Gay-rights activists demanding a repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” twice interrupted President Barack Obama’s speech at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Democratic California Sen. Barbara Boxer on Monday night. The activists were from GetEQUAL, the same group that staged sit-ins at offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a month ago.
Shortly after Obama took the stage Monday, the activists began chanting things like, “What about ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’?” Obama halted his speech before saying, “I agree, I agree, I agree. What the young man was talking about was, we need to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ which I agree with, and which we have begun to do, but let me say this: When you”ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer, and you’ve got an ally like me who are fighting for the same thing, then I don’t know exactly why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you. It would make more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it.”
A few minutes later, when the activists began chanting again, Obama said: “I’m sorry, do you want to come up here? Because can I just say once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing ‘don’t ask don’t tell,’ so I don’t know why you’re hollering.”
Obama then walked over to Boxer before returning to the podium. “I just wanted to confirm,” he said. “I just checked with Barbara, so if anybody else is thinking about 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.'”
Watch video of the disruption by going here.
7 Comments
Protests have a place in every movement. I understand being frustrated with the speed of progress…However being disrespectful to the President is not the best way to advance our cause.
WAY to GO GET Equal!
I distance myself from these professional protesters. I think Obama is doing a fine job in advancing the gay cause while recognizing that the existing social inertia does not allow him to go faster in a practical sense.
Some of these gay wing nutts do more harm than good although their heart is in the right place.
I totally agree with everything that Obama said. We STILL need to continue electing and reelecting allies, talking to people who oppose pro-gay legislation but I do feel like I’m in a bad romance with Obama. He wooed me and sweet-talked to me until he got what he wanted. Now he has me and the first couple of months into our relationship were AWESOME. I was on a complete high. Then we reached the 6 month mark and he’s not paying attention to me like he use to. Some of the things he said he would do are not happening. I’ve been a patient gf knowing that he’s extremely busy and that he will get to me when he can. Now, it’s been over a year and it’s starting to get frustrating. If I want to maintain this relationship, as his gf (constituent), it my responsiblity to keep this romance going. I will continue to harass and tell him how I feel until he gets it. He invested too much time to get me to just let it all just fall apart. Sorry for the analogy but was listening to Janet Jackson “What Have You Done for Me Lately” this morning.
I voted for Obama because he promised to get rid of the DADT.
If he fails to get rid of it in his FIRST term, he will NOT get my re-election vote. Period!
I don’t give a crap how busy he is. A promise is a promise and if he breaks that promise, then he can kiss someone else’s ass for his next vote… If I knew this so-called promise was going to take eight years and two presidential terms, then I might have voted for Hillary instead.
If he comes through, then I’ll give him my full support back in return. But a deal is a deal…
I suppose if one is a single issue person,like DADT, then yeah, vote for the next sweet talking candidate.
I would think (and hope) people look at the whole package. In aggregate, I’m delighted with Obama’s priorities and the progress he has made towards gay rights in his first 15 mo’s in office
Why thank you Chuck! I never visualized it as voting for a “sweet talking candidate” when I voted for Obama… But you’re right there and thanks for the cool insight.
I’m sorry you’re delighted with his progress and thought others in the GLBT community would be expecting more by now. But I guess that’s why we’re all different in this world.
But the guy has got a total of four years to prove his value to me and patience is a virtue for some.