Ruy Teixeira: Public Says End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By the Democratic Strategist:

In his latest ‘Public Opinion Snapshot’ at the Center for American Progress web pages, TDSCo-Editor Ruy Teixeira reports that U.S. public opinion overwhelmingly favors repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell” policy. As Teixeira explains:

The House voted last Thursday in favor of repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and final repeal of this noxious policy is surely very close. Gay men and women will at last be able to serve openly in the U.S. military, a move that has strong backing from the American public.Consider this result from a recent (May 3-6) Gallup poll on the issue. An overwhelming 70-25 majority of respondents said they were in favor of “allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military.”

And if a 70 percent majority isn’t quite enough,

Lest that crushing majority be thought a fluke, consider this result from an even more recent (May 21-23) CNN poll. The public, by an even larger 78-20 margin, said in that poll that “people who are openly gay or homosexual” should be allowed to serve in the military.

Teixeira concludes that “in this particular instance lawmakers are thoroughly in tune with progressive public opinion” — a welcome development for all Americans who oppose bigotry and believe that the women and men who serve in our armed services should not be subjected to discrimination and harassment in the military because of their sexual orientation.