Hillary Opposes 'Don't Ask'

Hillary Rodham Clinton Thursday said she doesn't support the "don't ask, don't tell" policy intended to make it easier for gays and lesbians to serve in the military.

"I don't believe it's the policy we should have in our military," she said at a news conference in Manhattan, adding: "I believe Americans willing to serve their country should be allowed to do so. They should be able to do so without discrimination and harassment. I believe fitness to serve in the military should be based on conduct, not sexual orientation."

The first lady said she was not uncomfortable staking out a position that put her at odds with President Clinton. "I'm going to be a candidate for the Senate of New York," she said. "I'm going to be stating my positions that will be from time to time different from the White House."

Mrs. Clinton first made her views on the subject known at a private, Manhattan fund-raiser sponsored by the Empire State Pride Agenda on Tuesday, saying that if elected to the U.S. Senate she would work to overturn the controversial policy, put in place by her husband during his first term in office. The group supports equal rights for gays.

Her position was first reported in Thursday's New York Times, which learned of Mrs. Clinton's comments from participants at the fund-raiser.

"Gays and lesbians already serve with distinction in our nation's armed forces and should not face discrimination," Mrs. Clinton said in a statement her office later issued to the Times confirming her comments at the fund-raiser. "Fitness to serve should be based on an individual's conduct, not their sexual orientation."

Although she said she didn't expect Congress to approve such legislation now, Mrs. Clinton said the Pentagon should take steps to reduce the instances of gays being discharged from the military, the Times said.

It is the second time in recent months that she has broken away from White House policy. In September, she opposed the president's pardon of members of a Puerto Rican terrorist group.

While her position puts her at odds with an administration policy, she is in line with the views of her likely Republican Senate rival, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Aides to the mayor say Giuliani has been critical of the "don't ask, don't tell policy" from the beginning.

Mrs. Clinton's statement also put her in line with Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley. Bradley's opponent, Vice President Al Gore, whom Mrs. Clinton has endorsed, supports "don't ask, don't tell," but says it should be enforced more compassionately.