Now That Pentagon Spokesperson, Geoff Morrell, Has Disclosed The Name of the Private Contractor, Westat, Which Created the Bias-Baiting Language in The Don't Ask Don't Tell Survey, KnowThyNeighbor is Asking for the Names of the "Professionals at Westat" Who Developed These Questions
While Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis warns LGBT servicemembers that the truly inflammatory and bias-baiting language in the DADT study sent out to 400K service members last week may in fact be the cause of privacy concerns and she is asking that they do not participate in the survey, KnowThyNeighbor is taking a different approach.
KnowThyNeighbor is demanding to know the names of all individuals involved in the composing of the survey--all those involved in the creation of these questions including the privately contracted Westat employees, members of the Pentagon Working Group (as it is being called) and anyone else who had actual "hands on" involvement with the wording, choice and/or vetting of these questions. KnowThyNeighbor is also demanding to know the process in selecting the criteria used to formulate these bias-baiting questions. This process affecting a public policy and the lives of, for now, voiceless American heroes who risk their lives for this country needs to be remain in the public's eye and in the public realm.
Geoff Morrell, Pentagon spokesperson, admitted that No LGBT Advocacy Groups were consulted in the process of question selection in this DADT Survey and he assures the public and the servicemen and women participating in the survey (400,000 to be exact) that any perceived biases in the survey were only due diligence "to help the military determine what adjustments might be necessary 'when DADT is repealed.'" But before the surveys to the 400,000 participants have been returned, Morell and the Pentagon have already suggested the segregation of troops "in order to preserve the privacy and modesty of heterosexual service members in group showers and barracks." So it seems this survey already "skewed" to a foregone conclusion regarding troop segregation based solely on the nature of the questions themselves.
Why does KnowThyNeighbor want the names of the individuals involved with and responsible for the DADT Survey Creation? To run these names against party affiliation databases, campaign contribution databases, public affiliations, known religious affiliations, associations and connections, etc. Too many brave men and women serving this country have been kept silent far too long, being told that you can die for this country but don't you dare tell anyone who you love. And now they are being dragged through this disgusting process, further demeaned by the nature of the questions of this "survey" and treated once again as sub-human, morally corrupt animals. Well, it is time to know who is responsible.
Tom Lang, Director of KnowThyNeighbor