--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always…" description: "\"On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always the same. I said we needed a complete review of the impact on morale and battle effectiveness of 'don't ask, do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-mccain-465_battle_on-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-i-was-always-the_1874467.png" --- # On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always the same. I said… ![“On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always the same. I said we needed a complete review of the impact on morale and battle effectiveness of 'don't ask, don't tell' before we repeal it. That's my position now. Now they're trying to ram through a repeal without a - any kind of really realistic survey…” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-mccain-465_battle_on-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-i-was-always-the_1874467.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-mccain-465_battle_on-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-i-was-always-the_1874467.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/john-mccain-465_battle_on-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-i-was-always-the_1874467.png) > “On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always the same. I said we needed a complete review of the impact on morale and battle effectiveness of 'don't ask, don't tell' before we repeal it. That's my position now. Now they're trying to ram through a repeal without a - any kind of really realistic survey done.” [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Policy changes should be based on thorough, realistic assessments of morale and effectiveness. **In simple terms:** Policy needs solid data. Key Takeaway Demand evidence before reform. Themes military policy LGBT rights leadership Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - military planning - legislative debate - public opinion Key Concepts policy analysis morale impact strategic review Questions to Reflect On - What data would convince you to support repeal? - How can morale be measured accurately? A Different Perspective Surveys may be politically avoided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Don Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-tell/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Realistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realistic/) [Repeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeal/) [Repeal Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeal-kind-2607587/) [Repeal Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeal-position-2607586/) [Tell Repeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-repeal-1643450/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The implementation of don't ask, don't tell's repeal has gone very, very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-robinson/the-implementation-of-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-s-repeal-has-gone-very/) [Allyson Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-robinson/) > [House passes #dadt (don't ask don't tell) repeal. A step fwd on equality 4 gay Americans in military. History will judge those who tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pallone/house-passes-dadt-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-repeal-a-step-fwd-on-equality/) [Frank Pallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pallone/) > [The repeal of don't ask, don't tell didn't change things for transgender people in the military. What it has done, though, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-robinson/the-repeal-of-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-didn-t-change-things-for/) [Allyson Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-robinson/) > [The time has come to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' It is the right thing to do. Every American should have the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/the-time-has-come-to-repeal-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-it-is-the-right/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I campaigned in 2012 all over this country for months: 'Repeal and replace Obamacare.' That was not the mandate of the voters. If they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-campaigned-in-2012-all-over-this-country-for-months-repeal-and/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/but-certainly-in-the-short-term-or-even-the-long-term-i-would-not/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Remember, gravity is not just a good idea. It's the law. And it's not subject to repeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-gravity-is-not-just-a-good-idea-it-s-the-law-and-it-s-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not think it is going to be constructive to repeal a law that, at this point, is so interwoven in our health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/i-do-not-think-it-is-going-to-be-constructive-to-repeal-a-law-that-at/) [Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/) > [For those of us who originally disagreed with ObamaCare and now disagree with the majority opinion of the SCOTUS, the challenge remains the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beauprez/for-those-of-us-who-originally-disagreed-with-obamacare-and-now/) [Bob Beauprez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beauprez/) > [ If we repeal \[ Barack Obama's health care law\] as Donald \[Trump\] has proposed, all of those benefits I have mentioned are lost to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-we-repeal-barack-obama-s-health-care-law-as-donald-trump-has/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I voted to repeal the government takeover of health care that raises costs, increases taxes, spends trillions of dollars that we don't have, cuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hurt/i-voted-to-repeal-the-government-takeover-of-health-care-that-raises/) [Robert Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hurt/) > [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [House Republicans continue to vote to repeal health care reform, not only removing guarantees that women aren't charged more than men for coverage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/house-republicans-continue-to-vote-to-repeal-health-care-reform-not/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) ## More by John McCain > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people. Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/washington-is-a-hollywood-for-ugly-people-hollywood-is-a-washington/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I think that it's important that we understand the importance of the Hispanic vote in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-think-that-it-s-important-that-we-understand-the-importance-of-the/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I don't know a politician who enjoys fundraising. The system is such that the American people have lost faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-don-t-know-a-politician-who-enjoys-fundraising-the-system-is-such/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [It is perhaps my greatest hope, Mr. President, that some day we'll consider tax and spending measures with no one else in mind but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/it-is-perhaps-my-greatest-hope-mr-president-that-some-day-we-ll/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [This kind of horror has become all too familiar to us. As parents, Cindy and I offer our prayers to the memory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/this-kind-of-horror-has-become-all-too-familiar-to-us-as-parents/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/the-truth-is-sometimes-a-hard-pill-to-swallow-it-sometimes-causes-us/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Countries, not just their armies, win wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/countries-not-just-their-armies-win-wars/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [My greatest fear is the Iranians acquire a nuclear weapon and give it to a terrorist organization. And there is a real threat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-greatest-fear-is-the-iranians-acquire-a-nuclear-weapon-and-give-it/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Presidential ambition is a disease that can only be cured by embalming fluid .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/presidential-ambition-is-a-disease-that-can-only-be-cured-by/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [3 "amnesty" didn't mean rewarding illegal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/3-amnesty-didn-t-mean-rewarding-illegal-behavior/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [On the subject of Osama bin Laden... we will track him down. We will capture him. We will bring him to justice, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/on-the-subject-of-osama-bin-laden-we-will-track-him-down-we-will/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [That's Joe Biden right there - unbowed, unbroken and unable to stop talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/that-s-joe-biden-right-there-unbowed-unbroken-and-unable-to-stop/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) [Explore all 539 John McCain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. 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But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. 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But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On 'don't ask, don't tell' I was always the same. I said we needed a complete review of the impact on morale and battle effectiveness of 'don't ask, don't tell' before we repeal it. That's my position now. 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