite the fact that all of the GOP's candidates for President last year supported keeping "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in place, the majority of conservatives favor a repeal of the discriminatory military policy. And that's both a good thing for LGBT rights, and for U.S. national security.

Regularly, the debate over whether to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is framed in terms of Democrat vs. Republican, or left vs. right. As Kevin Nix over at New Majority writes, that's the wrong way to frame this debate.

"The debate over “don’t ask / don’t tell” in the military is often presented as a battle between liberals and conservatives. That’s not correct – and not fair to conservatives," Nix writes. He points out that many conservatives are just as upset as liberals at watching qualified gay or lesbian linguists being thrown out of the military at a time when the military needs people with superior linguistic skills. Or how conservatives are just as angry at seeing a decorated Gulf War F-15 aviator recently served discharge papers after 18 years in the military, simply because of sexual orientation.

And the poll numbers are there to back this up, too. In May 2009, Gallup released a poll that showed 58 percent of Republicans itching to do away with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Among those Republicans includes Florida's Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who as recently as last week said that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ruins the lives of gays and lesbians who sacrifice their own lives for their country.

"We've wasted a great deal of time and effort trying to enforce this failed policy," said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen. "At a time when our armed forces are under unprecedented strain, we should welcome all those, regardless of sexual orientation, who ask nothing more than to serve their country."

Yup, right or left, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative...doesn't matter. The majority of folks on all sides think that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is failed policy.

Now we just need action.

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Comments (6)

The intolerant 'Don't Ask, Don' Tell' military has no choice but to be repealed for the greatness of LGBT equality in the United States military. It's good that many conservatives favor the necessary repeal of that military policy. While the debate has been misunderstood as one between conservatism and liberalism, there are Republicans that want 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repealed. Although not every conservative wants that repealed, the debate is not strictly partisan.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/18/2009 @ 06:19PM PT
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DADT was created by a congress to please both parties. It pleased a minority of democrats who actually believed it would allows gays to serve, and it pleased the majority of democrats and republicans because they knew unless a gay "male" stayed celibit and lived a miserable life he would eventually quit the military and gays would stay out of the military.

I have two words for this

EPIC FAIL!!!

Not only are LGBT serving in the military but are doing so openly with commanding officers jeopardising their careers as well by refusing to follow dadt and turn their soldiers in.

Talk about a real FU to Clintons Congress.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/18/2009 @ 08:04PM PT
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If nothing else...D.A.D.T. serves as a perfect example of the consequinces of prejudice and intollerance in concrete form...

You would think the bible thumpers would figure that out but no...They'd rather continue being blind followers of hate filled preachers.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/19/2009 @ 02:12PM PT
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This is My chance to say "I told You so!", and it is not just "some conservatives", it is the majority. This never was a left / right issue. That is a lie told to keep people obedient to the liberal party line.

Posted by Charlie Reed on 08/19/2009 @ 04:28PM PT
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It is amazing to me as an ex-Air Force officer that the American military - unlike it's Australian and British counterparts - do not feel that our straight and LGBT soldiers are professional enough to serve side by side. Our military has argued vehemently that they deserve the professional respect given to anyone with extensive training or education. Respect is earned by honorable action, not given as a certificate of accomplishment.

Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 08/20/2009 @ 07:52AM PT
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This stupid policy should be done away with. How stupid if a person wants to serve their country who cares what gender their partner is? This is a throw back to days when gays were discriminated against. Who the hell cares, well maybe some right wing religious fanatics that think if you are not like them they will kill you. Where in their bible does it state this? Why do religious followers feel they need to dictate the way others live?? Try "live and let live" it works so much better than trying to dictate how others live THEIR lives..

CFJ

Posted by Cherokee Fred Jesus on 08/20/2009 @ 09:03AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.