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Will 2008 be the last full year of the wretched "don't ask, don't tell" policy of discharging openly gay/lesbian members of the United States military? TPM summarizes this week's 60 minutes report showing the DADT policy is being ignored in at least some parts of today's military:
"60 Minutes" is scheduled to have a report [last Sunday night] on gays in the wartime military, and the apparent trend to occasionally disregard "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," in the face of recruiting difficulties, retention challenges, and a severely overstretched fighting force. In one instance, CBS's Lesley Stahl spoke with a gay solider who not only disclosed his sexuality to his superior officers, but "even offered graphic proof." He was neither discharged nor reprimanded, DADT be damned.
This is a no-brainer issue for Democrats to get out in front of.
It is clear the country is growing more and more tolerant. It is increasingly clear that openly gay members serving in the military pose no threat to unit cohesion, morale, or discpline. In this time of recruiting challenges, we should openly welcome all qualified individuals who wish to serve in the United States military.
It's long past time for the flawed don't-ask-don't-policy to be rescinded. Here's hoping the next Congress and the next President will do just that.
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