Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the most outspoken adversary to the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," appeared to change his tone on the move Thursday, saying that he would act "to make it work."
McCain, who was viewed as a noted ally in the battle to allow openly gay soldiers to serve in the armed forces before changing course last year, strongly opposed repealing the measure in the lame-duck congressional session and earlier last year, first disregarding the testimony of military leaders, then the findings of an extensive survey of servicemembers, and finally lamenting the judgment of Congress last month.
But now that the repeal has been passed, McCain seems to be willing to commit himself to implementing the new system.
"I think I have to do everything I can to make sure that the [impact on the] morale, retention, recruitment and battle-effectiveness of the military is minimized as much as possible," McCain said on Don Imus's Fox Business program. "It is a law and I have to do whatever I can to help the men and women who are serving, particularly in combat, cope with this new situation. I will do everything I can to make it work."
While this softer tone may be seen simply as another flip-flop indicative of the senator's fluid political ideology, Jon Stewart appears convinced that McCain is filled with "old man crankiness" that will continue to appear throughout the 112th Congress.
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