Obama Heckled in California by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Opponents

LOS ANGELES -- Opponents of the 'don't ask don't tell' policy on gays in the military interrupted President Obama with heckling at a Los Angeles fundraiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer.

The protesters shouted to ask Obama what he is going to do about the policy, which prohibits gays from serving openly in the military. The shouts grew so insistent that Obama responded.

The president said that he supports overturning "don't ask don't tell" and suggested the protesters should be yelling at the people who don't.

Obama has called on Congress to lift the ban, and military officials are examining how to do that. He also told the crowd that Boxer opposed "don't ask don't tell" in the first place.

Obama was in Los Angeles for the first of a trio of fundraisers for Boxer and the Democratic Party. He told California Democrats that Boxer might lose her re-election race unless they work hard for her campaign.

Boxer is seeking a fourth term and has won big in the past in Democratic-friendly California. But she's facing a more difficult political environment this time around because of the shaky economy.

Obama says that all incumbents are in danger because of the economic environment, though he says it's turning around.

The events are expected to raise as much as $3.5 million for Boxer and the Democratic National Committee.