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thedrifter
01-19-09, 06:56 AM
Poll on Gays in the Military Perturbs Palm Center [Elaine Donnelly]


On Wednesday, incoming White House spokesman Robert Gibb responded to a question by affirming that the Obama administration fully intends to repeal the 1993 law regarding homosexuals in the military, mislabeled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Gibb provided no details, but his one-word response sparked several news reports.



Anyone who mistakenly believes that liberal members of Congress will not attempt to repeal the 1993 law, Section 654, Title 10, should take note. This threat to good order, discipline and morale in our military is very real and imminent. Others mistakenly believe that repeal of the 1993 law regarding homosexuals in the military is a “done deal.” It is not. Activists pushing for repeal of the 1993 law stating that homosexuals are not eligible to serve in the military have experienced an unexpected setback for their cause.



As I wrote in this article for NRO, the recently released annual Military Times poll found that 58% of active-duty respondents were opposed to repealing the law. The 2008 survey further found that if Congress repeals the 1993 law, 10% of respondents said they would not re-enlist, and an additional 14% said they would consider ending their careers. This is a poll, not a crystal ball, but indicators such as this should give pause to the new president and commander-in-chief, Barack Obama. Personnel losses anywhere near these numbers would devastate the volunteer force.



The Michael D. Palm Center, a UC Santa Barbara-based organization that used to call itself the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military (CSSMM), issued a news release attacking the Military Times poll. The Palm Center aimed more fire at me for being so rude as to write about the implications of the survey. This is ironic, since the Military Times, owned by Gannett, is a liberal paper that has editorialized in favor of gay in the military.



CMR has posted an article on our website titled “Poll on Gays in the Military Perturbs Palm Center,” which addresses the Palm Center kerfuffle.



For the sake of the troops he will lead as commander-in-chief, we hope that Pres. Barack Obama will give this issue the serious attention it deserves. When there is a conflict between the civilian gay-activist agenda and the needs of the military, the needs of the military must come first.

Ellie