In 2008, after voicing his unwavering support for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, former Sec. of State Colin Powell indicated he’d relaxed his position on the policy. In 2009, Powell inched a bit further, saying he favored having the law reviewed, but was careful to note he was no longer in charge, and thus couldn’t give a more concrete answer. And now in 2010, and on the heels of Defense Sec. Robert Gates and his Joint Chiefs of Staff peer Adm. Mike Mullen coming out against the policy, Powell has given his full endorsement:
“In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed,” the general says in a statement. “I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.”
Looks like John McCain, who’s flip-flopped on his support of leaving DADT’s repeal up to military leaders, is going to have to find a new crutch for his bigoted position. In 1999, McCain cited then-Sec. of State Powell’s support of the policy as a foundation for his own endorsement: “I support the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy because Gen. Colin Powell, Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf, all of the military leaders that I respect and admire came up with this policy. They thought it was the best way to address a very difficult problem within our military.”
Cam
Again, McCain will do anything and say anything it takes to keep his job, he’s always been this way. He is now low in the polls in AZ and being challanged by somebody on the right. He figures now that he can go and attack the gays and get a little traction for his campaign. The fact that his Chief of Staff is openly gay and been working for him for around 20 years doesn’t matter. He has no loyalty and this cynical hypocricy is just par for his course. If he was being challanged from the left he would be out there saying the policy should be repealed.
Same Crap
He’s also a petty, spiteful little man who is still angry about having his ass handed to him the previous election.