Stephanopoulos asked Obama's National Security Adviser, General Jim Jones, if Obama will overturn the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy during his term - something Obama has repeatedly, vehemently, promised.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it will be overturned.Not exactly a ringing endorsement. To be fair, Jones is being careful, as he should be, and Stephanopoulos pushed Jones hard on this, and Jones did a pretty good job. But. He sure didn't sound like someone convinced that the policy should be overturned, or that Obama would overturn it, or that they'd be successful. Jones sounded weak. And I don't like my generals sounding weak. The appropriate answer is "yes," general. Not, I don't know.
JONES: I don't know. We'll have to - the president has said that he is in favor of that. We'll just wait - we'll have to wait and see - as a result of the deliberations and as a result of the - in the months and weeks ahead. We have a lot on our plate right now. It has to be teed up at the right time so - to do this the right way.
George then asked an excellent question that we asked earlier this week:
STEPHANOPOULOS: But if the president is against the policy, why not suspend prosecutions and investigations while that review continues?We're not there now. What does that mean? You're not quite there yet, in terms of not aiding and abetting discrimination? Why not? Because you're afraid. When won't you be afraid? When won't Obama have too much on his plate? When won't the Republicans attack you for lifting the ban - hell, for breathing?
JONES: Well, maybe that's an option that eventually we'll get to but we're not there now.
Not exactly a resounding display of confidence. And if Obama's advisers don't sound confident, don't sound committed, how do they expect Congress to step up and repeal the ban?
