Yay! Obama/Defense Dept. to survey 150,000 troops' FAMILIES on DADT!

[Bluebear]

More on the $4.5 million survey to follow this month, so gay service members can hope for change! What other government employee's families get to weigh in on workplace issues, by the way?

=====

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department says that only about a quarter of the troops sent a survey on gays in the military have responded.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Thursday that close to 103,000 service members have completed the survey, which asks questions like how they would react if assigned to a room with a gay person.

The Defense Department had delivered 400,000 surveys to troops as part of its study on how it could lift the ban without hurting morale. The deadline to respond is Sunday.

Smith said 150,000 surveys will be sent to troops' family members later this month.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100812/us-gays-military/

[xchrom]

1. And the first cousins once removed? Might as well.

Pardon me now - I have to go pick up my
Miss Far Left Crown and get drug tested.

[Bluebear]

5. You just won't be "satisfied" until the Pentagon is shut down & we're all defenseless

[xchrom]

9. Well as my Fairy God Mother used to say: Less is More. Nt

[LostinVA]

29. Have you scheduled your drug test yet?

I just did.

[QC]

55. You better get, two, just to be sure, you professional leftist, you! n/t

[Vincardog]

2. How it could lift the ban without hurting morale? LIFT IT already the troops don't give a fuck

[defendandprotect]

3. American taxpayers pay for the MIC ... and we shouldn't be paying for DADT -- Unconstitutional ...!!

[Starry Messenger]

4. wtf

Who are we going to ask next? The entire country? The Amish? Overseas? The Trobriand Islanders? Hell, let's blast that sucker into outer space via SETI! Once the little greys have weighed in, then we can do the right thing. Unfuckingbelievable.

[LostinVA]

30. How about the Green Aliens?!

ARE YOU AN ANTI-NADERITE?!

[Starry Messenger]

40. Oh shit, did we remember to ask Nader?

(You know he's the tie-breaking vote).

[LostinVA]

43. He's too busy planning psych ops

With Michael Moore.

[Starry Messenger]

46. The circle is complete.

[Ignis]

52. Poland.

[smokey nj]

6. Once they finish with the families, I'm sure they'll want feedback from the troops' pets as

well.

[Bluebear]

7. “(Obama) looked me in the eye and said, ‘We’ll get this done,’ ” - Vic Fehrenbach, gay Lt. Col.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/07/airforce_fehrenbach_update_070309w/

This is how he's "getting it done".

[smokey nj]

14. If he really wanted to "get it done," it would have been done already.

[terrya]

65. At the very least, he could have issued a stop loss order earlier

To stop the discharges while this was going on.

Which, of course, he could have done. Since he's the Commander-in-Chief and all.

[Bluebear]

11. AND their "clergymen" no doubt

[Forkboy]

24. I hope not.

The other day my goldfish was swimming around with a God Hates Cod sign. x(

[VMI Dem]

8. Unreal.

No words for this.

[rocktivity]

10. Is the same "morale" problem

that white soldiers were going to have with blacks in the military, and that men were supposed to have with the infusion of women?

:eyes:
rocktivity

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. You got it

Some things never change.

[PA Democrat]

12. $4.5 million? Surveying the FAMILIES?

The survey of service members themselves is a complete waste of time and money, but I can't even come up with words to describe how I feel about surveying the families. This whole mess is beyond screwed up.

There are gays in all branches of the service. What purpose on earth does it serve to FORCE them to continue to hide or lie about their sexual orientation?

I'm sorry, but what other employer would survey employees to see if they are okay with working alongside gays? What kind of employer would ask family members ? This is beyond bizarre.

Here is a suggestion. If you want a job where you don't have to work with openly gay people, become self-employed or go get a job with the Mormon Church.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Right. I vividly remember being surveyed about marching and saluting nincompoops.

Not to mention pushups, C-Rations, and shitting in little holes in the ground.

[Better Today]

15. Screw this shit. Yay!, my ass. WTF difference does it matter what the families think?

Repeal DADT, discrimination shouldn't be a matter related to public opinion OR surveys of families or anyone else.

[frebrd]

16. What the hell does it have to do........

with their damned families? They're just casting about in all directions for excuses to delay taking any kind of action on the matter.

I guess they're hoping if they delay long enough there'll be a "sea change" after the election.

Then, even if the Dems are still in charge, they'll have to "keep their powder dry".

:banghead:

[kenny blankenship]

22. We'll learn all sorts of relevant things like the answer to pertinent and neutrally worded questions

such as, "Would you have been more hesitant to approve of your son or daughter entering a branch of the US military, if you had realized he or she would have been showering naked in front of gangs of potentially HIV positive butch queers with metal piercings in their genitals?" Yes | No (circle one)

Describe the intensity of that feeling:
Somewhat more hesitant, a great deal more hesitant, absolutely opposed or completely resigned? (circle one)

[LostinVA]

33. "Would you be comfortable with your child to interact with open homosexuals?"

"Including gyms and swimming pools?"

[kenny blankenship]

35. Exactly - scientific, unbiased, neutrally worded questions about plausible real world situations

Such as, "Would you be concerned about the final spiritual counsel your son or daughter had received from a unit Chaplain prior to an action in which your son or daughter was killed by the enemy, if you were to learn that this Chaplain was subsequently arrested for offenses against the laws concerning homosexuality in the foreign country in which your son or daughter was deployed and killed?" Yes | No (please circle one)

[LostinVA]

36. I was thinking more of families who live on base, with kids

But, your angle is also correct. This is fucked up.

[Bluebear]

67. .

[PavePusher]

63. I took the first survey.

Your hyperbole is completely unfounded.

Your attempt to demonize is not going to help.

[QC]

17. What about their neighbors?

Surely they will have some wisdom to offer!

[Prism]

19. What about surveying their pastors?

What pastors have to say is very, very important. I think we should include them in the decision on whether or not them there homos is acceptables.

[QC]

26. And their barbers, too.

Anything to play for time.

[Prism]

18. And, of course, LGBT families do not count as family here

Because the mere recognition of a partner would violate DADT.

Gay families? We're going to send out a survey about you to other families. No, you can't respond without risking consequences. We're just going to talk about you over here, ok?

This administration's utter tone-deafness grows more and more astounding by the day.

I guarantee, there's no close, valued LGBT adviser anywhere near this president. He hasn't the slightest clue, and I think he is quite content with that.

[PA Democrat]

23. Great point. "Those" families don't count because they are

forced to remain invisible.

[Prism]

27. They're not "real" families, you know. n/t

[Bluebear]

58. +

[Jamastiene]

20. Sigh.

:wtf: are they doing? Planning on having an episode of Family Feud to make the final decision? :banghead:

[frylock]

21. fierce advocation at it's best!

these jackholes are just looking to run out the clock for the next fierce advocate to take on.

[LostinVA]

25. OMFG

This has gotten past ridiculous, and what a tremendous waste of money. And, this comes out a day after the young Cadet ranked NINTH in her West Point class resigned due to no longer being able to live a lie.

[xchrom]

28. You! Go get yourself drug tested right now! Nt

[LostinVA]

34. Do Professional Left Teh Gays have to get an extra test

I need to know these things.

:shrug:

[xchrom]

41. Lol! They put me in charge - and I test Far Left Lesbians twice. Nt

[LostinVA]

42. Oh God -- is the copay still $25?!

[xchrom]

49. And a new handbag or nordstrom gift certificate for me --

IF you know what's good for you.

[Bluebear]

50. lolol

[TheKentuckian]

31. A stupid waste of time and money in an effort to kick the can down the road

[msongs]

32. total leadership failures = looking for reasons to sabotage end of DADT nt

[LostinVA]

37. 100% exactly

[Bluebear]

54. ++++

[TK421]

38. and this is supposed to do what, exactly? why do I even bother trying to understand n/t

[riderinthestorm]

39. They're desperate to find any reason to keep DADT in place. This is ridiculous! nt

[NorthCarolina]

44. They will obviously keep "surveying" until they get the response they want.

Fierce advocate my ass. For that matter....Progressive my ass.

[Bluebear]

48. + + + +

[QC]

51. But he doesn't have a magic wand, you know!

:kick:

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Navy wife here

and you are telling me that they are gonna waste money on THAT!!!!!!

Afraid it will lead to divorces?

Wonders never cease. Average number of divorces any given Wespac was five in my husband's command... er commands...

Oh and there were sailors on the boat who were OPENLY gay... as long as they did their jobs you know how many people cared? Zero, that's right, ZERO. A BIG FAT ZERO.

Jesus age... this needs to be done. PERIOD!

Hubby retired oh five years ago from our nuclear navy, okay

[Ignis]

53. Watching Latin America move past us on this issue is ...

Well, frankly, it's embarrassing. :blush:

[Moosepoop]

56. I don't see the reason for surveying the families, either.

But this isn't something new that was just thought up and added on -- it was planned as part of the 10-month "review" process from the start, and scheduled to happen in early August. It's actually a little late, as this is now mid-August.

It's an online survey, as was the first one sent to the service members themselves.

[Ignis]

57. K&R

If that's still allowed. :shrug:

[terrya]

59. The gay and lesbian servicemembers currently serving have my utmost respect

To put up with degrading, humilating shit like this. This is beyond disgraceful. To have a bunch of people surveyed about what kind of effect having openly gay and lesbian servicemembers in our military. As 24 other countries have done without no effects whatsoever.

My thanks...I can't thank them enough...to the gay and lesbian servicemembers who are risking the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country. And they have to lie about themselves...under penalty of having their military careers ended. Simply because of who they are.

I'd like to say that soon they can serve honestly, openly, and be treated with dignity and respect, soon. I can't say that for sure, though.

[Bluebear]

60. I agree. Our country doesn't deserve them.

[Bluebear]

61. Not one "ignored" response. How interesting.

:)

[VMI Dem]

62. It is isn't it?

Shame? Too obvious?

[Ignis]

64. Wow, same here. That's a first on threads on this subject.

:toast:

[rusty fender]

66. Stall, stall, stall

Nurse that 3 point lead!:eyes:

:hi: Bluebear!

[Lucky Luciano]

68. The fact that 75% did not respond to the first survey suggests

That at least 75% of the military don't care if there are gay people in the military. The survey probably was 50-50 though I made that up - that means 87% or so of the military don't mnd gays in the military.

Ergo...DADT should be thrown away.

Not responding to the survey = apathy = not a big deal to have gays in the military. The fundies and those who are not secure with their own sexuality are clearly the minority here.