Though He Voted Against DADT Repeal, Paul Ryan Doesn't Want it Reinstated

The Republican candidate for vice president actually cast a vote on "don't ask, don't tell" repeal while in Congress. But now he's sort of changed his mind.

BY Neal Broverman

September 24 2012 6:24 PM ET

Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan told an interviewer Sunday that although he voted against repealing "don't ask, don't tell" in Congress, he won't fight for its reinstatement should he be elected.

"Now that it's done, we should not reverse it," Ryan told WPTV News Channel 5. "I think that would be a step in the wrong direction because people have already disclosed themselves."

Ryan voted against repeal because he didn't think it appropriate to make such a change during wartime, according to the interview. The Wisconsin congressman joins his running mate, Mitt Romney, in opposing reinstatement of the ban on openly LGBT soldiers. After waffling a bit, Romney said in December that reinstating DADT would be a "distraction." Even if the GOP manages to gain control of the Senate or presidency, a minor miracle at this point, Republicans don't appear too keen on bringing the ban back from the dead.