(CNN) - Rick Perry signaled Tuesday that if elected president, he would be open to reinstating the "don't ask, don't tell" law that banned openly gay individuals from serving in the military.
The Republican presidential candidate said the 18-year-old policy, which was repealed earlier this year, "worked well," and accused President Barack Obama of lifting the ban in reaction to his political base.
"I think the idea that the president of the United States wanted to make a political statement using our men and women in the military as the tool for that was irresponsible," Perry told ABC News.
When asked if he, as a former member of the Air Force, would be comfortable serving with openly gay men and women, the Texas governor said that was not a question that needs to be asked.
"If an individual in their private life makes a decision about their sexuality from the standpoint of how they're going to practice it, that's their business," Perry said. "That's the reason 'don't ask, don't tell' was in fact a workable policy and that's why I would be comfortable with our country going back to that."
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From CNN Politics
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The rumour in Texas has always been that Perry practiced "don't ask, don't tell" for years. So far, no one has come forward to tell on Perry for his pecadillos, but if he gets the nomination (which he never will), he can look forward to a former boyfriend's visit, I'm sure.
maybe they should install DADT for all the politicans...you might be surprised at what you may find.
i'm shocked larry flynnt's money hasn't brought forward any of Perry's gay lovers yet!
This guy would be comfortable with anything!
The Republican candidates do know that they would be President of the entire United States not just the conservatives and the extremists group called the Tea party.....right?
Like we've told you before Ricky---we have cows, we don't need your bull.
can we ban openly-straight people then too?
this dude is like Sarah Palin....just ignore this idiot...
Rick Perry looks anemic in this picture–his face is only showing tan color. That may explain why his brain does not have normal functionality–he is oxygen deprived. I wonder if he knows that amemia can also cause hair loss?
President Obama 2.0 – 2012
He'll be coming out any day now. Good for Ricky.
of course it WORKED for him!!! what about the men and women who put their lives on the line for this country everyday??? i served under the DADT, i joined right after 9/11, it had nothing to do with the politics, it was for the love of my country. i don't want someone telling me what i cant do with my body if its being gay or having an abortion. now lets talk about other issues like where are the jobs that you repubes promised if elected in 2010, they are the same place they will be if the repubes get in the WH in 2012, overseas!!!
I can't wait for Perry to come crawlling back to Texas with his tail between his legs. Now that the national press has exposed him and his policies, maybe the local press will actually start doing their job and stop giving him a free pass...and then, hopefully, we can finally be rid of this moron.
Perry is trying to make us think that he is not gay. Just like M. Backmon husband and neither one can hide it.
"Get on fiscal policy, and stay there. That is the primary strength of the GOP."
Get real, Rick. The GOBP deathcult is primarily to blame for the problems facing our country today. Especially the economic ones. Tax cuts for the filthy rich are proven policy failures, as is deregulation, which caused our economic meltdown.