Gay Activists Protest Obama in LA
Had it not been for the time it would take to organize a Tea Party to protest outside the fund-raiser the President was hosting earlier tonight for one of his least accomplished former Senate colleagues, I might have put something together. Well, it seems like some gay activists beat me to the punch:
A group of gay rights activists disrupted President Obama’s speech at a fundraiser here for Sen. Barbara Boxer Monday night, decrying what they describe as Mr. Obama’s inaction on overturning the military’s ban on gay service members and calling on him to submit repeal language to Congress.
Something tells me these protesters have nothing to do with the various gay organizations, but are more likely affiliated with the leftist blogs, holding the Democrat to account for the campaign promises he made to the gay community.
While I respect them for standing up for their beliefs,they should have showed the president more respect, waiting for him to complete his remarks before raising their concerns.
Via JammieWearingFool via Instapundit.
UPDATE: Just got this release in my in-box. The group GetEQUAL (whatever that means) claims responsibility for the interruption:
Moments ago, several GetEQUAL activists interrupted President Obama during his speech at a fundraising reception for Senator Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles, expressing anger over the slow progress on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year and demanding that he repeal it.
GetEQUAL activists shouted, “what about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” and “it’s time for equality for all Americans.” The President, at one point bringing his remarks to a halt, said, “Barbara and I are supportive of repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.”
Activists David John Fleck, Dan Fotou, Laura Kanter, Zoe Nicholson, and Michelle Wright were then escorted out of the reception by security officers.
“President Obama has been AWOL on DADT,” Fotou. “We had to reminded him of the promises he made to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community during his campaign and several times during his Presidency – that DADT will be repealed because, as he’s stated, ‘it’s the right thing to do.’”
“We made it clear our community will hold accountable our President for unkept promises,” said Wright. “Denying LGBT service members and personnel the ability to serve their country is unfair.”
Today’s action took place nearly one year after a similar protest outside an Obama appearance in Los Angeles, when Lt. Dan Choi asked the President for a response to a letter signed by 136,000 people to repeal DADT.
“These empowering and brave activists feel so strongly about our rights they were willing to confront the President of the United States on his lack of leadership on DADT and to hold him accountable for the promises he has made to our community,” said Kip Williams, co-founder of GetEQUAL.
UP-UPDATE: Michelle Malkin wonders why Obama treats gay protesters differently than he treated Tea Party protesters: “Will the White House press office team put on their civility badges and start lecturing gay activists about the need for calm discourse?”
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Of course, their “Repeal DADT Now!” signs were written on the backs of their “US Out of Iraq” and “America is the Real Terrorist” signs.
Comment by Ashpenaz — April 20, 2010 @ 12:23 am - April 20, 2010
[...] Gay Patriot was hoping to get a Tea Party together for the event. They would have been more polite, I’m sure. [...]
Pingback by Gay Rights Group Heckled Obama | The Lonely Conservative — April 20, 2010 @ 12:44 am - April 20, 2010
What these people seem to forget is that the process is lengthy because it has to go through the military channels.
Whilst I do sympathize with their position in light of the fact that the military has allowed potential enemies into the ranks that are a much greater risk and danger than homosexuals, I do believe that it is essential for the serving military to have their say on the matter first. It is such a big step, it just cannot be done with an executive order without the consultation.
Comment by StraightAussie — April 20, 2010 @ 4:55 am - April 20, 2010
getEqual has a website and this youtube posting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iho2Q5eWQyQ
Comment by rusty — April 20, 2010 @ 8:07 am - April 20, 2010
BHO referred to her as “Barbara” and not “Senator”, her preferred term. Did she not dress down a Marine Corps general, on camera, for not using the honorific “Senator”?
Comment by FortWorthGuy — April 20, 2010 @ 9:41 am - April 20, 2010
I bet his use of Barbara made her giddy with excitement.
Comment by TnnsNE1 — April 20, 2010 @ 10:12 am - April 20, 2010
Good for the protestors / GetEQUAL. They weren’t deceived by the smokescreen of Obama’s recent order “granting” or “guaranteeing” gays hospital visitation privileges that, in reality, gays already had.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — April 20, 2010 @ 10:24 am - April 20, 2010
I, for one, am glad that the protesters spoke out during his speech–rather than after–this way, it was recorded and broadcast on several news programs. The clips from the event clearly show an angry obama, rattled and unable to deal with the situation without the help of his teleprompter. What an amateur.
Comment by jonnot — April 20, 2010 @ 10:25 am - April 20, 2010
Fort Worth Guy-
I’m afraid you don’t understand the thinking of Washington elites. It’s only people who are considered beneath them who are expected to address them with the respect their office entails. For those they consider equal, like a fellow Senator, or above them, like Obama, there is no need to stand on ceremony.
In other words, if you are an ordinary US citizen, you’d damn well better know your place.
Comment by PatrickKelley — April 20, 2010 @ 10:28 am - April 20, 2010
If the President is for the repeal of DADT; then why are his
US Attorneys still tryiing to get Log Cabin’s lawsuit againt it thrown out in the 9th Circuit in California?
HUH
Comment by NolaBill — April 20, 2010 @ 10:57 am - April 20, 2010
I have no problem with them shouting out in the middle of the speech. That’s the way its’ done. There is a place for civility and a place for political discourse, the two are not the same.
Comment by Leah — April 20, 2010 @ 11:16 am - April 20, 2010
SA, that was an awful video, but than it’s about what I’d expect from Gay Inc.
Comment by Leah — April 20, 2010 @ 11:18 am - April 20, 2010
Gotta say it….damn teabaggers!
At least He’s *trying*!!
Comment by John — April 20, 2010 @ 1:54 pm - April 20, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY3qX-O_aKE
2:12 is where the heckling starts.
Comment by Az Mo — April 20, 2010 @ 1:54 pm - April 20, 2010
[...] last night in Los Angeles, Obama bristled when gay activists interrupted his scripted appearance at a fundraiser for US Sen. Barbara Boxer. Representatives of GetEQUAL shouted, “what about [...]
Pingback by » Media Kept Well Away as Obama Clashes With Gays and Lesbians in Washington, L.A. - Big Journalism — April 20, 2010 @ 6:34 pm - April 20, 2010
The most amazing part is that left wing members of the gay and lesbian community can barely find it in themselves to criticize and call out Obama for this and the incident with the media during the protest at the White House. Conservatives had no problem calling out Bush when he did the wrong thing. The only one calling Obama out was Taylor Marsh. Most libs put Party over their beliefs.
Comment by William Teach — April 20, 2010 @ 11:12 pm - April 20, 2010
[...] last night in Los Angeles, Obama bristled when gay activists interrupted his scripted appearance at a fundraiser for US Sen. Barbara Boxer. Representatives of GetEQUAL shouted, “what about [...]
Pingback by Why were the media shooed away from covering DADT protest at WH? « Sister Toldjah — April 21, 2010 @ 8:21 am - April 21, 2010
[...] last night in Los Angeles, Obama bristled when gay activists interrupted his scripted appearance at a fundraiser for US Sen. Barbara Boxer. Representatives of GetEQUAL shouted, “what about [...]
Pingback by What Matters Today Blog Description » Archives » Media Kept Well Away as Obama Clashes With Gays and Lesbians in Washington, L.A. — April 21, 2010 @ 3:20 pm - April 21, 2010