John McCain vs. Reality: DADT Edition

"The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, Senator, we ought to change the policy, then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility to."

---John McCain, October 2006

Before offering his advice, Mullen wants time to study the issue and canvass opinions, not unlike what he does with other key issues. "I think I owe him [Obama] a very thorough review of the potential impact [of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell]," he says.

---Mike Mullen, January 2009

"My opinion is shaped by the view of the leaders of the military. The reason why I supported the policy to start with is because General Colin Powell, who was then the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the one that strongly recommended we adopt this policy in the Clinton administration. I have not heard General Powell or any of the other military leaders reverse their position, just like when on other issues, that people are expert and knowledgeable of, I rely on their opinion."

---McCain, June 2009

"In the almost 17 years since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

---Colin Powell, February 2010

"It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

---Mullen, February 2010

"I’m deeply disappointed in your statement...Your statement is ‘question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it.’ It would be far more appropriate, I say with great respect, to determine whether repealing this law is appropriate and what effects it would have on the readiness and effectiveness of the military before deciding on whether we should repeal the law or not and fortunately it is an act of Congress and it requires the agreement of Congress in order to repeal it."

---McCain, no longer relying on the views of the military leadership for guidance, February 2010

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"One person [Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen], speaking individually, not on behalf of the Navy at all, is not going to change Senator McCain's position."

---McCain communications director Brooke Buchanan, February 2010

"The head of the United States Marine Corps said that he's against it!"

---McCain, citing one person speaking individually, April 2010

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"We do not go out and seek... Regulations are, we do not go out and seek to find out if someone's sexual orientation. We do not! That is the fact! That is the fact. Now ma'am, I know the military very well, and I know what's being done. And what is being done is that they are not seeking out people who are gay. And I don't care what you say, I know it's a fact."

---McCain, either lying or clueless, to a reporter, September 2010

"Have you seen the---quote---'study,' that is being conducted by the Department of Defense? ... You know that this study---quote unquote---'does not assess the impact of morale and effectiveness on the repeal of the law?'"

---McCain, September 2010

"A clear majority of active duty servicemen and women have no problem with repeal. The military has spoken and now is the time to repeal this policy that is damaging to our national security. Men and women, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation, who are willing to fight and defend our country should be allowed to do so without fear of discrimination."

---McCain's BFF Joe Lieberman, responding to the DoD report in a statement, via email, November 2010

"What I would call my...personal opinion is now my professional view that this is a policy change that we can make and we can do it in a relatively low-risk fashion. ... I fully endorse [the DoD] report, its findings and the implementation plan."

---Mullen, November 2010