The Jaker

"General Pace has clarified his remarks, but let's not lose sight of the fact that 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' is not working," she said. "We are being deprived of thousands of patriotic men and women who want to serve their country who are bringing skills into the armed services that we desparately need, like translation skills. And one can argue whether it was a good idea when it was first implemented, but we know have evidence as to the fact that we are in a time of war -- when we really need as many people as we can to recruit and retain in an all-volunteer army -- we are turning people away or discharging them not because of what they've done but because of who they are."

But is it immoral?

"Well I'm going to leave that to others to conclude," she said. "I'm very proud of the gays and lesbians I know who perform work that is essential to our country, who want to serve their country and I want make sure they can."

In New York City, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a near record 73% approval rating.

Key finding: By a 46% to 16% margin, New Yorkers say that Bloomberg is a better mayor than his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, with 34% who say both are the same. And by 46% to 31%, they feel Bloomberg would make a better president.