Americans support openly gay soldiers
Lt. Dan Choi, an openly gay West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran, is once again participating in drills with his National Guard unit. That’s what 75 percent of Americans would expect, according to a new poll. From the WaPo:
Three-quarters of Americans say that they support openly gay people serving in the U.S. military, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, a finding that could lend momentum to the Obama administration’s effort to dismantle the policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Several months ago, Choi, an Arabic linguist, publicly stated that he is gay. Immediately, he was processed for discharge under the rules of “don’t ask, don’t tell” — despite the military’s desperate need for Arabic speakers. Happily, after recent testimony by SecDef Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs head Adm. Mike Mullen — both of whom said “don’t ask,” should be repealed — Choi’s command cleared the way for him to rejoin his unit. The bad news is that Choi could still be discharged any time, since DADT is still technically the law.
This photo and caption say it all:
Here is a photo of 1LT Choi living in an open bay, not being beaten up by his comrades, not uncontrollably attempting to have sex with men, and not threatening good order and discipline (strange, since repeal opponents told me that such things would happen invariably):(h/t vetvoice)
Lt. Dan Choi
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102 comments Add your comment
ATLshirt.com
February 12th, 2010
10:33 am
I was hoping for coverage on the Jobs Bills…
Peadawg
February 12th, 2010
10:36 am
I can’t remember what comedian said this:
1st, send in the straight guys to do the dirty work
2nd, every 30 days send in a platoon of pissed off women
3rd, send in the gay guys to clean up and hang curtains
I thought that was kinda funny.
Peadawg
February 12th, 2010
10:40 am
But seriously…if they wanna fight for our freedom, let them fight. End of story.
ATLshirt.com
February 12th, 2010
10:40 am
I think that was Howie Mandel Peadawg… he called them the Pink Brigade… or was it Gallagher ?? Not sure… but Know what you are talking about… He even said let them wear pink camoflauge LMAO!!
Peadawg
February 12th, 2010
10:43 am
Actually the one I was thinking of was Larry the Cable Guy.
Joel Edge
February 12th, 2010
10:47 am
There is a simple solution to this. Declare DADT overturned by presidential decree. Maybe President Obama doesn’t believe this poll anymore than I do.
TnGelding
February 12th, 2010
10:49 am
They have always served with as much distinction as their hetero counterparts. Sexuality has no place on the job, period. Anyone that violates that should be disciplined according to regulations. We don’t support flaunting it or obsessing on it.
Jess
February 12th, 2010
11:03 am
Well if American’s support it then that’s all that matters. We are, after all, a mob rule society.
worthington
February 12th, 2010
11:05 am
Is john boehner a oompa loompa? My magic eight-ball says yes, he needs to provide a birth certificate to clear up this mystery.
LA
February 12th, 2010
11:06 am
“The poll was conducted by telephone Feb. 4-8 among a random national sample of 1,004 adults, including users of both conventional and cellular phones. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.”
Ok, so 1000 people were polled.
1000 people equals most Americans?
Nope
Got an idea, let’s put it on the ballot this November and see just how many American’s vote in favor of it.
Something tells me Tucker and her left wing pals will HOWL over that one.
LA
February 12th, 2010
11:09 am
Cynthia, by the way, do you realize that when you appear on Hardboiled with Chris Matthews, you actually drive his ratings down?
His ratings went from 587,000 to 500,000 when you last appeared on his show. He went from beating a NAMBLA special on PBS to actually finishing in last place behind a re-run of Monsterquest on History Channel.
Thanks a lot Cynthia.
rdh
February 12th, 2010
11:10 am
I honestly don’t know what to think about this. I’ve worked with openly gay people all my life, and have absolutely no problems doing so. I’d gladly play tennis, shoot guns, cycle, eat out, etc, but I don’t know that I would want to share a shower with them afterwords.
If it were possible to take an (accurate, anonymous, etc) vote of all of the STRAIGHT service men/women and see what they really think, I’d go with what they say. If a gay person wants to join and risk his/her life for our country, I would find a way to allow it.
Joel Edge
February 12th, 2010
11:17 am
rdh
There is a system in place.
It’s called do your job and shut up.
Sounds like a personal issue.
Talk to the chaplain.
It’s the military way. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. It’s just what it is.
joan
February 12th, 2010
11:22 am
Gays are fine, as long as they aren’t kissing and hugging in front of me. If they engage in PDA’s they should be shot.
ctucker
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
Since you so dislike me, LA, I’m guessing you will find another blog on which to comment.
ctucker
February 12th, 2010
11:25 am
You’re done, LA
bromack
February 12th, 2010
11:29 am
Back when I was in the USAF in 1976-1980, there were gay people in my squadron. We all knew who they were. We didn’t bother them and they didn’t bother us.
I believe DADT should stand.
Its my understanding the average gay person in the military just wants to do his time and get out. Keep politics out of it.
Democrats are Corrupt, Repukes are Lying Scaliwags
February 12th, 2010
11:32 am
Lets impose a Gay Draft, send them all into combat, and see what happens. We already have the control group, the guys and gals who have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan since the early 2000’s. Time to give the gays their shot a glory or death, all for the greater glory of the fat old men in Washington and New York.
Scout
February 12th, 2010
11:33 am
I still support “don’t ass, don’t tail”.
pat
February 12th, 2010
11:33 am
oh who cares…
Joel Edge
February 12th, 2010
11:37 am
pat
You must be in the same mood today that I am. Slightly p##sed off and tired of hearing it.
Scout
February 12th, 2010
11:37 am
Headline: “Army discharging single mom who refused deployment”
She should be finishing her tour in Leavenworth.
Jess
February 12th, 2010
11:37 am
Since what Americans want carries so much weight, I suggest we look back at how many Americans are happy with their health care arrangements vs. those who are not.
quod erat demonstrandum
February 12th, 2010
11:41 am
I tend to disagree with you and your “polls”. I would venture to guess that an actively, open guy guy would not like an open barracks for too long.
Even less in 2-4 man rooms.
At least that is the way it was back in my day – private stuff was kept that way. There is no need to proclaim your sexual preference in the military.
quod erat demonstrandum
February 12th, 2010
11:43 am
on great thing about DADT is that anyone can server and participate in the military, no questions asked.
I tend to think the gays were better people back in my day, they didn’t have this grand urge to paint a pink triangle on their helmets and advertise that they were different.
scrappy
February 12th, 2010
11:47 am
Love the photo caption, was that CT’s or from the WaPo?
Obama should right a Presidential decree & repel DADT, this takes politics out of it. Then all those Conservatives up for re-election can go back and say how horrible Obama is and it isn’t their fault that those ‘gays’ can now openly serve. blah blah blah… in a couple months no one will remember anyway & it will be done with.
Cynthia's #1 Fan
February 12th, 2010
11:53 am
Gay Corporals. Gay Majors. Gay Generals. All ranks probably have gays. This is one issue Sarah Palin can handle. She was interviewed recently about DADT. With her informed hands, Sarah Palin has a Kung Fu grip on the Gay Privates issue.
Cynthia, you are THE most patient blog host on the planet to put up with the gentlemen who comment here. (including myself).
OT: Stormzilla. Snowmaggedon.
Shouldn’t it be, Stormaggedon, and Snowzilla?
Doesn’t that flow better?
Name (required)
February 12th, 2010
11:56 am
Shouldn’t you gay-haters WANT them to be in dangerous jobs that could get them killed? I mean, if they go to war their chances of being wiped off the face of the earth are much higher, then you can have your fairy-tale world where you get to dictate how everyone else should think, act, and feel so when you die you can go to some magical place in the sky where bunnies play the harp and unicorn farts emit the aroma of baking cookies?
Scout
February 12th, 2010
11:56 am
The “Fighting ‘69th” !!
Joel Edge
February 12th, 2010
11:57 am
Cynthia’s #1 fan
Kiss b##t much?
Fred21
February 12th, 2010
12:00 pm
Gee Cynthia, did LA get under your skin a little…..OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
Joel Edge
February 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
Fred21
LA accused Cynthia of hanging out with Chris Matthews. Can’t say I blame her. I wouldn’t want to associated with Chris Matthews either.
Joey
February 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
Does it really matter what non-military US Citizens think about gay’s in the military? No.
The people who matter and who should be asked this question are the people who are currently serving. If a super-majority of them, say 70%, support serving with gays, then do it.
However, if we find that we are going to lose a significant number of military volunteers by changing this policy, then please do not change the policy.
Byron Mathison Kerr
February 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
quod erat demonstrandum, February 12th, 2010, 11:43 am wrote:
I tend to think the gays were better people back in my day, they didn’t have this grand urge to paint a pink triangle on their helmets and advertise that they were different.
Speaking as a gay man… If we are advertising anything, it is that we are not all that different. And there you have it, the whole homosexual agenda in a nutshell.
Democrats are Corrupt, Repukes are Lying Scaliwags
February 12th, 2010
12:11 pm
Dear Name (required): Precisely my point with a gay draft.
Turd Ferguson
February 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
Cynthia’s #1 Fan
February 12th, 2010
11:53 am
NNOOOO! I AM Cynthias NUMBER ONE FAN.
I used to read her column in the AJC paper years ago. Back in the day when she wore the bangs hair style and they had a pic of her that was about the size of a postage stamp. She has always been HOT!! Therefore and again I am Cynthias Number 1 FAN!!
Turd Ferguson
February 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
And a Early Happy Valentines day to you, Cynthia!
jokerman
February 12th, 2010
12:24 pm
This is not the first blog LA has been exiled from!
Turd Ferguson
February 12th, 2010
12:25 pm
Joker…happens to the best of us.
Peadawg
February 12th, 2010
12:29 pm
Looks like LA’s 11:09 post struck a nerve. I guess Cynthia can’t handle the truth…..o wait, she is a Democrat.
Davo
February 12th, 2010
12:31 pm
What’s even more shocking is the fact that Barney Frank, far from being the liberal lion, is actually a tea-bagger!
Scout
February 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
“Fix bayonets” !
ctucker
February 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
Thanks, Turd
Rob
February 12th, 2010
12:32 pm
I have worked in high schools for more than thirty years. Even in the very conserviative district in which I work, the gay issue as a concern is absolutely dead among young people and has been for a few years. It is unfortunate, but young people don’t vote. When this group starts voting, the gay issue will be dead in our whole culture as well. Gays and lesbians will have the right to marry, serve in the military, and any other right or priviledge enjoyed by others. If you don’t like that, get ready.
ctucker
February 12th, 2010
12:34 pm
Scrappy, that caption was from a site called “vetvoice.” I’ll update with a link to it.
jokerman
February 12th, 2010
12:35 pm
“Looks like LA’s 11:09 post struck a nerve.”
Peadawg I would suggest it was a post that never was made public!
Sam
February 12th, 2010
12:36 pm
the only problem with gays serving openly is that it may lead others to ge tattoos and possibly drinking alcoholic beverages. that could be a problem down the line…
Sam
February 12th, 2010
12:37 pm
LA is a DB
Call it like it is.
February 12th, 2010
12:40 pm
Wow as thrilling as this is Cynthia how about a blog on the going on’s with the SCLC. I find it very telling how you and Jay have both manage to not even make a mention of the FBI knocking down their doors of their chairman. I guess if somehow, someway you can’t bash the right, then its not worth talking about.
Abrazos
February 12th, 2010
12:42 pm
“Gays are fine, as long as they aren’t kissing and hugging in front of me. If they engage in PDA’s they should be shot.”
PDA is not a problem with other countries with openly gay policies in their military, (including Israel: see Israeli soldier’s story here: http://www.newsweek.com/id/233132). Perhaps the desire to have our own American soldiers executed for the reason you stated stems from something much more insidious (and certainly unpatriotic).