Michael Bennet: “Former Defense Secretary Gates, who, by the way, for those who don't know, was appointed by George W. Bush, said that…”

“Former Defense Secretary Gates, who, by the way, for those who don't know, was appointed by George W. Bush, said that the Senator from Alabama has made the military ``a pawn.'' That is a guy who served in a Republican administration. We have had Secretaries of Defense from both sides of the aisle who said the Senator from Alabama is hurting our national defense, hurting our national security, is playing politics with our Department of Defense. What is his justification again? Well, it is no different than what I already said. He uses different words. He says that the DOD has made-- the Department of Defense--by making these rules, into an abortion travel agency. Those are his words: abortion travel agency. Well, that is not true. We have already talked about the travel allowance and the absence without leave and more time to notify. I am sure there are some people--a handful of people in America--who couldn't see the wisdom in that, who would disagree with that. But I will bet you that the vast majority of people in this country, including people who have a different view on a woman's right to choose than I have, would say that women ought to have the right, in the Department of Defense, to get travel paid for just like anybody else and to get paid leave and to be able to have 20 weeks to be able to tell their commanding officer that they are pregnant.…”