President Obama Supports Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

[cal04]

Source: National Journal

President Obama is throwing his support behind the Respect for Marriage Act - the bill to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which banned the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage even for couples married under state law.

The president has "long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on families," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at Tuesday's briefing. He said the president "is proud" to support the Respect for Marriage Act, "which would take the Defense of Marriage Act off the books for once and for all."

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

In February, the Obama administration announced that the Department of Justice will no longer defend DOMA in court.

Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-supports-repeal-of-defense-of-marriage-act-20110719

[Zenlitened]

1. K&R. Great news. - n/t

[MineralMan]

2. A good move on his part.

Coupled with the non-defense of DOMA in The Federal Courts, and it's very clear where he stands.

[LoZoccolo]

3. But the Social Security ultimatumists at Fire Dog Lake would

vote against a president who would do this.

[MineralMan]

5. They were never going to vote for him in the first place.

He just doesn't present the right image, you see, to be President of The United States. :sarcasm:

[LoZoccolo]

6. That may be, but if they want to pretend that they were going to,

they are now open to being asked why they are willing to give this up to enforce their ultimatum.

[mvd]

8. Ultimatumists?

More like protectionists. Anyway, K&R for the President on this. It is good that he gets it.

[LoZoccolo]

14. Would you post an OP saying that you wouldn't vote for him if he touched Social Security

even if it meant that the DOMA would not be repealed?

If so, be sure to post the link in the reply.

[mvd]

16. No, because it has nothing to do with the OP

n/t

[LoZoccolo]

17. Yes it does.

Obama's policies come as a package; he's either in office to implement them, or not. You cannot say that you are going to work to let him lose his office for one purpose, and say that you helped him implement another.

[mvd]

18. I'm not going off on a tangent, which this is.

[LoZoccolo]

26. It sounds like people aren't willing to even answer for the full consequences of their actions

much less take responsibility for them.

This might be a genuine disregard of responsibility, or a sign that the ultimatum is just theater to begin with.

[mvd]

28. Nonsense. You turned a positive article into another..

attack on progressives. I am done responding here.

[LoZoccolo]

29. But it was not me that said that every other issue was worth sacrificing for that one.

I don't think that way. It's really the ultimatimists that attacked this issue first. They made the statement that they are willing to impose at least four more years of DOMA in order to bring vengeance upon Obama. They are the ones who inserted themselves into this issue.

But you're actually wrong about this being a tangent: when people make such an ultimatum, they are touching on, and making a judgement about, every single other issue. I could post this in just about any thread about a position that Obama supports that progressives also support, because the ultimatum is a statement that the issue is worth sacrificing.

[snooper2]

37. lol

[tekisui]

4. Great news!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. Great to hear!

It's the right thing to do, and I'm pleased to see him taking this stance. :)

[Evasporque]

9. So they traded SS cuts for DOMA repeal....not sure what to think of this...

But it makes sense that it will be "teh gays" fault...they can always blame us for insisting on equality.

[NYC Liberal]

10. Yep. You know it's coming…nt

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. Does this mean he's throwing the bus under the bus?

That means you need serious ground clearance:

[dbonds]

12. About time. Doesn't make up for putting SS and Medicare on the table though.

[SlimJimmy]

13. Just in time for his re-election campaign. I'm sure the

timing has nothing to do with that though.

[bluestateguy]

15. Won't ever make it to his desk

Shit, it didn't have the votes in the last Congress (not 60 in the Senate, and not a majority in the House).

We forget that a lot of Me Too Democrats were elected in 2006 and 2008.

[kpete]

19. WH backs bill overturning Defense of Marriage Act

Source: Sacramento Bee

WH backs bill overturning Defense of Marriage Act


The Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 19, 2011 - 11:35 am

WASHINGTON -- The White House is supporting legislation to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
That's the law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Press secretary Jay Carney made the announcement Tuesday, a day before the first Senate hearing on a bill by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

President Barack Obama had already announced that he views the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional. He also had ordered the Justice Department to stop defending it in court.




Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/19/3779655/wh-backs-bill-overturning-defense.html

[Tesha]

20. As if that will go anywhere with the Republican House.

Why didn't he back this two years ago when it *MIGHT* have mattered?

Tesha

[DURHAM D]

21. Because it would have mattered.

[DonCoquixote]

33. really

not with those good old southern blue dogs.

[Rebubula]

25. Because...

...he only believes it when it is politically pragmatic.

He believes marriage is only between a man and a woman - he is bigoted in that thinking.


Maybe when he does not need to be reelected - he will stand for something.

[markpkessinger]

22. I guess he feels a little Johnny-come-lately leadership will serve as a bone to throw to the Left...

...to make up for his betrayal on SS/Medicare.

[theFrankFactor]

23. +Infinity Exactly!

[Fearless]

24. +Infinity-and-one!

[Politicub]

31. If you are concerned with gay liberation, this is so far beyond a "bone"

And it's offensive to downplay it.

[Tx4obama]

27. Bravo President Obama.

[Politicub]

30. This is awesome. Good on President Obama!

:applause: :woohoo:

[dickthegrouch]

32. Thank you Mr President, what took you so long?

I've never understood how a constitutional scholar could do anything other than repeal that odious, opressive, bigoted piece of "law".

[SSDA]

35. He was waiting till he knew it would not pass.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TomCADem]

36. Meanwhile, Michelle Bachman's Goes Crazy With Bigotted Statements...

...There is a big difference between Republicans and Democrats.