Obama Will Show GLBT His Core Beliefs

[placton]

A US court (Nixon appointee, too) ruled DOMA unconstitutional, despite Obama's defense of this awful act. Now, we will know if he really does have a true belief in rights for our brothers and sisters who supported him in 2004. All he has to do is - NOTHING. Just dont't appeal this wonderful ruling. Let it stand, and say the court has ruled, and I am gonna obey the law. I am most interested in which option the President will choose.

"A U.S. judge in Boston has ruled that a federal gay marriage ban is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define marriage. . . The state had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004. . . The {OBAMA} Justice Department argued the federal government has the right to set eligibility requirements for federal benefits - including requiring that those benefits only go to couples in marriages between a man and a woman."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070804632.html

[Chulanowa]

1. While I like the ruling...

It kinda does set that nasty "State's right" precedent. Now I admit i'm no legal expert, but it seems to me that if it stands, any state could go "Fuck you, marriage is between X and Y!" and there's no recourse from the federal angle.

:shrug:

[polmaven]

5. I think that is exactly what it will do.

The suit was brought by the MA Attorney General to have DOMA overturned. Not to have same sex marriage declared legal everywhere. If this ruling is upheld, FEDERAL benefits will be afforded to all couples who are legally married in any state, according to that state's laws.

It will not mean that all states must allow same sex marriage, nor recognize the marriages of those married in states where it is legal.

[ruggerson]

24. No, this only afffects the constitutionality of DOMA

which is a federal statute.

There can still be lawsuits brought against STATES which ban same sex marriage, which eventually can make it to the USSC on their own merit.

Two entirely separate issues.

[placton]

29. actually it's not a victory for State's Rights

the US Constitution has a "full faith and credit clause" that requires each state to recognize (but not necessarily adopt) the laws of sister states.

[RB TexLa]

2. Actually what he will show is his political will on the issue

[Radical Activist]

3. Won't it have to go to a higher court

for the ruling to apply nationally? Other district courts can still make an opposite ruling until this is settled by the Supreme Court.

[Bluebear]

4. He's only singing one song!

[Ignis]

7. Never gets old, does it?

[Bluebear]

8. Donnie was just the opening act.

:(

[Ignis]

9. It was a better warning of things to come than most of us guessed.

Fool us once, etc.

[Mimosa]

6. It doesn't matter what Obama believes

He knows ultimately this will be settled at SCOTUS level.

The president's personal beliefs are irrelevant.

[Hydra]

10. "The president's personal beliefs are irrelevant. "

Except as they guide policy. The President can guide policy by any number of actions he takes, and one leading to SCOTUS would be...unwise...at the present time. Unless of course, you don't support equality for all, in which case this would be the perfect time to shut the door on it for 30 years.

[Mimosa]

12. He's guided by his last two nominees. *wink*

Remember, the president is not a dictator. ;)

[Hydra]

17. The President may not be a dictator

but he frames the issues, and considering the Roberts Court has legalized corporate bribes as "free speech" I don't have any confidence in your suggestion of sending the issue to SCOTUS...especially since he seems to have some sort of personal distaste for the issue.

[Bluebear]

22. Good thing he is NOT a dictator, whoever "ignored" is. He says marriage is 1 man and 1 woman.

We would be totally out of luck!

[Tesha]

14. This particular issue will only go to the Supreme Court if *HIS* Justice Department appeals it.

Think they will?

Tesha

[LostinVA]

25. Yes.

[Tesha]

31. I am all too sorry to say that you are probably correct.

One more fist in the eye of a key constituency right before the elections.

Tesha

[Tesha]

28. (Posted in wrong place)

[IOKIYAL]

11. When bush was in office, you guys said that the DOJ is separate

from the WH. bush was constantly slammed by the Left for his interference with the DOJ. Now that Obama is in office, those rules don't apply anymore? The DOJ defended the law as it is supposed to do. A law that was NOT put in place by Obama. While Obama says he believes marriage is between a man and a woman, he has NEVER demonized gay marriage or gay people and has taken steps to give them rights DENIED by the last administration. And don't tell me his silence says it all, his silence also means that he has no interest in waging a battle with the gay community. Whatever steps the DOJ takes is the DECISION OF THE DOJ, NOT Obama. Do you understand that? Do you guys remember claiming that the DOJ should be independent?

[asdjrocky]

13. Who is this 'you guys' you always speak of?

[Bluebear]

16. Kind of obvious, ain't he?

[asdjrocky]

19. Too.

This is my second run in with a poster that has a name that attacks liberals.

Too funny DU.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[David Zephyr]

36. Ya think?

Kinda.

[KonaKane]

30. Maybe he means you here at DU.

but don't let me get in the way of a nice segue to a conspiracy....

[LostinVA]

32. Look at the name

[Bluebear]

15. Who is "you guys"?? "bush was constantly slammed by the Left" - sorry about that!

[Tesha]

18. You seem to be confused.

The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice and
he serves at the pleasure of the President.

That means they can be fired at any time.

The Solicitor General (who might be the person to argue this case
before the Supreme COurt) also serves at the pleasure of the President.

Tesha

[ruggerson]

21. then why did Obama step in and issue a WH statement on the Smelt case

when his DOJ revised their brief and took out some of the noxious language the had in there?

[LostinVA]

26. Bingo

[ruggerson]

34. I'm thinking

we won't get a response :hi:

[David Zephyr]

23. Who are the "you guys" you call out? At least, be honest and say "you gays".

Seriously.

[TheWatcher]

27. He was also slammed for being a Giggling Murderer and lying the country into War based on FALSE

EVIDENCE and Intelligence, Illegal Domestic Spying, Torture, and War Crimes.

But I'm SURE you didn't support any of THAT.

:eyes:

[Ohio Joe]

33. K&R

President Obama... Please do the right thing and do not fight this. Equal rights for all!

[stevedeshazer]

35. Good post, rec'd

I haven't seen you post here in a very long time.