McCain calls for new study of DADT

Timothy Kincaid

November 15th, 2010

John McCain is clearly not pleased that the Military study of DADT will not confirm his presumptions. So he’s calling for a new study, one that would delay repeal and ask the questions he thinks would support his recalcitrance on the issue. (meet the press)

MR. GREGORY: Let me, let me talk to you about another military matter back home and a priority for this administration ; that’s whether the ban on gays and lesbians in the military is going to be rescinded.

SEN. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

MR. GREGORY: Are you going to stand in the way, you personally, in the way of this ban being lifted?

SEN. McCAIN: I will stand that I want a thorough and complete study of the effect on morale and battle effectiveness of the United States military . I will listen, as I’ve said for years, to our military leaders and not a, not a study that is leaked — as we know this town’s pretty good at that.

MR. GREGORY: That said, seven in 10 members of the military think it would be just fine to have it lifted.

SEN. McCAIN: Yeah. You and I have not seen that study . And this study was directed at how to implement the repeal , not whether the repeal should take place or not. But, very importantly, we have people like the commandant of the Marine Corps , the three other — all four service chiefs are saying we need a thorough and complete study of the effects — not how to implement a repeal , but the effects on morale and battle effectiveness. That’s what I want. And once we get this study , we need to have hearings, and we need to examine it, and we need to look at whether it’s the kind of study that we wanted. It isn’t, in my view, because I wanted a study to determine the effects of the repeal on battle effectiveness and morale. What this study is, is designed to do is, is to find out how the repeal could be implemented. Those are two very different aspects of this issue.

MR. GREGORY: In a lot of households, this is a subject of debate, including your own, apparently.

SEN. McCAIN: That’s right .

MR. GREGORY: Your wife, Cindy McCain , has, has cut an ad, a public service announcement with NOH8 , a group that promotes gay, lesbian, transgender rights . And this is a portion of it. Let me, let me play it.

MS. CINDY McCAIN: Our political and religious leaders tell LGBT youth that they have no future.

MR. DAVE NAVARRO: They can’t get married.

MR. STEPH JONES: They can’t donate blood.

MS. McCAIN: They can’t serve our country openly.

MR. GREGORY: Referring to “don’t ask, don’t tell.” She did clarify this on her Twitter page. I- -you’re both so active on Twitter . She said this. She said, “I fully support the NOH8 campaign and all it stands for and am proud to be part of it. But I stand by my husband’s stance on ‘don’t ask, don’t’ tell.'”

SEN. McCAIN: Which is a complete and thorough study and review of the effect on battle readiness and…

MR. GREGORY: OK.

SEN. McCAIN: …and morale. And by the way, I respect the First Amendment rights of every member of my family.

MR. GREGORY: But, but, you know, what’s interesting about this, I mean, a debate in families, is…

SEN. McCAIN: Sure.

MR. GREGORY: …there is kind of — you, you talk about waiting for the — there is an appeal to honor, I mean to your honor. You had the chairman of the Joint Chiefs saying, “Look, it’s just not right to have, to have people lying about who they are just to be able to protect fellow citizens.” It has been an appeal…

SEN. McCAIN: Yeah. And you have the, you have the commandant of the Marine Corps who says…

MR. GREGORY: Right.

SEN. McCAIN: …whose, whose people he’s directly responsible for, is saying this could hurt our ability to win. This, this is about…

MR. GREGORY: Do you believe that?

SEN. McCAIN: This is about…

MR. GREGORY: I mean, you say you wait for the study . What do you believe?

SEN. McCAIN: I’m paying attention to the commandant of the Marine Corps .

MR. GREGORY: Right.

SEN. McCAIN: I’m paying attention to the chief of staff of the Air Force , the Army and…

MR. GREGORY: But you’re so close to the military , Senator . You know these people. You know the issue. I mean, do you have a sense of it in your gut about what should happen?

SEN. McCAIN: I, I have a sense that I respect and admire these four service chiefs who have expressed either outright opposition or deep reservation about the repeal . They’re the ones who are in charge. Now, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , I agree , the president and the secretary of Defense have all come out for repeal . But I really would — I was in, I was in an outpost near Kandahar . Army master sergeant, 19 years in, fifth deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan , says to me, ” Senator McCain , we live, eat, sleep, and fight together in close proximity. I’m concerned about the repeal . I’d like to know more about it.” That’s, that’s the view that I got from chief petty officers and sergeants all over Afghanistan .

MR. GREGORY: The ban’s not going to be lifted in the lame duck session , is that fair to say?

SEN. McCAIN: I think that we should at least — I, I don’t think it should be, because I think once this study comes out in the beginning of December, we should at least have a chance to review it and maybe have hearings on it.

McCain is sounding less credible with each passing day. “I don’t care ’bout no reports. I was talking to some guy in Kandahar…”

He hears what he wants to hear and believes what he wants to believe and no studies, facts, logic or principles are going to change him.

Ryan

November 15th, 2010

What angers me the most is still he still persists in pretending that he ever has any intention of ever voting for repeal. The idea that a Republican would be swayed by a “study” is laughably absurd. They hate facts and logic and science more than they hate gays. The talking point, and the justification for all 42 senators (including Kirk) to continue to filibuster repeal will be exactly as McCain said. “the study is bad”. Obama has no excuse for continuing to fight repeal in the courts; as weirdly idealistic as he is, even he must see now that no Republican would ever vote pro-gay and risk being ostracized by the party. Even Cindy clearly was forced to change her position.

Franck

November 15th, 2010

Ooooh yeah, ’cause mandating another study will be a step forward in shrinking pointless government expenses. One cheer for FCINOs (fiscal conservatives in name only)!

(C’m’on guys, let’s start the french fries jokes already, this guy deserves them)

Aeval

November 15th, 2010

He’s only paying attention to those who confirms his own stand on the issue, no surprise there.

CPT_Doom

November 15th, 2010

Once again, we have a reporter who won’t ask the simplest question of the good Senator – if gay people are so bad for morale, how has his office functioned for years with an openly gay Chief of Staff, who also acts as McCain’s campaign manager during his runs for re-election? I mean, if McCain can rely on this man for his most important staff jobs, ones that bring him into intimate contact with every facet of McCain’s life, why couldn’t the military?

homer

November 15th, 2010

This idiot is my US Senator and boasts about not bringing a penny of money to Arizona. And now he wants to waste more money on a pointless survey. John McCain is only interested in appearing on Sunday talk shows.

JFE

November 15th, 2010

@CPT_Doom McCain would answer saying that his office is not run like the military. After the day is complete, employees can go home and don’t have to live together, shower together, etc. The military is entirely different.

Priya Lynn

November 15th, 2010

Mccain’s a zero.

enough already

November 15th, 2010

In a way, I’m sort of sad to see what has become of this man.

Once upon a time, he actually had some good ideas.

Since sometime in 2008, he has given me the impression of a man 30 years older than he had been just two short years before. Something has changed – whether it is dementia, or medications, or serious underlying physical problems, he just is not running on all cylinders.

To imagine he might have been president with Barracuda Barbie one heart-beat away…she’d have had him declared non compos mentis long ago.

Ryan

November 15th, 2010

I’m blown away that the No H8 campaign hasn’t already dropped Cindy.

lurker

November 15th, 2010

“SEN. McCAIN: I, I have a sense that I respect and admire these four service chiefs who have expressed either outright opposition or deep reservation about the repeal . They’re the ones who are in charge.”

No. Actually not. In this country the military serves at the pleasure of the people, under the control of the people’s representatives. Like John McCain.

Timothy Kincaid

November 15th, 2010

Ryan,

The Washington Post disagrees with your assumptions about Republicans:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has said she will vote for repeal if Reid can ensure a fair debate and will allow Republicans to introduce amendments.

The Center for American Progress said last week that at least 10 senators of both parties are waiting to read the Pentagon report before making their decision.

It’s easy to put people in a box and label it “they” and assign it attributes, and throwing hate at the box is a lot of fun, but that process doesn’t make for very accurate political assessment.

Here at BTB, you’ll get much more respect by thoughtful analysis. Yes, I know that “all Republicans (or whoever is the target that day) are…” is a common tactic at most sites that cover what we discuss here, but we’re a bit different. Less ranting, more thinking.

Give it a try, I think you’ll find it rewarding.

customartist

November 15th, 2010

Will Cindy also come out in support of her husband when DOMA becomes John McCain’s next point of contention?

Will other GOPers stand idly by while Sour Grapes McCain makes their case?

Email Congress:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Email Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Call the Congress and Senate: (202)224-3121

*The Operator will direct you if you do not know your representative

*IMPORTANT*
Make your calls and letters to Congress polite and to the point.

Aeval

November 15th, 2010

enough already said:
“Something has changed – whether it is dementia, or medications, or serious underlying physical problems, he just is not running on all cylinders.”

I saw it coming, the first sign was when he choosed Sarah Palin as running mate.

Ben in Oakland

November 15th, 2010

I for one will never forgive that man for unleashing Barbi-cuda on the United states.

Everett

November 15th, 2010

Why doesn’t Sen. McCain save everyone a lot of time and trouble by just saying what he really believes about repealing DADT: “Over My Dead Body.”

Ryan

November 15th, 2010

Tim, I apologize for any over-the-top ranting. I don’t believe, however, that any Republican will be influenced by the results of the report. I guess we’ll know for sure next month.

Ryan

November 15th, 2010

Also, Collins is the only Republican who has said she would even consider voting for repeal, and a “fair debate”, whatever that means, would clearly carry us into the new year. I don’t think it’s at all over-the-top to say repeal would be impossible with a Republican-controlled House.

Mihangel apYrs

November 15th, 2010

and still the US is happy to serve with NATO troops ans Oz and NZ.

To be consistent, to protect their little boys and girls, they should only serve alongside Greece and Turkey

Ryan

November 15th, 2010

Ha! Very good point!

cd

November 15th, 2010

Hey, all those previous studies and the experiences of other militaries *might* be totally wrong!

Rob in San Diego

November 16th, 2010

“That’s what I want. And once we get this study , we need to have hearings, and we need to examine it, and we need to look at whether it’s the kind of study that we wanted. It isn’t, in my view, because I wanted a study to determine the effects of the repeal on battle effectiveness and morale. What this study is, is designed to do is, is to find out how the repeal could be implemented. Those are two very different aspects of this issue.”

So until I get a report that goes in my way of thinking, HELL NO! And I will only listen to those who share my opinion. Never mind the 21 year old in the 29th marine division who told me that he doesn’t care about working along side a gay person, I only speak with other fellow homophobes. And we will keep having reports and hearings until they all agree with me.

By the way, has anyone seen my grumpy old man pills?

Mark F.

November 16th, 2010

The people of AZ should be ashamed of electing this bozo.

Jimmy

November 16th, 2010

This is the same ol’ nasty, vindictive, egomaniacal McCain that has always been there. He’s an ass.

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