McCain Backs ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

[babylonsister]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/mccain-on-dont-ask-dont-tell/

McCain Backs ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By Kate Phillips


At a forum in New York on Thursday, Senator John McCain was asked a number of questions on myriad issues. While his position on the troop buildup is well known, he talked about a few other issues related to conservatives’ concerns about his candidacy.

Asked about the military’s policy toward gays, the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy, Mr. McCain, the Republican from Arizona, said:

“I recently had a conversation with some other military leaders on this issue and their point to me was ‘It’s working, so leave it alone. Generally, overall, it’s working.’ I don’t think there’s any doubt that there are evolving attitudes in America about many issues, including this one, but every military leader that I talk to, I say ‘Should we change it?’ They say, ‘It’s working.’ And right now we’ve got the best military we’ve ever had - the most professional, best trained, equipped and the bravest. And so I think it’s logical to leave this issue alone. I really do.”

Another Republican in the field, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts who had once advocated allowing gays to serve openly in the military, said last month there was no need to change the policy now. He, too, said it was working well.

Mr. McCain also was asked about the seeming popularity — at this early stage in the 2008 race — of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has overtaken him in recent polls that largely serve as a measure of name recognition right now. “I don’t know the answer to that. If I did, it would be a lot closer.”

And on the Democrats’ new proposals for withdrawals from Iraq:

It’s certainly no better than the last. I just wish that my colleagues in the Democratic party would do two things: 1. Let this new strategy have a chance to succeed. And 2. Recognize that presidents don’t lose wars and parties don’t lose wars. Nations lose wars and the consequences are felt by the nation. So I would like for them to let the commander in chief be the commander in chief. If they feel so strongly that we should be getting out of Iraq, then they have a constitutional right to cut off funds. I have never heard of a war in history that was micromanaged by the Congress and that’s basically what they want to do.

[liberal N proud]

1. And next week he most likely will not

He doesn't know what he backs until he gages the crowd he is addressing.

[babylonsister]

2. Or, it's an easy way of NOT addressing the inequities; stick with

the prevailing 'wisdom'. :eyes:

[sarge43]

3. Sure it's 'working' so long as you're not on the receiving end of it.

[Skittles]

4. it seems very cowardly to me

gay folk serve with honor, why should they friggin' have to hide who they are? "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is a compromise pandering to bigots - they military does need them, but doesn't want to recognize them.

[radfringe]

5. uh-huh

don't ask him anything because he won't tell you anything

[saltpoint]

6. GREAT post. It helps frame McCain's increasingly untenable

posture in his campaign.

Here's a guy who was the darling of independents in 2000 against the Fake Cowboy, and whomped Dubya but good in the New Hampshire primary. It was a crushing defeat, too, and those are some comparatively with-it Republicans, as opposed to Republicans who support Jeff Sessions and Tom Coburn, for example.

But with his Dubya-huggin' pro-surge blather, McCain is in slow decline. Also he looks like a guy on quaaludes and talks like it too, on some of the news programs. He's smart enough to know the voters are now very strongly opposed to Bush and to Bush's decision to continue in Iraq, but McCain acts as if things are just peachy over there. It's more than just a disconnect. Something's wrong in the man's thinking.

Don't Ask Don't Tell may have been the best Bill Clinton could manage, for all I know. A lot of people didn't think it would work then and since it's been the failure they predicted. And here's John McCain, hugging it just as he hugs Bush.

In the 6 years since 2000, John McCain has lost the considerable opportunity he had to be a great man.

[Joe Bacon]

7. But, but, but, but Matt Sanchez DID tell!

Is he staying in the Corps after coming out of the closet?

http://rightsfield.com/2007/03/06/cpac-star-is-a-gay-porn-star/