John McCain: Asking Gay Soldiers About DADT Repeal Would Be Crazy

This weekend John McCain was interviewed by the Arizona Daily Star about his position on the repeal of DADT. Here’s a telling bit of the interview.

STAR: I wanted to ask about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and your perspective on that. And I know what you said several years ago and what you have said since. But I’m wondering if you’ve been approached by gay service members because you said that it’s been working effectively, it’s been working well. So I’m curious how do you come to that conclusion? Have you sought out gay service members, have you been approached by gay service members? How do you make that determination?

McCAIN: I make that determination by retention and recruitment is at an all-time high, the highest in the history of the all-volunteer force. I get that opinion because I visit with the troops all the time. I go to Iraq, I go to Afghanistan, I run into them everywhere. And of course I don’t seek out someone who is gay. Why should I? These are all men and women who are serving. Why should I, that would be nuts. I go up to men and women and I say thanks for serving. I say thank you for serving, you are great Americans, God bless you.

McCain faces stiff reelection opposition from Tea Party hero J.D. Hayworth.