John McCain in Tense Exchange Over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Video)

Following the GOP-led filibuster of legislation to set in motion repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military, Sen. John McCain was involved in a testy exchange with two reporters over whether the military actively tries to uncover whether service members are gay.

Video of the exchange was posted by the blog Think Progress, and you can see it at left. It shows McCain, one of the leaders of the effort to slow or stop repeal, squaring off with the reporters, The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld and Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner.

"We do not go out and seek," said McCain, a Vietnam War veteran. "Regulations are, we do not go out and seek to find out if someone's sexual orientation."

When Eleveld tried to interject, he continued: "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."

After Eleveld said, "it's not what I say," McCain responded, "I don't care what you say, and I don't care what others say."

"I've seen it in action," he continued. "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 told McCain there are "documented cases" of private emails being searched, and Geidner pointed to the case of Mike Almy, whom the group Servicemembers United says had his emails illegally read when he refused to discuss his sexuality.

"Bring them to our office," McCain responded. "It is not the policy, it is not the policy, it is not the policy. It is not the policy. It is not the policy. It is not the policy. It is not the policy."

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Effort: Lame Duck Vote to Come?

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[digrawg]

I look forward to the day when sexual deviants are allowed to adopt children and serve openly in the military. I can't believe that anyone would condemn or oppose this! I am in the Navy and I want our homosexuals to be free to tell us about their sexual deviation and I want them to be loud and proud! I want to be able to look around me and 24/7 on a 6 month deployment and take comfort in knowing that the people who I'm working closely with and sharing living quarters with are sexual deviants. I want them to be able to walk around on the boat all day long proclaiming their deviation for me and all of my fellow honorable service members to hear, including the Captain, the Commodore and all of the marines on the boat! I will not rest until sexual deviants are practicing their deviation openly, loud and proud, in full military uniform. Dear God please get them into the service. And to those of you that are in the service having to conceal your sexual deviation; thank you for your service! We're gonna make sure you can be open, it might take some more work, but we'll make it happen!!! God bless you sexual deviants!

[ChrisVogel]

Of course the US military spies on servicepeople to find out of they are gay; there have been numerous media reports of reading emails, listening to phone calls, and snooping in gay bars, before discharging someone with the evidence gained. The question remains, though, whether McCain is lying about this because he can't help it--a compulsive mental illness, or he lies when it suits his purposes, or he is really stupid.

[Wilhelm-Laney]

"What happened to the intellectual Republicans who were serious and reasonable thinkers?"

They were forced to the realization that it was a very bad, extremely irresponsible idea to kill the Glass-Steagall laws, and many of them have also concluded that we can't actually afford to keep doling out tax-cuts to people who have no intention of spending any of it. They have become Democrats.

Thank you for alienating the intellectual backbone of your political party. If you ask me, it was long overdue.

[Wilhelm-Laney]

Crass homophobia.

[steeepe]

The GOP and its tea party have become the refuge for bigots and racists. What happened to the intellectual Republicans who were serious and reasonable thinkers? Instead, all we get are homophobes and irrationalists who don't "believe" in evolution, hate science, and want the government to control all behavior except for economic activity. Maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn't seem like the GOP used to be full of ideologues and authoritarians.

[canislupus16]

To Nmmrng - you might want to take a good long hard look at your new standard bearer, Sarah Palin. Palin is now a member of the super rich and politically elite. Elites, as you know, don't feel any obligation to respond to anyone because they are above it all. This is Sarah's M.O. - she now considers herself "above it all" and is taking your millions and millions all the way to the bank. She and hubby Todd are living it up. btw, look for that marriage to dissolve in the not too distant future as she will soon tire of him if she hasn't already, as he is too pedistrian for her taste. You don't think she doesn't get lonely on the road and somebody hasn't taken a shot at bedding her? (she is kinda cute and hot)

[steeepe]

Nmmrng: Substitute "republicans" for "dems" in your tirade and you'd be absolutely correct!