Protesters Force President Obama to Address"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Policy

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"As happy as I am to see you, I am even happier to be with my good friend, Barbara Boxer," said President Barack Obama.

President Obama was interrupted at a fundraiser for California's Senator Barbara Boxer.

"She is, we, we are going to do that, hey hold on, hold on a second," President Obama said.

He was interrupted by Protesters shouting slogans to repeal the controversial military policy, Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Since 1993, thousands have been thrown out of the army for admitting they are gay or lesbian.

"What the young man was asking is that we need to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, which I agree with," Obama responded to GETEQUAL member Dan Fotou."

Zoe Nicholson, the 3rd protester, shouted "Mr. President it's time to repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell.'"

"I'm sorry, do you want to come up here?" President Obama responded.

Nicholson says why her organization GETEQUAL was there.

"While Obama was campaigning for President he made several really important promises, that brought him to be a champion of the LGBT world," she said.

Nicholson added that President Obama could use his executive powers to repeal the policy, today, In the Defense Authorization Bill.

"It is the end of the 111th congress," Nicholson said, "They are about to recess for the summer, they come together in the fall for a very short period. The President today could sign an executive order with a pen, I would be happy to buy it for him."

After receiving criticism for her outburst, she defended her actions

"Rudeness is practically our currency," she said.

GETEQUAL continues its campaign. GetEqual activist Lieutenant Dan Choi and five other former soldiers were arrested, for handcuffing themselves to the Whitehouse gates.

Dan Choi, wearing his army uniform, could face prison for his latest protest. His spokeman, Joel Sileman, said all he wished for was to rejoin his unit and serve his country.

Ken Van der Meeren, Annenberg Radio News

www.GETEQUAL.org

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