Reaction was swift and mixed to the Pentagon's release today of a study that concluded that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the policy that prohibits gays from serving openly in the military, could be immediately repealed without any serious repercussions. In response to the announcement, San Diego Rep. Duncan Hunter Jr., a Marine combat veteran, told Fox News' Politics blog that he disagreed with its conclusions and said he believes the questions in the survey were created to reach a predetermined outcome. Hunter remarked:
Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay rights organization, said today in a statement:
Sen. John McCain, ranking Republican on the Senate panel on military issues and someone who has been ambiguous on this issue, believes the survey itself is flawed and should not be used as justification for a repeal. McCain has argued that the survey didn't directly ask military personnel "whether" the policy should be repealed, but rather assumes that it will be abolished. In a short interview with NBC News, he said:
Meanwhile, in a joint statement today, Senators Mark Udall (CO), Joe Lieberman (CT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) told The Wonk Room blog:
