Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Destructive to Military Policy?

A tense moment in the debates occurred between Romney and a gay former military official who asked candidates' position on Don't Ask, Don't Tell and questioned its effectiveness. To the boos of the audience, Romney refused to speak for or against Don't Ask, Don't Tell and said it was up to the military. Seemingly disturbed, he mentioned that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is necessary to maintain a professional military. The former military official responded that his question was not answered and asserted that people in the military are professional enough to work with homosexuals, also receiving boos. Cooper then turned to McCain, who drew on his military experience to end the question's debate: "all the time, I talked to our military leaders ... almost unanimously, they said that this present policy is working, and that we have the best and bravest, most professional military in the world." Ultimately, it seems as if Republicans are in favor of Clinton's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy -- or are afraid to say otherwise.