Conservatives Shift In Favor Of Openly Gay Service Members

A new Gallup poll shows that 69 percent of Americans are now in favor of openly gay men and women serving in the military, up from 63 percent five years ago. Support among liberals and Democrats remains high -- around 86 percent and 83 percent respectively -- but the biggest shift in support occurred among conservatives and Republicans. Fifty-eight percent of people who identify as conservatives say they support gays serving in the military, up from 12 points from 46% in 2004. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans support what is essentially a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

While a majority of Americans still oppose legalizing gay marriage, the shift in support for gays serving in the military "suggests the political playing field may be softer on this issue, and President Barack Obama will be well-positioned to forge ahead with his campaign promise to end the military ban on openly gay service members with some support from more conservative segments of the population," Gallup writes.

Repealing the policy is a promise Obama made on the campaign trail and is one that gay rights groups have recently been more vocal in urging him to fulfill. While the administration to date has not taken action on the issue, the Gallup Poll data indicate that the public-opinion environment favors such a move.

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Comments

[SILVANUS]

07:44 PM on 06/08/2009

The judiciary and the Obama administration have a duty to uphold the Constitution and they're failing. Right now, decorated personnel like Victor Fehrenbach are being fired with absolutely no credible justification.

The Supremes suck.

[KoolAidAmerica]

06:53 PM on 06/08/2009

seriously all the liberals on this board claim that conservatives are becoming irrelevant
if so why do you care if conservatives say yes or no
shouldn't you be caring about what obama says to the sc

[rockymountainhigh]

05:28 PM on 06/08/2009

Wow...what a bunch of closed minded drivel from the so called accepting, tolerant, Left. You dolts do realize that not all conservatives are religious nut jobs, right? You make the mistake of associating anyone who is a Republican with Ted Dobson. If you want to wallow in your ignorance, feel free. It is true that there are still some powerful and influential leadership in the republican party that try and force that crap down the throats of the party, but if the left had anything close to a clue, they would realize that when you strip the religious nut jobs out of the equation, there is a sizeable, silent majority of the party who doesn't want massive government spending. There is a sizeable, silent majority that is libertarian leaning and wants the gov't out of our bedrooms, living rooms, gun cabinets, and wallets. You have to remember that it was the middle of the road folks who got Obama elected. The media worked really really hard to get those votes for Obama. They are starting to wake up and see what is really going on, so please, please, please expect the 2010 elections to be a cakewalk.....

[PatA]

05:26 PM on 06/08/2009

I've always wondered why the armed force's commanders were afraid to serve with gay soldiers. I've made my decision now.....it is the fear of being homosexual themselves.....:-)

[tippydog11]

05:24 PM on 06/08/2009

sorry God repubs are jumping ship...they need votes..now...flip flopping with God now?

[kapalabhati]

05:11 PM on 06/08/2009

Surie, if it means that their kids won't have to serve....

[tippydog11]

04:43 PM on 06/08/2009

Yah--- need votes conservatives?...beware beware dear ones...chrisitans who flip flop? hmmmm with God today? But not tomorrow votes come first?

[DeBartolo]

04:34 PM on 06/08/2009

This story is propoganda....James Dobson HAS NOT approved such a drastic move on the part of the GOP

[Mnemanth]

04:19 PM on 06/08/2009

Of course the “conservatives” support gays- and anyone else- in the military.
It’s far beneath them to serve their country in such a way. They’ll send anyone into harms way before enlisting for themselves.

[superstition]

03:20 PM on 06/08/2009

1. Homosexuality isn't a disorder. What does that mean? There is no rational justification for any kind of heterosexist discrimination. It means gay people are just as good as hetero people --- not inferior. It means our relationships are just as good, our job performance is just as good, our parenting skills are just as good -- everything.

2. We have a 1st Amendment that prohibits theocratic law. Given #1, the only resource heterosexists have is religious attitudes. Those are completely prohibited from being codified into law, though. What does this mean? There is nothing whatsoever to support heterosexist attitudes codified into law.

3. We have a 14th Amendment that gives gay Americans exactly the same rights as heterosexuals, not a subset. Our rights are not determined by our political clout (how popular we are). We don't need to convince anyone that we're nice people. The facts are the facts.

The judiciary and the Obama administration have a duty to uphold the Constitution and they're failing. Right now, decorated personnel like Victor Fehrenbach are being fired with absolutely no credible justification.

http://www.afterelton.com/blog/lylemasaki/rachel-maddow-examines-dont-ask-dont-tell-victor-fehrenbach

[Alex Ayala]

08:10 PM on 06/08/2009

Your first point rest on the assumption that homosexuality is not a disorder. Also, a democratic government gives way to the possibility of both secular and religiously motivated legislation. Just because a piece of legislation is in accordance with, say, the Judeo-Christian commandment "Thou shalt not murder", does not necessitate its prohibition. The 14th amendment does not mention gay rights, so please tell us again where the Obama administration and the judiciary are failing the Constitution.

[teron678]

03:14 PM on 06/08/2009

See the Repubs are coming out of the Closet ...

[PresidentRobertBooth]

03:14 PM on 06/08/2009

***Bait and switch and the liberal love it. Let Obama introduce such policy and see how these same people turned***

Obviously.

It's hypocritical for conservatives to now suddenly start opposing DADT because they are such proponents of it.

Liberals as a rule are not.

***Did anyone see Cheney poll numbers is going up with liberals***

I'd rather pay attention to the death toll numbers going up in Iraq.

Mr Cheney's War.

[ajax2]

03:05 PM on 06/08/2009

Our Officer Corps could never stand the exposure.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

03:01 PM on 06/08/2009

***Conservatives Shift In Favor Of Openly Gay Service Members***

Of course they do.

A conservative needs every soldier they can get, in order to send them to their deaths in wars based on falsehoods and deceit.

[LHibbard]

03:55 PM on 06/08/2009

Sad but true.

[danonchalant1]

04:14 PM on 06/08/2009

"You can die for my war-profiteering, but you STILL can't get married!"

[DeBartolo]

04:35 PM on 06/08/2009

or be around our children

[Pie7]

02:57 PM on 06/08/2009

Bait and switch and the liberal love it. Let Obama introduce such policy and see how these same people turned. Did anyone see Cheney poll numbers is going up with liberals.

[luvobama]

03:08 PM on 06/08/2009

rubbish

[dm10003]

03:12 PM on 06/08/2009

that tail is not wagging the dog.