Megan Carpenter writing for Talking Points Memo (Pentagon Survey On Don't Ask Don't Tell Now Available: Raises Questions About Pentagon Priorities) deftly points out that of the 103 question survey there are endless questions that work from the pretext of problems associated with repealing the policy, and assume resistance. There are, however, no questions that addressed the potential ill-effects of the policy itself. None explore what effect discrimination that targets troops for investigation and harassment might have on morale and unit cohesion.
Morrell was confronted by Chris Geidner of MetroWeekly on that exact point:
His only response when asked by Metro Weekly why there appeared to be no questions regarding the current impact of DADT and DADT-related discharges on troops' morale and unit cohesion was, "I don't know. I'm sure there's a good explanation. We'll try to get it for you. I don't know."
Mike Riley writing in the Denver Post, reports active duty gay service members he spoke with are skeptical about what is the true goal of the study:
"The survey is going to be turned into a weapon to show how it's going to affect morale," said an active-duty Air Force officer and a member of Citizens For Repeal, which represents several hundred gays and lesbians now in the ranks, many of them from the military's elite service academies.
Riley does include a point of optimism for LGB troops, which still underscores the folly of this $4.5 million push-poll:
The officer said he had already seen several chain e-mails mocking the survey's language and questions. He also said several groups asked to provide input on the survey before it was released but were turned down.
"It's being made fun of," the officer said. "The reaction to the survey from the troop level is showing how out of touch leadership is from the subject."
In a follow up report on the press conference, TPM's Carpenter wrote:
When quizzed about the development of the survey questions, Morrell admitted that they didn't consult with advocacy groups about the design of the survey, leaving that to the professionals at Westat, the private contractor who developed the questions in consultation with the Pentagon and working group.
Why LGBT servicemembers advocacy groups were not consulted is a mystery. Certainly Joint Chief Mike Mullen's attention was drawn by Senator Claire McCaskill as far back as February about the problems incumbent on getting an LGBT perspective on this issue. From the DADT Senate hearings:
McCaskill: "Here's my problem, we now have established we have gays and lesbian Americans serving in the military, that they are not broadly causing any broad disciplinary or moral problems, that we welcome their service.
The issue is not whether or not we have gays and lesbians serving in the military, it's whether or not we talk about it. So, how are you going to get their input in this survey?"
Mullen: "Well, actually, I mean, my take on that is..., hang on a second... [long pause] um... It think we would have to look very carefully at how we would do that."
Mullen may have "looked very carefully at it," but it's clear the Working Group has failed miserably to address this issue with an inclusive eye.
While the standing policy of DADT presents a serious impediment to including LGB perspective, the Veteran community is rich with people who have had one boot in each world who are under no obligation to be silent. But, despite requests to be forwarded an advance copy of the survey, Westat and the Pentagon declined to bring leading LGBT/DADT advocacy group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network into the fold, declining the opportunity to use of their consulting expertise. Likewise, Citizens for Repeal reports requests to review the questionnaire in advance of its release were refused by the Pentagon.
From the Servicemembers United statement (PDF):
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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