President Obama was heckled by anti-“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” protesters while speaking to Democratic supporters tonight at a DNC fundraiser for Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Several times throughout his speech, during a five minute segment, protesters from newly-formed activist group GetEQUAL shouted at the president, “What about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?'” and “It’s time for equality for all Americans!”
The President should not have been surprised. The Advocate, and others had reported earlier in the day, “Gay Protest Awaits Obama in L.A.”
Via Pams’ House Blend:
GetEQUAL protesters have been escorted out of an Obama fundraiser in LA for Barbara Boxer after demanding that he add repeal language in the Defense Authorization. According to press pool reports, at 6:17 Pacific Time, members of GetEqual interrupted the President’s speech to expressing anger over the snail’s pace on DADT repeal and the the stories that the White House doesn’t want a vote in 2010.
The crowd, as you might imagine, was not happy and tried to hush them.“What about don’t ask, don’t tell?” one protester shouted.
Obama yelled back “we are going to do that.”
Early into the protest, the president asked the protesters, “Do you want to come up here?” Then, visibly disturbed, he continued, saying, “Barbara and I are supportive of repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ so I don’t know why you’re hollering.”
Amid shouts of “Yes we can!” the president left the microphone for a moment to speak with Senator Boxer. Then returning, Obama said,
“Everybody, I just want to confirm, I just checked with Barbara, so if anyone else is thinking of starting a chant, Barbara didn’t even vote for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the first place, so you know she’s going to be in favor of repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'”
See complete video at Watch: Obama Heckled By Anti-DADT Protesters At Boxer’s DNC Fundraiser.
Read Chris Geidner’s take on this civil action.
See photo at Rod 2.0.