Tea Party, GOP More Inclined To Oppose DADT Repeal

The Huffington Post's Emily Swanson reported on a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life that showed a majority of Americans support the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," except for those who align themselves with the tea party and the Republican party - those individuals opposed any repeal of the 17-year-old discriminatory law.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, shows that 58% of adults favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly, whereas 27% said they opposed allowing it. A majority of both men and women, as well as both Democrats and independents also support allowing open service.

Currently, gays and lesbians are permitted to serve in the military under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy only if they do not publicly reveal their sexuality.

According the poll, Republicans are divided on whether to allow open service by gays and lesbians -- 40% of Republicans favor it and 44% oppose. Perhaps as important, key groups likely to have an influence on Republican policies are even more opposed to allowing open service. The Pew report notes that among those who said they "agree with the Tea Party" only 38% favor and 48% oppose allowing open servece. Similarly, only 34% of white evangelical Protestants favor and 48% oppose allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly. Lack of Republican support could prevent the Obama administration from ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, especially if Congress doesn't vote on ending the policy before the end of this year's lame-duck session.

Is this any surprise?

The tea party, which claims to represent tha majority, is actually in the minority on not only this issue, but many other issues.  I also find it interesting that they are supposedly for less government intrusion yet they support this unnecessary government regulation...