New Poll Says Most Conservatives Now Favor the Repeal Of DADT

A new Gallup Poll released last Friday is saying that Americans are six percentage points more likely than they were four years ago to favor allowing openly gay and lesbian service-members to serve in the military, 69% to 63%.

The same poll also found that while liberals and Democrats are far more likely to support the repeal of Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell, the biggest increase in support for ending the policy is coming from conservatives and weekly churchgoers — up 12 and 11 percentage points, respectively.

The poll found that majorities of weekly churchgoers (60%), conservatives (58%), and Republicans (58%) now favor what essentially equates to repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy implemented under President Clinton in 1993. To date, it is estimated that more than 12,500 servicemen and servicewomen have been discharged under the policy, including more than 200 since Obama took office.

These finding are significant for several reasons… First, this poll illustrates that these traditionally conservative groups are indeed shifting on the issue of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military and are supporting the repeal of Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell to a far greater extent than they support same-sex marriage.

Second, the poll suggests the political opposition will be softer on this issue then the Obama administration first thought, and President Barack Obama is well positioned to go 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 should he choose to do so.

This poll also should tell the Obama administration loud and clear that as it weighs the political and military consequences of repealing Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell, it can do so knowing Americans are for the most part strongly in favor of the change.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/120764/Conservatives-Shift-Favor-Openly-Gay-Service-Members.aspx