Will Polling U.S. Troops On The Issue Of Gays In The Military Make A Difference?

KANDAHAR COMPOUND - Members of the International Security Assistance Force provide security on a compound in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, July 2, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Christian Palermo

Why Is The Military Polling The Troops About Gays? -- Time Magazine

When Harry Truman wanted to integrate blacks into the U.S. military in 1948, he simply ordered it done. When the Navy wanted women on ships beginning in 1978, it commanded its admirals to do so. When the Clinton Pentagon decided women should become fighter pilots, it issued orders telling the military to make it happen. For generations, the military mind-set has been, If we want you to have an opinion, we'll issue you one. So why is the Pentagon asking troops how they'll feel if forced to serve alongside openly gay comrades?

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My Comment: So much for showing leadership from the top.

But on the flip side there is "some logic" in this process. Many of the men and women who now serve for the military have an education that is unsurpassed in the history of the U.S. Arm Forces. With social networks like Facebook, websites, blogs, and the 24/7 media universe .... opinions and altitudes will be known very quickly .... and quite often annonymously. Participating in polls will defuse some disagreement .... but only so much.

Bottom line .... I am very skeptical that polling what men and women in the uniform are thinking will make a difference on issues like "don't ask, don't tell". If President Obama and Congress wants this issue to pass .... it will pass regardless of what is the majority opinion in the military .... and on this issue everyone knows that they want it.

But why are they still doing this? I believe that they are just laying the groundwork on how to best sell their agenda. But to do so they will need information and background material to know what is palatable .... and getting it through polls is the best way to accomplish this.