Poll: Two out of three say repeal don't ask, don't tell
Washington (CNN) - Two-thirds of Americans say they favor repealing a law that bans openly gay and lesbian troops from serving in the U.S. military, according to a new national poll.
As Congress contemplates repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" measure, a Gallup survey released Thursday indicates that 67 percent of the public say they would vote for a law that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces, with 28 percent saying they would vote against such a bill, and five percent unsure.
A majority of Americans questioned in recent polls by the Pew Research Center, CBS News, NBC News/Wall Street Journal and CNN/Opinion Research Corporation favor allowing gay and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Separately, 58 percent of people questioned in a recent Quinnipiac University survey say the current law should be repealed, but Americans questioned in a recent McClatchy-Marist poll were divided on the issue.
According to the Gallup poll, more than eight out of ten Democrats and seven out of ten independent voters support repealing the measure, with Republicans split on the issue.
The poll was conducted December 3-6, after the release of a major Pentagon study on the view of troops about the possible lifting of the current ban. Defense Secretary Robert Gates testified in front of
Congress that the report indicated that over two-thirds of service members do not object to gays and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.
The Gallup poll was conducted by telephone, with 1,003 adults nationwide questioned. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus four percentage points.
–Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
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Now if someone could just convince our glorious Commander in Chief to get behind the repeal. Or is this today's broken promise?
2/3rds of Americans? But, how many military did you poll. I am military. I can promise you, like it or not. This will have an enormous impact on our security. You think you will get 2/3 rds of those men showering comfortably with each other. Think again. As a spouse, I dont want my husband showering with a female military member or a homosexual military member. It is not hate, it is practicality
And yet, 40% of the Senate can defy the will of two-thirds of the American people with impunity.
Senate fail to repeal DADT today do they get this polls numbers no sad
It is an all volunteer military. Let those that are willing and able to serve do so. This makes no sense to boot someone out simply because they are homosexual. They can function as well (or as badly) as anyone else. If they want to serve, let them do so since they are citizens.
Do you hear this, GOP? The majority of Americans want DADT repealed ... prove you really care about "the will of the People" and repeal DADT!
But of Course the Republicans ignore the will of the people and voted it down. IM so sick of the GOP
Exactly. I seem to recall the GOP ranting and raving about Congress abiding by the 'Will of the People' before the mid-terms. Guess that's only when the Will of the People coincides with Republican agenda, huh?