There are a number of new developments on the Obama Administration's highly offensive motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense Of Marriage Act. Last night, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow covered the controversy.
Former Democratic National Committee Chair and Vermont governor Howard Dean was Maddow's guest. Dean said the Department of Justice brief was a "huge mistake," "offensive" and you "cannot talk about gay Americans the way they were talked about in this brief." Dean doubts President Obama saw the brief but says he will have to "dig himself out of this." Dean concludes: "It wasn’t a little too far, it was a lot too far."
WHEN YOU JUMP, watch it.
They're talking about this DoJ filing on CBS this morning. Everyone is talking about this now. It's not going away because there is another, much larger case later June, the GLAD case in Massachusetts that has a much stronger probability of going forward. Obviously the Justice Dept will defend DOMA, but here is to hoping they do so only on technicalities and less homophobic language.
Tick, tock.
Posted by: Danny Rivera | 16 June 2009 at 12:11
The suit you are refrring to is Gill, et al vs. Office of Personnel Management. There are 8 couples and three widowers in Masachusetts who filed suit against the federal government and cite Section 3 of DOMA. That section bars the federal government from granting certain protections to legally married same-sex couples.
Section 2 allows states to refuse to recognize same sex marriages from other states.
The idea behind Gill is to punch a "hole" in DOMA so it's easier to come back on round two and get Section 2 thrown out. And yes, Gill has a very good chance of going to the Supremes and winning, it was crafted to specifically appeal to five justices.
I think that suit is a winner, btw. GLAD brought us the Massachusetts and Connecticut marriage cases. They know what they are doing.
Posted by: Talarico | 16 June 2009 at 12:45
I'd say "huge mistake" sounds about right.
Posted by: Tryon | 16 June 2009 at 13:58
obama is not our ally!
when will homos wake up to the blackish hoax that is obama?!?
thank you rod for calling him out since day 1
i blogged on more of his lies today too
peace
ab
Posted by: alicia banks | 16 June 2009 at 14:18
What do we have right here? The straight former head of the DNC and governor of a state saying that the Justice Dept brief was horrendous and went too far. Perhaps that's enough proof for the gay Obama apologists? The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS and ABC are all talking about this and some of us want to stick our fingers in our ears and pretends "gay bloggers" are over reacting? I don't think so.
And Alicia has a point. Rod you've been extremely fair toward Obama since the nomination and have only started reporting this stuff in the past two weeks. But I know you weren't sold on the hope and change during the primaries. What's the real haha is that Obama's biggest gay critics were once his biggest cheerleaders like Aravosis and Sullivan. And you and others have been relatively quiet. I guess you expected this.
Posted by: Dalton | 16 June 2009 at 14:35
Oh and let me add fwiw I supported Obama in the primaries and donated to his campaign. Not giving a dime now to him or the DNC until they move on our issues. I'm calling my representative and senators todat.
Posted by: Dalton | 16 June 2009 at 14:41
wow, just wow
had no idea this story was so big
Posted by: Too Black, Too Strong | 16 June 2009 at 14:50
I don't think we need to point fingers and say who was right and who was wrong...let's just say that we should all recommitt ourselves to applying pressure to our state, local and federal politicians. And that includes the president....it's obvious we are not going to get our rights unless we fight for them. Some of us did believe it would be easier and okay yes i'll admit some of us believed Obama would do everything when he was ready. Now I see that he may be never be ready, we have to keep his feet to the fire.
Posted by: Harper | 16 June 2009 at 14:59
Hmmmm. It's mighty quiet up n here. You could hear crickets in this post and the Rachel Maddow/Dean post. Where is the usual army of denialists who are ready, willing and able to defend the "fierce advocate"?
It's kinda hard when all the news stations and newspapers are talking about how the gays were bent over and royally fcked, possibly for years, on this brief.
Posted by: GRANT | 16 June 2009 at 21:52
" Where is the usual army of denialists who are ready, willing and able to defend the "fierce advocate"?"
Well, GRANT, you seem to be assuming that all gay people put gay marriage equality at the top of the list of their concerns for the country. That may not be true, GRANT.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 17 June 2009 at 10:06
Black community is Obama's main supporter, and Black community is also Christian oriented and hates LGBT community. Look at what happened at Prop. 8 and DC's marriage act.
This must be a dilemma for Obama -- should I respect my Black folks and the massive Christian voters, or help gay people?
Posted by: Vincent | 18 June 2009 at 08:35