John McCain Begged To Let Soldiers Themselves Vote On DADT Repeal

The Wonk Room has revealed a letter from Sen. John McCain to Defense Secretary Robert Gates in which he asked that the DADT survey be modified so that soldiers were asked whether the policy should be repealed, rather than how they felt about the repeal itself.

McCain: "I urge you and Admiral Mullen to modify the review and the survey instrument, or to conduct supplemental surveys, aimed at ensuring that the question of whether the DADT policy should be changed is answered."

Gates wrote back with the right answer: "I do not believe that military policy decisions — on this or any other subject — should be made through a referendum of servicemembers."