September 23, 2010 5:30 PM

Colin Powell: I Did Not Misrepresent "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Democrats

Updated 6:10 p.m. ET

Colin Powell has released a statement saying  that he did not misrepresent how the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy would be put into effect to former President Clinton.

Mr. Clinton said in an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric, "Now, when Colin Powell sold me on don't ask, don't tell, here's what he said it would be. Gay service members would never get in trouble for going to gay bars, marching in gay rights parades as long as they weren't in uniform."  

"That was what they were promised," the former president said. "That's a very different don't ask, don't tell than we got." 

"What we got as soon as General Powell retired was this vicious mid- and low-level officer feedback where they--for a year or so--made it worse than it had been before," Mr. Clinton continued. "Then, they sort of settled down. But the reason I accepted it was because I thought it was better than an absolute ban. And because I was promised it would be better than it was."

In the interview, Mr. Clinton did not use the word "misrepresented" in talking about Powell.

Powell's statement says Mr. Clinton "is incorrect in saying I misrepresented to him how the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law of 1993 would be implemented by the military." Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when Mr. Clinton was working out his position on the policy.

"In any event, that is beside the point," the former general continued. "I retired a few months after the law was passed. President Clinton was commander-in-chief for the next seven years and he and his military leaders were responsible for the procedures implementing the law and the policy."

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

Add a Comment
by Bubagump September 25, 2010 10:42 AM EDT
Hmmmm, who to believe? A retired, highly decorated General who served his country with distincution throughout his career; or Slick Willie, who tends to have problems truthfully telling not only where willie jr has been, but now can't foresee how a policy will be utilized (by the way, I have never seen it used as he characterizes it being used), even though he is an admittedly smart guy, and consumate politician? Not a tough decision here folks.
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by RobAla September 24, 2010 9:18 AM EDT
Moderate Republican Powell thought he was buddies with the Democrats, but now he must be beginning to understand the nature of politicians. In his world, if someone jumps in the foxhole with you and protects your back - you can look on that person as a friend. Not so with politicians.

Powell stayed on for a while with Bill Clinton, and he supported Barack Obama for President. Either would turn on him so fast that it would make his head swim. When politicians find their backs to the wall, some would eat their young.
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by sjc_1 September 24, 2010 12:59 AM EDT
So what Powell said was only good for a few months, once he left all bets were off. That is not a very good assurance at all.
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by RedDonnaAnn September 24, 2010 12:02 AM EDT
I believe that. Now can he please come out and admit he misrepresented himself for Bush on the invasion of Iraq/bottle of Anthrax shenanigans?
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by seventhrama September 23, 2010 11:35 PM EDT
I do hope we are not going to have a "He Said, No He Said" issue on the particular topic. I really am beginning to worry about the state of the Union. We are so much better than this.
Reply to this comment
by greenlantern1 September 23, 2010 9:09 PM EDT
Dear Retired General Colin Powell,
An expert on the Koran, and a homosexual, helped Winston fight an ally of the Hun.
His name was Lawrence od Arabia!
Was he a great soldier?
Clifford Spencer
Reply to this comment
by Bubagump September 25, 2010 10:49 AM EDT
Cliff,

Not sure you are accurate in assessing Lawrence's sexual leanings, but if you are, he would have had a long and fulfilling career under DADT. Nobody is "out to get" homosexuals in today's military--all we care about is that they contribute to winning the wars we are in--what they do on their own time, as long as it is legal, is their own business. Do not be swayed by the politicians and Gagas of this world, they have not a clue of what happens in the real world, much less, in the military, even less of the deployed military.
by seventhrama September 25, 2010 3:40 PM EDT
Bubagump,

I am sure you are incorrect about the ?nobody is ?out to get? homosexuals. Major Witt is one glaring example of a ?third party? outing her, which lead to her dismissal from the Air Force. The Air Force was recently told to by a Federal court to reinstate her because she did contribute to winning the wars we are in as a flight nurse. What one does in private is not necessarily private in the military. What I am not sure of is the definition of being ?openly gay? in the military. This definition is the one crucial factor that will determine how effective any new policy will be in integrating gay persons in an open and respectful manner within the military. Your comment about the politicians and the Gagas of the world is spot on.
.

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