Update: Cindy McCain v. John McCain on DADT

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

(Note: The Arizona Daily Star apparently did not receive the Tweet from Cindy McCain in which she says "I stand by my husband's stance on DADT." See the update to earlier post Cindy McCain v. John McCain on DADT).

The Arizona Daily Star today finally catches up to the reporting here at Blog for Arizona with this editorial opinion (better late than never). McCain way out of step on 'don't ask' policy:

Sen. John McCain should be feeling the brittle chill of loneliness as he clings stubbornly to his insistence that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy shouldn't yet be lifted.

We'd suggest McCain come on in from the cold. His own wife, Cindy, agrees with the 70 percent of Americans whom the Gallup poll reported in May favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly.

Cindy McCain is among celebrities featured in a new anti-bullying video, The Associated Press reported Friday. In it, she says the "government treats the (gay) community like second-class citizens" and that gays "can't serve our country openly" in the military.

John McCain has led the GOP in blocking a Senate vote on repeal, insisting he must first review a Pentagon report on the impact of changing the 17-year-old policy. That study is due out on Dec. 1, and the Washington Post has reported that it concludes the ban on gays serving openly can be lifted with minimal risk.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this week said he would "like to see" the policy repealed; he also repeated the Obama administration's call for repeal. Bear in mind that Gates has no doubt reviewed the report McCain says he wants to study.

McCain said in the past he'd support repeal only if military leaders agree it wouldn't cause damage. He told the Star's editorial board in April that they did not, discounting statements on the repeal side of the argument from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. Also on Gates' and Mullen's side: former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs John Shalikashvili and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen.

McCain also told us that seeking out gay members of the military to ask about the policy's impact would be "nuts."

McCain is a veteran, a former prisoner of war and the senior Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

No question: The senator has cred, as they say, on military affairs issues. But he's been out of step on don't ask, don't tell for too long.

Given the factual recital in this editorial opinion, maybe the Arizona Daily Star should not have endorsed John McCain for reelection, hmmm?