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