Colin Powell on Gay Marriage: ‘I Have No Problem With It.’
CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer sat down with former Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss his new book and a variety of foreign policy issues. A highlight is after the jump. Blitzer’s full interview with Gen. Powell will air during the 5 p.m. ET hour of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN.
THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED
BLITZER: I remember, you were chairman of the joint chiefs when you installed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the U.S. Military that prevented gays from serving openly. I know you changed your attitudes over these years. But what about gay marriage? Are you with the president in supporting gay marriage?
POWELL: I have no problem with it. And it was the congress that imposed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” It was certainly my position, and my recommendation, to get out us of an even worse outcome that could have occurred, if you’ll recall. But, as I’ve thought about gay marriage, I know a lot of friends who are individually gay but are in partnerships with loved ones. And they are stable a family as my family is. And they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say that they should be able to get married under the laws of their state or the laws of the country, however that turns out - it seems to be the laws of the state.