DADT_4A new CNN/Opinion Research poll finds nearly three quarters of Americans favor allowing those who are openly gay or lesbian to serve in the U.S. military.
The news comes as “Don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal advocates are pressuring the Senate to act this year on a military spending measure that contains a repeal plan.
The White House and the Secretary of Defense have also asked the Senate to move the measure in the lame duck session, but Republicans, led by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are fighting to remove the language from the National Defense Authorization Act.  McCain said a recently-completed Pentagon survey of troops on the issue is insufficient, and he wants more time to further study how lifting the ban would affect troop morale and combat readiness.
McCain’s comments followed a leaked snapshot of the survey results that found most troops would be okay serving alongside openly gay or lesbian colleagues.

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