(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The Republican presidential candidate said the 18-year-old policy, which was repealed earlier this year, "worked well," and accused President Barack Obama of lifting the ban in reaction to his political base.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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Well, of course he is. He lives it everyday. ;-D
"The gay rumors are voluminous, intense, and will not go away," Morrow said. "Rick Perry is a pink cowboy leading a parade of extremist ...
"The Republican presidential candidate said the 18-year-old policy, which was repealed earlier this year, "worked well," and accused President Barack Obama of lifting the ban in reaction to his political base."
Stupid a55, aren't politicians suppose to keep campaign promises?
I swear he's getting exactly what he deserves from his opponents.
What an idiot.
Well. there goes the teavangelical vote. After his craziness, Perry is going to have to star in a sit-com on Fox about how not to run for president and spend millions of other people's money doing it.
"Perry is ok with Don't ask don't tell". Yeah, but gay people are not!
"and accused President Barack Obama of lifting the ban in reaction to his political base." Ummmmm how is that any different than you wanting to reinstate it because of your base????? Hypocrisy runs rampant in the GOP and it is a key element that turns me off from their party
Wow how stupid do you sound Ricky! Dont ask, dont tell did not work because even if the military did not ask, and the service member did not tell, if suspected of being gay, the service member was still subject to court marshall. I cannot believe that my fellow Texans relected this goofball. Too bad for Ricky that the rest of America is smarter and will see to it that you will be able to visit the White House and not be a resident!
This is such a joke. The only question left is when is someone going to post a picture of Rick Perry with the part of a man that looks like the State of Florida stuck in one of his orifices!!!
Of course he is, Republicans that have been strongly Anti-Gay had their own Gay-skeletons in the closet.
Oh please. We've seen the videos. The man's a moron. Can we move on?
Him and Lindsey Graham make a nice couple.
DADT didn't work very well. Leave it to the GOP – they only seem comfortable when they are taking us backwards.
They pine away for the 50's – it's just different 50's for different conservatives – some want to take us back to the 1950's, before the civil and women's rights movements, some to the 1850's before the south lost the civil war, and some to the 1650's before the enlightenment, where they can pretend the world is only 6,000 years old.
Two things – those times simply don't exist any more – and they are not worth going back to – romanticized versions of the past aren't real.
Well guiddy up, and yaa hoo cowboy you will never be President and so you will never have to make that kind of decision
One more reason this man will NEVER be president and another reason the people of Texas hate him so much. Obama 2012...
Don't ask, don't tell. Isn't that a description of Rick Perry, the college years. Don't ask anyone for help and don't tell people you are an idiot.
I can see why he is a fan.
So Rick Perry is comfortable is prejudice. Why does that sound so familiar??
Time to move FORWARD, America!
Obama/Biden 2012
At least the gay soldiers might be more motivated. They would never leave their buddies behind.
Rick Perry
"back" to the future.
Get off the social issues. I totally disagree with all of the GOP positions on the social issues. I consider them a return to the dark ages.
Get on fiscal policy, and stay there. That is the primary strength of the GOP.
this man cannot see the forest for the trees ! Stick a fork in him he is done . so is godfsther pizza man, what is godfather pizza I have never heard of it !! and if you look at all the others running the teapublicans are a very sad bunch of losers.
Alledgedly, this man is "very comfortable" with Don't Ask, Don't Tell.....
No one cares what this lying drunk loser thinks. He is just another unqualifed, embarrassing Republican "candidate" who will never be anything in any leadership position again. Republicans have really shown us how uncaring, ignorant, uneducated, out of touch wth real working people, and full of hate, lies, and pure hatred for the PEOPLE they are. Not one has done anything for PEOPLE. All serve and bow and kiss the feet of big corporations who have bought them and paid them to betray We the People. None are fit for office for all are traitors to the People and our Democracy. Throw them all out in 2012 and watch America flourish again.
This is no surprise. He wants to go backwards like many right wing radicals. The good ole days of no child labor laws,no minimum wages,no gays,no poor! He wants to lead the party of NO!! Are you sure he's not Bachmanns brother? Sounds so much alike!