Associated Press, 1/8/2000

DES MOINES - Vice President Al Gore backpedaled yesterday from his statement that he would require candidates for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to agree with his intention to let gays serve openly in the military. ''I did not mean to imply that there should ever be any kind of inquiry into the personal political opinions of officers in the US military,'' Gore said. ''What I meant to convey was I would not tolerate ... orders not being followed.'' At a debate Wednesday, Gore was asked whether candidates for the joint chiefs would have to pass a ''litmus test'' of supporting gays in the military. He answered, ''I would insist before appointing anybody to the Joint Chiefs of Staff that that individual support my policy, and yes, I would make that a requirement.'' Gore has said he would allow gays to serve openly in the military. (AP)