McCain Says "Mistake" to Repeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell

President Obama is poised to call for a repeal of the Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, as I've reported here, but it doesn't appear as if Republicans are going to support him. Here's what his 2008 presidential campaign rival, Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, is saying tonight (no change from his previous statements that i can tell):

“In his State of the Union address, President Obama asked Congress to repeal the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. I am immensely proud of, and thankful for, every American who wears the uniform of our country, especially at a time of war, and I believe it would be a mistake to repeal the policy.

“This successful policy has been in effect for over fifteen years, and it is well understood and predominantly supported by our military at all levels. We have the best trained, best equipped, and most professional force in the history of our country, and the men and women in uniform are performing heroically in two wars. At a time when our Armed Forces are fighting and sacrificing on the battlefield, now is not the time to abandon the policy.”

This matches his previous statements on this issue. McCain at a forum in New York in March of 2007 said:

“I recently had a conversation with some other military leaders on this issue and their point to me was ‘It’s working, so leave it alone. Generally, overall, it’s working.’ I don’t think there’s any doubt that there are evolving attitudes in America about many issues, including this one, but every military leader that I talk to, I say ‘Should we change it?’ They say, ‘It’s working.’ And right now we’ve got the best military we’ve ever had - the most professional, best trained, equipped and the bravest. And so I think it’s logical to leave this issue alone. I really do.”