Word is leaking out that the Pentagon survey of U.S. troops shows most don’t object to serving with openly gay men and women.

This should not be a big surprise. A big majority of Americans — though only about 56 percent of Arkansans according to a recent poll — feel the same way. The American military has long done a better job of representing American diversity than other parts of society — and advancing people without regard to distinguishing characteristics. Exceptions happen, naturally — Air Force proselytizers, Tailhook embarrassments, homophobic Marine generals. But the golden mean apparently is pretty good.

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And then there’s the Republican candidate for lt. gov. in Wisconsin, parroting Mike Huckabee.

Will Republicans fight an inclusive military now that the troops say it’s OK? I’m afraid bigotry dies hard.

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