John McCain continues to be an absolute jerk on the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell"

The House and a Senate committee have both moved forward on defense appropriation bills that includes a path to the end of the policy that discriminates against gays in the military.

Most political analysts see the policy ending after an armed services review due at the end of the year.

But Arizona’s hateful senior senator continues to fight a rearguard action against the changes.

In other words, John McCain is fighting affirmatively for prejudice, unequal rights, bigotry, and a policy that has driven qualified and in some cases essential personnel from the military.

From the New York Times this a.m.:

[The] chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have objected. In letters solicited by Senator John McCain of Arizona, the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, they urged Congress to delay voting on the issue until after the Defense Department completed its report.

After the committee vote, Mr. McCain said he would continue to fight a repeal when the bill reached the Senate floor. “I think it’s really going to be really harmful to the morale and battle effectiveness of our military,” he said.

Several years ago, you will recall, McCain said he’d support the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” when “the leadership of the military comes to [him] and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change this policy.’”

That’s what happened; the secretary of defense and the chairman of the joint chiefs came to Congress to tell them they ought to change it.

McCain immediately denounced the pair and, as the Times story indicates, is now drumming up opposition in whatever atavistic corner of the military he can find them.

p.s. There;s also talk on this Newsweek blog that McCain is saying he would support, if not initiate, a filibuster of the measure.