Notice how many people who were part of the DADT implementation era are trying to back off their role in the discriminatory policy? Now there’s a mini-spat between Colin Powell and President Clinton that, quite frankly is irrelevant because neither has put themselves out there to pressure Congress or this WH to be more aggressive regarding repeal. (CBS)
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.”
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.”
But it is interesting to see this play out as time runs out for anything to be done in 2010.
Pam’s House Blend – Front Page
