In Interview After Killing DADT Repeal, McCain Proves Again He’s Not Fit for National Leadership

After leading the effort to stop the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the Senate yesterday — a repeal he supported in 2006 — Sen. John McCain had a temper tantrum during an interview with reporters Kerry Eleveld from the Advocate and Chris Geidner of Metro Weekly, who dared confront him with facts about DADT that were counter to the false narrative he’d been promoting.

“It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy You can say that it is the policy, sir, if you choose to. It is not the policy.”
– McCain

“I don’t care what you say! And I don’t care what others say,” he barked, when reporters pointed out that, contrary to DADT policy, service personnel had been sought out for dismissal because they were gay. When the reporters continued to press him, he went into a juvenile rant, railing, “It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy You can say that it is the policy, sir, if you choose to. It is not the policy.”

Under DADT, the military is not supposed to investigate personnel who are merely suspected of being gay — that’s the “don’t ask” part. But it does happen — and John McCain knows it does.

In an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSBNC last night, Major Mike Almy, who was dismissed after his personal emails were hacked by the military, called McCain on his B.S.:

ALMY: Sen. McCain was there. He sat 20 feet away from me, and he listened to every word of my testimony. For him to make that statement today, that the military does not search private emails tell me that he either did not listen to my testimony in this past March, he forgot what I said, or he’s being deliberately deceptive with the American public about the true nature of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and putting partisan politics over the interests of national security.

Earlier this year, Defense Sec. Robert Gates sent out a directive ordering the military not to investigate gays in the military who stay closeted — but no one believes that “Really Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” is going to be taken any more seriously than plain old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It also points up the hypocrisy of a policy that requires military personnel to live a lie as a condition of their service.

After watching these latest histrionics from McCain, and taking into account his fllip-flops on this issue, immigration reform and others — plus his horrendous bad judgment in naming Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee without bothering to vet her — it is clear that John McCain does not have the integrity or temperament — much less the grasp on reality — to be a national leader, much less president of the United States.

He should have retired long ago, and it will be a shame if Arizona voters don’t force him to retire in November.

Transcript:

McCAIN: We do not go out and seek. Regulations are, we do not go out and seek to find out someone’s sexual orientation. We do not!

ELEVELD: But senator, that’s not …

McCAIN: 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.

ELEVELD: It’s not what I say.

McCAIN: I don’t care what you say! And I don’t care what others say. I’ve seen it in action. I’ve seen it in action. I have sons in the military, I know the military very well. So they’re not telling you the truth.

ELEVELD: Senator, just to make sure…

McCAIN: Just to make sure, we do not go out and seek out and find out …

ELEVELD: Private e-mails are not being searched? Private e-mails are not being searched?

MCCAIN: … see if someone is gay or not. We do not go out and see whether someone is gay or not.

ELEVELD: There are documented cases …

McCAIN: They do not, they do not, they do not. You can say that they are, you can say [inaudible] it’s not true! … Yeah, I’d like to see …

GEIDNER: It is the case of Mike Almy, Senator.

McCAIN: Bring them to our office. It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy.

GEIDNER: But it is the case that it’s happening, Senator.

MCCAIN: It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy You can say that it is the policy, sir, if you choose to. It is not the policy. I would be glad to get that to you in writing.

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6 thoughts on “In Interview After Killing DADT Repeal, McCain Proves Again He’s Not Fit for National Leadership”

  1. McCain is one POS lying scumbag. I’m glad that he was willing to show Americans how much of an angry man he is on camera. Had he been in the WH, he would have been the same way, and you’re right, Jon, he isn’t fit for national leadership.

    Steve Benen at the Washington Monthly site has has said this repeatedly by pointing out that McCain lacks expertise in any area of policy the Congress deals with, and Steve questions McCain’s frequent appearances on Sunday morning news programs and contrasts them with the number of times that Senators Kerry and Gore were invited onto these programs after losing in presidential elections.

    I’m tired of these people, Jon. I’m canvassing in my neighborhood beginning today because the only solution I see to getting DADT repealed and the DREAM Act passed is to hold republicans gains to a minimum next month. Did I say how sick I am of the republicans and their games? Oh, and I’m also sick of their overly emotional, uninformed supporters who can’t tell the difference between good policy and their behinds.

  2. A gay friend of mine, who is a former Marine, emailed me yesterday after the vote. He said, “Every gay service member should get up and walk out.”

  3. It would be interesting to see McCain meet my cousin Jackie.

    She’s gay, and RETIRED FROM THE ARMY AFTER 20 YEARS!

    She’s a former drill sergeant and could probably kick McCain’s balls so high, it would look like he had a bad case of the mumps!

    1. Majii – You and I are on the same page. Glad you’re out there working. Maybe there’s hope for November. We can’t go backwards.

      Thomas – I would like to be a fly on the wall if Jackie were to confront “Grampy” as you describe.

  4. Well technically it is “not” the policy, although it’s clearly the practice. He’s just splitting hairs here.

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