Political Quotes

“I thank my friend for yielding, and I agree with my friend. As a matter of fact, I talked to Bob Gates today, and I talked to him 2 weeks ago about this issue. I was concerned about this issue and shared his view that we certainly ought to solicit the views of how and why we ought to proceed. That is why I worked to make sure that this amendment, which was the exact same amendment adopted in the Senate Armed Services Committee a little earlier today, did in fact provide that both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mike Mullen--who has made his comments on this pretty clear, as you know--Secretary Gates, and the President of the United States have to certify that the processes are in place. I understand the difference of opinion here is that, and I am sympathetic with your view. Mr. McKEON. Let me reclaim my time because here's what's actually going to happen. And as I talked to the chiefs on the phone, one of them said very clearly, Look. I know how this works around here. I know what this means. I know how the amendment was written, that we take the vote tonight and then we follow through the process. But it becomes a sham because the headline, as he said, would be ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' is repealed. And it's already on the headline. I just saw the news alert. ``Senate votes to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' He says, I understand that. But those troops out at the FOBs in Afghanistan, when they see it, when they hear it, they're going to see it's repealed.…”