United Liberty

Republicans have said that they will listen to military leaders when it comes to issues dealing with our overseas ventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, not necessarily what the Obama Administration wants. On a military policy like “don’t ask, don’t tell,” they have sung a very different tune.

While Defense Secretary Robert Gates and most military leaders are in support of repealing the out-of-date policy, most Republicans don’t and are threatening to filibuster attempts to repeal it.

Proponents of ending the policy are expected to be given a boost when the Department of Defense releases a survey of American combat troops:

When a majority of troops told the Pentagon this summer they didn’t care if gays were allowed to serve openly in the military, it was in sharp contrast to the time when America’s fighting forces voiced bitter opposition to accepting racial minorities and women in the services.

The survey, due out Tuesday, is expected to find pockets of resistance among combat troops to ending the ban on gays. But some 70 percent of respondents were expected to say that lifting the ban would have a positive or mixed effect, or none at all, according to officials familiar with the findings.

The economy and jobs are winning issues. Voters are tired of the social conservative agenda, and they will reject Republicans if they make the next two years about social policy.