John McCain

If the result of that study is -- is one that I can trust and believe in and is supported by our military leaders, obviously, I would have that -- have to give that the most serious consideration.

The military is at its highest point in recruitment and retention and professionalism and capability, so to somehow allege that this policy has been damaging the military is simply false.

There was no problems in the military with 'don't ask, don't tell.' It was a political promise.

We need a thorough and complete study of the effects, not how to implement a repeal, but the effects on morale and battle effectiveness.

I believe that it's working.

The day that the -- 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, because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the…

The program could be delayed by 1 to 3 more years and cost another $5 billion.

Why wouldn't increasing completion be the cornerstone of any efficiency initiative announced by DOD to date?

Earmarks are a gateway to corruption.

Earmarks are the gateway to corruption.

I would like to thank Chairman Akaka but also and especially Senator Voinovich for your leadership and commitment

Your continued call for an efficient, effective Federal security clearance process has helped bring positive and lasting change

We need a thorough and complete study of the effects, not how to implement a repeal, but the effects on morale and battle effectiveness.

The service chiefs -- and we will be talking about this on the floor -- all of them have said they wanted a complete study about the effect on morale and battle readiness.

What I am opposed to is bringing up the defense bill now, before the Defense Department has concluded its survey of our men and women in uniform, which gives them a chance to tell us their views about don't ask, don't tell.

We're going to go through hopefully a yearlong study that will hopefully also have the feelings of the men and women who are serving.

If they can show me the evidence that it needs to be changed, obviously, then, I would give that serious consideration.

The day that the -- 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, because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the…

We have to obviously cut spending.

It does not create jobs. The stimulus package was supposed to create jobs.

I would extend that challenge to your cronies, Senators Burr and McCain, who were equally disrespectful of my testimony.

I hope that's not the case. I think there's enough here that we do need to do something.

Suppose that a conservative Republican administration in the middle of high unemployment and economic slowdown proposed new regulations that would most hurt lower income people and minority groups and the for-profit colleges and…

I never anticipated that this would devolve into a political issue between Republicans and Democrats.

So we have the second largest deposit, and yet there is virtually no production.