Kerry calls for repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

[IDemo]

Source: boston.com

By Mark Arsenault, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON — In a column published this week in the gay-issue newspaper Bay Windows, US Senator John Kerry called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and its replacement with legislation to make same sex couples eligible for federal benefits that would include family and medical leave, Social Security spousal and survivors’ benefits, and the ability to file joint federal tax returns.

The 1996 law, typically abbreviated DOMA, defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and says that no US state has to recognize same sex marriages performed in another state.

In his op-ed, Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, said the law is unconstitutional—a conclusion recently reached by the Obama administration, which has announced it would no longer defend challenges to DOMA in federal court.

“My vote against -- which some predicted would cost me reelection in 1996 -- is among my proudest votes as a United States Senator,” Kerry wrote. “But my job in 2011 isn’t to feel good about my vote -- or to boast that fifteen years later, I’m vindicated when at last an American president now agrees that DOMA is unconstitutional.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/03/kerry_calls_for_4.html

[defendandprotect]

1. kr

[frazzled]

2. And 18 of his colleagues in the Senate have called for same

Joining Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) are co-sponsors: Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

[Aryo]

3. This man would have been a fine commander in chief

Too bad W and his regime stole the vote.

[BenzoDia]

4. I do often wonder how things would've turned out with him at the helm

[MrBlueSky]

5. Is it just me or does it seem like both sides are just pandering to their bases?

On the Republican side, there are silly things going on. From repealing health care reform to defunding NPR.

On the Democratic side, we see things like this as well as Rep. Kucinich speeding our withdrawal from Afghanistan to the new bill to push a surtax on the rich.

Due to a divided government, none of these will come to pass. So,it seems like all the politicians in Washington want to do it fire up each of their bases. For the Republicans, it is doing the bidding of the TEA Party. For the Democrats, it is appeasing the Progressives.