WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday he supports the Obama administration 's decision to repeal the `` do n't ask , do n't tell '' policy banning gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military -- a move that was staunchly opposed by most top Republicans . `` I think the decision that 's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one '' Cheney told CNN 's Candy Crowley on `` State of the Union . '' `` It 's the right thing to do . '' The policy , first enacted during the Clinton administration , was officially repealed on September 20 . Over 14,000 people were kicked out of the military due to `` do n't ask , do n't tell . '' The controversial repeal of the policy became a focal point of a GOP presidential debate last month when members of the audience booed a gay soldier who asked about the decision . President Barack Obama criticized the Republican presidential contenders on Saturday night for failing to rebuke the audience . `` We do n't believe in standing silent when that happens , '' Obama told attendees at the annual National Dinner of the Human Rights Campaign , an organization that promotes equality for gays and lesbians . If `` you want to be commander-in-chief , you can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States even when it is not politically convenient , '' Obama said . Cheney responded to Obama by noting that he 's `` a little bit leery of the notion that somehow we ought to go hammer the Republican candidates because they did n't respond to booing in the audience . '' `` When you 're in a political campaign and debates , people boo a lot of things , '' Cheney told CNN . `` I 'm not sure that it was all focused specifically on that particular issue . '' After the debate , former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said he had n't heard the booing when the question was asked . Santorum was being asked the question when the incident occurred .
Former GOP Vice President Dick Cheney says he supports the repeal of ` ` do n't ask , do n't tell '' ` ` Do n't ask , do n't tell '' was officially repealed on September 1 . ` ` Do n't ask , do n't tell '' bars gays and women from serving openly in the military . Members of the audience at a Senate debate booed a gay soldier for asking about the law .