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Colin Powell Supports DADT Repeal

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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell

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Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, who helped instituted the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the 1990s, now supports the efforts to repeal it.

Powell, who was chairman of the joint chiefs when the military's policy toward gay servicemembers was instituted, said "I fully support the new approach" in a statement today.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell, prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military, but also prohibits recruiters from asking about sexuality. Those who admit to being gay or are outed by a third party may be discharged after an investigation.

That new approach Powell cites, presented by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Michael Mullen yesterday, includes appointing a commission to study the effects of such a repeal, and possibly stopping action against servicemembers who have been outed by a third party.

Both Gates and Mullen expressed their full support for the repeal.

Powell also said, "I strongly believe that this is a judgment to be made by the current military leadership and the Commander in Chief. It is also a judgment Congress must make."

He also noted that he has publicly supported a review of the policy for two years.

Comments (18) | Join the Conversation!

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February 3, 2010 12:40 PM   

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR JOHN McCAIN!

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February 3, 2010 2:59 PM    in reply to thomas1

lol, that never gets old!

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February 3, 2010 1:08 PM   

But...remember why the Greeks lost their military edge. Couldn't hold a sword, a shield, and cover up their behinds at the same time.

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February 3, 2010 1:25 PM    in reply to Sailormarlowe

Keep your fantasies to yourself!

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February 3, 2010 2:59 PM    in reply to farnsworth

Thats why SailorPenisLove wears oven mitts, so he doesnt hurt hs hands when theyre on the ground or the hot bumper of a truck or auto.

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February 3, 2010 3:21 PM    in reply to Marinus van der Lubbe

It's a truck — the tailgate of a Chevy F10, to be precise — that Marlowe's regularly bent over behind Bubba's Shot Stop by sweaty Rush Limbaugh lookalikes.

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February 3, 2010 3:31 PM    in reply to tiowally

That's a damn unsavory thought! No more Chevy Truck commercials for me.

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February 3, 2010 3:31 PM    in reply to Marinus van der Lubbe

Oh my that was priceless. I would love to see a face to face go at it between the two. I guess I just love to see republicans having their asses handed to them.

I still think I've met my match for scraping the meat off the bone. I love it.

xxxooo

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February 3, 2010 3:37 PM    in reply to lousgirl84

TY...keep scraping it anyway you can.
xxxxooo

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February 3, 2010 3:48 PM    in reply to lousgirl84

Tooo funny...and sadly, very true. I have almost totally lost all respect for networks and their bullshit. xxxx

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February 3, 2010 2:27 PM   

The contrast between Powell and the present republican clown show is staggering.

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February 3, 2010 2:36 PM   

Once they're out of office, all these guys support gay rights.

Shining profiles in courage, all of them.

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February 3, 2010 3:27 PM   

Sorry, but once again Colin's a day late and a dollar short. I admired his china-shop-bull warning, but his gullibility wrt the Iraq WMD tends to invalidate his advice. And now he's seen the light.

It is much more important that Mullen - the current chairman -- took this position.

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February 3, 2010 5:23 PM   

All this distraction about gays having sex detracts from a larger problem and that is the culture of sexual abuse in the military. Service personnel are being sexually abused by, among others, their commanding officers and there is no recourse. Civilians have always been sexual victims in war and no one wants to address it. I say, sexual misconduct homo or hetero should be grounds for court martial. Otherwise if their doing their jobs with honor, never mind where they put their dicks.

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February 3, 2010 6:24 PM   

I just want to correct a possible false impression people might get from this article. Gen. Powell has been on record since at least July, 2009 as being in favor of allowing gays to serve openly.

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April 29, 2010 4:24 AM   

Oh my that was priceless. I would love to see a face to face go at it between the two. I guess I just love to see republicans having their asses handed to them.

I still think I've met my match for scraping the meat off the bone. I love it.

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August 8, 2010 12:24 PM   

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