John McCain: I'd 'Absolutely' Filibuster 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal (VIDEO)

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) signaled over the weekend that he would filibuster any measure put forth in the Senate aiming to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" during a lame-duck session following the November midterm election.

The four-term incumbent spoke about the Pentagon policy that prohibits gay individuals from serving openly in the military in a pre-taped interview for Arizona-based station Channel 12's "Sunday Square Off."

When asked how far he would go to prevent an attempt to repeal the controversial policy from being approved in the upper congressional chamber, McCain responded by saying, "Absolutely I will filibuster or stop it from being brought up until we have a thorough and complete study on the effect of morale and battle effectiveness."

The longtime senator said that it doesn't matter to him that Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen have both voiced support for stopping the enforcement of the ban on gay troops.

However, back in 2006 McCain communicated a distinctly different stance on the issue when he said, "The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it."

McCain noticeably began to falter on his stance on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" after former congressman J.D. Hayworth announced the launch of his primary campaign to unseat the Republican lawmaker. Arguing against efforts from the Obama administration to repeal the policy, McCain said, "At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy."

At the time, McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan denied that the Arizona senator had reversed his position on the issue; however, the non-partisan Politifact rated the perceived inconsistency as a "full flop."

WATCH: McCain Says He'd 'Absolutely' Filibuster Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Comments

[Ron Booth]

12:13 AM on 11/14/2010

Filibuster! its the only thing that McCain knows how to do anymore. He certainly hasn't done anything constructive since he provided us with the entertainment of choosing Palin as a running mate.

[lar62]

07:31 PM on 11/13/2010

Poor Cindy. John McCain must be awfully hard to live with, being so macho and insisting that his wife play the part of Republican Stepford wife.

[jerryatthebeach]

10:57 AM on 11/13/2010

I thought Lindsey Graham was your boi...

[sdmcmla]

02:58 AM on 11/13/2010

I'd pay to see McCain try to filibuster anything.  What a pathetic joke McCain has become.  Hey Cindy!  Don't forget the depens.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

08:18 PM on 11/12/2010

Johnny on the Spot is failing to stand up for men and women who put their lives on the line in service to their country...he shames himself on veteran's day.

[kelleytom]

07:28 PM on 11/12/2010

I'm a straight man who would rather be stuck in a bunker with a gay man any day over a flip-flopping, lying, racist, non-war hero, who burdened this country with a non-vetted, nothing between the ears, hater, as a presidential running mate, and who's own wife and daughter seem to "get it" where he never will. I have to chuckle though at how the 1/2 term ex-gov. of Alaska took his run for president and hijacked the campaign completely. I'm sure this little man genuflects before her and kisses her ring whenever they happen to meat. LMAO!!

[grimshaid]

06:16 PM on 11/13/2010

You have to wonder whether or not some sort of karmic providence didn't protect us as he made the foolish choice of Palin for his running mate. Sure she was young and vibrant in comparison, but once you get past that she had few redeeming qualities lol. A man capable of that sort of error in his quest for higher office is probably not as good a candidate as he'd like us to think.

[XLintLuvR]

06:42 PM on 11/13/2010

It's amazing how you can get one "maverick" that was acceptable to the American people, then another "maverick" that was acceptable to and stirred the heart of their party and neither would be acceptable during a general election. When you actually are that unacceptable that the young think it's important enough to vote against the both of you, something seems to say, "hide for a hear or two before trying that again." Both of these charlatans are bad for the country and will only lead to the destruction that 235 year built.

[Gidster]

05:42 PM on 11/12/2010

He has done everything in his power to harm veterans since the day he took office....

He is the wort type of hypocrite, claiming status as a veteran, claiming the honor, yet fighting against any program aimed at helping veterans.

[Twinz48]

09:33 PM on 11/12/2010

When will Americans realize that John McCain is a self-aggrandizing fraud? His record regarding veterans' rights has been deplorable.

[MRITechnologist]

04:15 PM on 11/12/2010

This from the party that wanted, nay demanded, a "straight up and down vote" on everything during the Bush years.

[Stefan Dembowski]

02:31 PM on 11/12/2010

O C'mon, Sen. McCain: You'd filibuster anything if you thought you're opponents wanted it...

[Jevad]

02:08 PM on 11/12/2010

Shameful...the Senator has become a shadow of the man I once thought he was.

[xlntcat]

01:55 PM on 11/12/2010

Why isn't McCain being inundated with letters, phone calls and petitions?  Where are the protesters outside of McCain's office?  McCain is a sleazy, not very bright opportunists who has no more concern for soldiers than Songbird McCain had during Viet Nam.

[jqcitizen]

01:32 PM on 11/12/2010

Senator McCain. How many mansions do you have? How many homosexuals were in your class at the US Naval Academy? Do you actually believe that most people suffer memory loss?

Many more questions could be asked. I just hope your answer is NOT:

"I DON'T RECALL"

[tice]

12:53 PM on 11/12/2010

Can someone help me out here...

Why is the threat of a filibuster all it takes to kill legislation?

Grab the camping gear and a coffee pot to pee in and make em do it. Make them read a phone book for 12 hours if need be, but show a little sack and outlast the filibuster!

[xlntcat]

01:51 PM on 11/12/2010

Because the corrupt, totally dysfunctional Senate designed a method to kill legislation.

[chelledc]

08:51 PM on 11/12/2010

I say the same thing. Let them look foolish for 12 hours wasting our money fighting when they should be discussing a fix.

[Mrs Norman]

12:50 PM on 11/12/2010

Despicable human being..

[dwedge]

12:41 PM on 11/12/2010

Johnny Maverick likes to represent himself as a champion of the military. Makes me wonder why he opposed the 2008 GI Bill so strenuously. Can it be that Johnny Maverick has become Johnny Phoney?

[xlntcat]

01:56 PM on 11/12/2010

McCian  has never supported a Veterans bills.