Sen. John McCain: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Sen. John McCain: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The Issue

Four years ago, Sen. John McCain said that the day military leadership comes to him and says we ought to change "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that the country should consider getting rid of the policy. That day was yesterday, when Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke before the U.S. Senate.

Adm. Mullen, the highest ranking U.S. Armed Forces officer in the country, told the U.S. Senate, "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."

But instead of following through on his promise of four years ago to consider repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" once he heard from senior military members, Sen. John McCain has become one of the loudest champions of the current policy, which has kicked out nearly 14,000 troops from the Armed Services, and has prevented thousands of other well-qualified troops from entering.

Demand that Sen. McCain stick to his promise of four years ago and work with senior military leaders to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Anything less, like Adm. Mullen says, compromises the integrity of our troops and the integrity of our military as an institution.

avatar of the starter
Michael JonesPetition StarterManaging Director of Campaigns @ Change.org. On the side I write some sketch comedy, and enjoy being the proud parent of the best dog on the planet.
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The Issue

Four years ago, Sen. John McCain said that the day military leadership comes to him and says we ought to change "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that the country should consider getting rid of the policy. That day was yesterday, when Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke before the U.S. Senate.

Adm. Mullen, the highest ranking U.S. Armed Forces officer in the country, told the U.S. Senate, "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."

But instead of following through on his promise of four years ago to consider repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" once he heard from senior military members, Sen. John McCain has become one of the loudest champions of the current policy, which has kicked out nearly 14,000 troops from the Armed Services, and has prevented thousands of other well-qualified troops from entering.

Demand that Sen. McCain stick to his promise of four years ago and work with senior military leaders to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Anything less, like Adm. Mullen says, compromises the integrity of our troops and the integrity of our military as an institution.

avatar of the starter
Michael JonesPetition StarterManaging Director of Campaigns @ Change.org. On the side I write some sketch comedy, and enjoy being the proud parent of the best dog on the planet.

The Decision Makers

Brooke Buchanan
Brooke Buchanan
Communications Director, Sen. John McCain
John McCain
John McCain
Senator

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Petition created on February 2, 2010