CNN and General Kerr (UPDATE!)

I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but it's bugging me:

Let's say you really really really hate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". Enough to make a video about it, enough to fly across the country and stand up and harangue the Republican candidates about changing the policy until you wear out one microphone and Andersen Cooper's assistant has to hand you a fresh one.

If you hate it that much, why would you back the Clinton campaign, considering that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a policy the Clinton administration instituted?

UPDATE: Okay, here's an even bigger question about General Kerr from Nice Deb. We will want to be very very careful about this sort of inquiry and not reach any conclusions prematurely, but I'll be interested to see where this goes. Please note that these words are the conclusions of Nice Deb correspondent Nick, and I'm merely reporting them without concurring in any accusations:

Now, here is where Mr Kerr gets slick. He claimed to have been a retired Army Brigider General. This is outright FRAUD, and he is betrayed by his own Bio’s “Official” title, Kerr, BG Keith H., CSMR (Ret.).

CSMR stands for California State Military Reserve. The CSMR is an UNPAID volunteer organization who’s purpose is to assist State National Guard units in preparation for their training. (Remember Candy Stripers at the hospital?)

The requirements for this coveted position are specific and plainly stated as follows: Any resident citizen over 18 years of age and under 63 and NOT a member of the active or reserve components of the U.S. military forces may apply to join.

...

It is … plainly stated that the rank is recognized by only the State of California and is not recognized by the US Military.”

This is still being verified because, Nick says, some of General Kerr's biographical information isn't where it ought to be.

MORE: Occasus points out in the comments that there could well be an innocent explanation for this:

From the CSMR website: Q. HOW WILL MY RANK BE DETERMINED? Applicants will be evaluated and appointed or enlisted in accordance with California State Military Reserve regulations to an appropriate rank based on prior military service, education, civilian occupation, and other factors. It also depends on the authorized job position (billet) the applicant will be filling within the unit. As an example, typically a recently separated member of the California National Guard or Army Reserve would enter the CSMR at the same grade as his/her Federal grade when separated. However, each applicant package is reviewed on an individual basis by an enlistment or appointment Board.

So it’s possible he was a BG at one time in the National Guard or Reserves.

Kerr's bio said he retired as a Colonel from the National Guard in 1986, and a demotion seems unlikely.

In any case there's no dispute that Kerr had a long and honorable career in the military. I do think this question is worth settling, if for no other reason than to check CNN's research and multiple layers of fact-checking on all the people they invited to the debate.