Gay rights protesters interrupt Obama speech at fundraiser

[boston bean]

Gay rights protesters interrupted President Barack Obama's speech at a fundraiser for California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) Monday night in Los Angeles.

Activists from a group called GetEQUAL began shouting at Obama while he was speaking at the podium. They expressed frustration over the slow progress of repealing the ban on openly gay people serving in the military.


The protests brought the speech to a halt, and the protesters did not lower their voices after others in the crowd urged them to end their shouting.


"What about 'Don't ask, don't tell?'" one protester shouted, according to a White House pool report.


Obama yelled back: "We are going to do that."

Obama then raised his voice to speak over the protesters. "We are going to repeal don't ask, don't tell," Obama said.

Then the yes we can crowd drowned out the protesters shouts...

Too bad the "Yes We Can" crowd can only find it within themselves to defend a president. Wouldn't it have been fantastic if the Democratic Party were unified on repealing DADT!? Instead some continue to divide the party. If the Yes We Can group would have joined in with the protesters maybe DADT would have a chance of being repealed NOW, not some LATER date, god knows when.

Thank you to the protesters! To the Yes We Canners, please join next time and stop dividing the Democratic Party.

edit to add link:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/93193-obama-speech-interrupted-by-gay-rights-protesters

[zipplewrath]

1. Fool me once....

"Obama yelled back: "We are going to do that."

Should we file this along with strong public option? Or maybe "closing" Gitmo? Cadillac taxes? Mandates?

One can imagine why folks are concerned, until it actually gets done.

[boston bean]

3. It is insulting that Democrats would want to drown out people who want to end DADT!

It's hurtful and backstabbing! It's definitely not a place that is welcoming to LGBT! They can say all they want that they want DADT ended too but they won't put their money where their mouth is. Those bulliers that are trying to shut up the LGBT voice are showing their true colors, imho.

[zipplewrath]

4. Wanna really get pissed off?

Granting nuts the ability to carry guns in National Parks, that we can get done.

Allowing soldiers to continue to serve........ that'll take time.

[boston bean]

5. .

:mad:

[QC]

9. It happens here all the time. n/t

[TheWraith]

13. Gosh, it can't be anything to do with the fact that someone was trying to disrupt an event.

After all, it's not like we ever get upset about people using presidential speeches to spread false information. (*cough*Wilson*cough*)

[boston bean]

14. What did the protesters say that was false? They were asking him to do something.

[ShortnFiery]

7. But that's the point, the Obama Administration is not going to do it before November,

and THEN there will be significant GOP gains and DADT will NOT BE REPEALED.

Then the democrats who, deep down, do not support DADT for political reasons can look at us GULLIBLE souls and feign, "Oh, at least we tried."

It's all smoke and mirrors ... DADT will NOT be repealed during Obama's Presidency. Maybe not ever if the people don't DEMAND IT occur before November.

[zipplewrath]

8. I fear you are correct

It isn't clear to me the dems will lose that much support in the fall. Then, it becomes a matter of attaching it to the proper bill so that it can't particularly be stopped. Having the JCS ultimately on board is suppose to help ensure that. I don't like the strategy, but I understand it, even if I think it is risky and foolish.

[rudy23]

11. I think that extends to every part of the Progressive agenda--that's why we're throwing it in '12

We'll have all the incentive to raise funds in the world, and no incentive to do anything difficult.

[TheWraith]

12. Your post bears no resemblence to reality.

Please back up, do some research, and try again.

Also, I can't help but notice that there's something inherently contradictory in your attitude given that you're loudly in favor of throwing out Senator Gillibrand, who's probably the loudest voice in the Senate for a DADT repeal.

[Tailormyst]

2. My favorite quote:

"Wouldn't it have been fantastic if the Democratic Party were unified on repealing DADT!? Instead some continue to divide the party"

Instead we are left to protest what used to be our party.

[Little Star]

6. That phrase should be changed to:

"Yes we can but no we won't!"

I am so sick of that phrase! It's a very clever way to stop conversation. It's also a clever way to bow down and kiss the ring without actually doing so.

DADT needs more than just support, it needs some hard work done to get rid of it!

How about we all yell the phrase "git it done"?

[QC]

10. YES WE CAN!

(But we're not going to.)