The Pentagon appears to assume that repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is a done deal, when it’s not.
The Pentagon is under fire from all sides, following the leak of its confidential survey by the University of California’s Palm Center to The Washington Post.
The survey, which was released last week, was in response to President Obama’s directive and Congress’ legislative push to repeal the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy – a policy that restricts gay-identified men and women from openly serving in the military. The Pentagon began issuing a confidential survey to the troops.
The $4.5 million study has been roundly criticized by DADT supporters and opponents for being disingenuous and misleading.
Elaine Donnelly, executive director for the Center for Military Readiness, said the Pentagon appears to have the mindset that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a done deal, when it’s not.
“They bought into that point of view because that’s what the President wants to happen,” said Donnelly.
Rather than a simple question such as “Do you favor retention or repeal of the law,” service members are being asked questions involving perceptions and interactions with gay or lesbian service members.
The questions that set off the greatest firestorm by gay activists related to bathing and housing situations, such as, “Have you shared a room, berth or field tent with a service member you believed to be homosexual?” and “Have you been assigned to share bath facilities with an open bay shower that is also used by a service member you believed to be homosexual?”
Yet, these same questions were of most concern to service members and their families.
Service members have until Aug. 15 to complete the survey. The results and the final report are due Dec. 1 to Obama and top military leaders.
Sen. John McCain is expected to filibuster the Defense Authorization bill in light of the effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and because it includes language that authorizes abortions at military base hospitals.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the complete DADT Survey
Read, “Pentagon Survey is Tell – Then Ask,” by CitizenLink federal analyst Ashley Horne.
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