As some of you may have read, the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, released a statement yesterday, announcing that the federal government will no longer defend Section 3 of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) in court. Here is an excerpt from the announcement:
After careful consideration, including a review of my recommendation, the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny. The President has also concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional. Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination.
Consequently, the Department will not defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA as applied to same-sex married couples in the two cases filed in the Second Circuit. We will, however, remain parties to the cases and continue to represent the interests of the United States throughout the litigation. I have informed Members of Congress of this decision, so Members who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option. The Department will also work closely with the courts to ensure that Congress has a full and fair opportunity to participate in pending litigation.
Furthermore, pursuant to the President's instructions, and upon further notification to Congress, I will instruct Department attorneys to advise courts in other pending DOMA litigation of the President's and my conclusions that a heightened standard should apply, that Section 3 is unconstitutional under that standard and that the Department will cease defense of Section 3.
House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) issued the following statement:
"While Americans want Washington to focus on creating jobs and cutting spending, the President will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation."
I happen to have my Republican/Democrat translation dictionary handy. The Democratic translation is as follows:
"While Republicans want Washington to focus on redefining rape, intruding on women's reproductive rights, reversing gay rights in states across the nation, and eliminating collective bargaining rights in the Midwest, the Muslim that you people voted into office will have to explain why he isn't coddling old, rich, straight, white men and NASCAR fans like Dubya used to."
As you could imagine, Fox News went
ape shit. Just take a look at Megyn Kelly's face as she is reporting the announcement. She looks like she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Of all people for them to talk to on air, Maggie Gallagher, the head of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). NOM was started with funding by the Mormon church in 2007 as an organization to spearhead the campaign against Prop. 8 in California. The Southern Poverty Law Center, the nation's leading experts in hate crimes and hate and extremist organizations, officially lists NOM as a "hate group". This is epic:
Then, later in her show, she had political commentator Monica Crowley on as a guest. Crowley called the President, "Mubarak Obama". Just watch:
Guess that answers the question why
72% of Republican primary voters think Obama is a Muslim or isn't sure. You know Fox News...."fair and balanced".
