" For quite some time, U.S. troops have supported repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. A December 2006 poll of servicemembers who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan found 73 percent of those polled were “comfortable with lesbians and gays.” A 2004 poll found that a majority of junior enlisted servicemembers believed gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, up from 16 percent in 1992.

The military’s leadership is finally catching up to its troops. On Sunday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy that the military was ready to accept gay servicemembers if Congress repeals DADT:

With a national election looming, a cadet asked about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law and what would happen if someone took office who wants to change it. “It’s a law, and we follow it,” Mullen said. Should the law change, the military will carry that out too, he said.

“We are a military that is under the control of our civilian elected leaders,” he said. “It has served us well since we’ve been founded. That is a special characteristic of our country and I would never do anything to jeopardize that.”

Mullen’s statement is a refreshing change from the military leadership’s traditional approach under the Bush administration. In March 2007, then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace publicly stated that homosexuality is “immoral.” He said that he supported DADT because “we should not condone immoral acts.” At the time, Defense Secretary Robert Gates refused to condemn Pace’s remarks, calling the general “one of the finest people I’ve ever worked with.”

Even public discussion of DADT has been considered taboo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Service people are overwhelmingly comfortable with gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mullen favors accepting gays and lesbians in the services.

Do you think Congress will repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell ruling?

SkyGem

Let me answer your question this way.

If Obama gets elected, it will be a GREEN light.

If Hillary gets elected, it will be a YELLOW light.

If McCain gets elected, it will be a RED light for repealing the current ruling.

Fr_Chuck

actually why does not congress act on it now ??? Congress makes the law, not the president, the president would have to decide to sign it or not. Congress could put it in some funding bill or something.

inthebox

What does sexual orientation have to do with a soldier's abilty?

Who cares what your sexual orientation is.

If you can hit an apple from 100 yards - tell me.

If you know the local language and customs - tell me.

If you can inspire and lead troops - tell me.

Do you think suicide bombers are going to care if the soldiers they are going to kill gay or straight?

tomder55

Sky it looks like Obama is the fence sitter on this issue.

Obama: Repeal of 'don't ask' possible - Barack Obama News - MSNBC.com

Hillary is publically opposed to the policy ;even though (as in NAFTA and other policies) it puts her in oppositions to Bill Clintoon's polices.

Hillary Opposes 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Gay Policy

excon

Hello Choux:

Bill Clinton ran on a platform that included gays in the mitary. Once elected, he changed his mind and instituted Don't Ask....

I don't believe Hillary either. Do you? Because if lying to get into office is the job experience she's bringing, we don't need it.

excon

SkyGem

Simply Incredible! But not at all unexpected from the biggest flip-flopper in the nation. It is obvious that he will say whatever to whomever he speaks depending on how the wind is blowing that day. Just take a look at what he said a short TWO months ago on this issue! Simply incredible!

Obama would use 'bully pulpit' to advance homosexual agenda (OneNewsNow.com)

BABRAM

Need I remind you of Hillary "somersaults" Clinton's initial support of the Iraqi war before she did the biggest cartwheel ever against it?! Let's follow the logic here: we can't find OBL so let's make an issue out of homosexuals wanting to fight for their country??? Wow!

SkyGem

Ah, red herring Bobby! And need I remind you of the fact that Clinton was given the WRONG information about Iraq that led her to vote to DEFEND this country along with many others under the circumstances. What was Obama's excuse? Oh yes, had the WMD been found, he would have still voted to placate the Iraqis and simply remain complacent! That's the reality of it, my man. While Clinton voted to DEFEND this country, Obama voted to sell us out! But then is it even surprising, given what we know today that he wouldn't even hold his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, his guru Wright whom he followed for 20 years who said all those nasty things about America that took Obama TWO DECADES to decide was wrong, Obama's wife who doesn't believe this country is right for her, etc. You know, the news recently had an item that should be of much interest to everyone. It revealed that Wright spoke with Obama about Obama distancing himself from him if Obama's candidacy progressed! The report said that was about a year ago. That should tell you what this cat is all about, now shouldn't it. So, let's really follow the logic here. One has the hormones to vote to defend us, while the other timidly avoids any potential confrontations. And if it were 3 a.m. at the White House, one could only conclude..."It Takes A WOMAN To Do A Man's Job!" How true we're finding out!

tomder55

Clinton made the right vote. She has not had the moral courage to defend it. It was easy for Obama being a back bencher in the Ill. Senate representing a liberal district to make a wishy-washy statement of opposition to the war. His argument that he is without original sin may have worked in the Democrat primaries but is a weak position in the general election. He has of course already flipped on his date specific withdrawal from Iraq for political expedient reasons(he can read the tea leaves and knows the idea is rediculous and untenable.).