TAKE ACTION: Obama Defends DOMA: From Equality California

[and-justice-for-all]

President Obama had a chance to take a strong stance against the Defense of Marriage Act – and he blew it, going back on his promise to repeal the discriminatory law.

In a recent California Federal Court challenge filed by a couple married in California, President Obama's Justice Department filed a brief supporting DOMA and justifying discrimination in government benefits against legally married same-sex couples.

Enough is enough.

Demand that President Obama stop defending DOMA and instruct the Department of Justice to take any and all actions to support its repeal.

Demand President Obama push for complete equality for LGBT Americans, as he promised during his campaign.

We have been promised too much and have waited too long.

Send a letter using EQCA’s Action Center and it will be delivered immediately to President Obama.

www.eqca.org/takeaction

President Obama has let us down. He can still fix this mistake, but he must act fast. Make sure he knows you want full equality now.

[Cant trust em]

1. "He can still fix this mistake, but he must act fast. "

I'm happy that they included this line. We need to hold him accountable, but I don't think that includes jumping the shark.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Sending letters is a very good idea,

and I'll join you in sending one.

But, be very clear - this is done under Obama's imprimatur, that is true, but it is the result of the Bush appointees at the DOJ, the graduates of Liberty University Law School who are safely lodged in the civil service jobs.

It takes time to get these things cleaned out, and Holder just hasn't had enough time. They probably started working on this brief eight or nine months ago .........

[LooseWilly]

3. If Holder were busy with Bush Admin. investigations, that would be one thing.

As it stands now, what's he so busy with? He didn't catch this one... and he gets no pass from me. And neither does Obama.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Uh.........

The job of AG is a very demanding one. I don't think he gets to pick and choose what he does right now, coming in on top of an eight-year clusterfuck at DOJ.

No, they should shouldn't get passes, nor am I suggesting that they do. It's just good for people to know how things work in our Federal government. For instance, your implied assertion that the AG just takes over the job and does what you want him to do. That's kind of funny, when you consider the composition of the DOJ. Take a look at how it works, and you'll be really impressed that they get anything done, ever.....................

[LooseWilly]

5. Ok, I'll admit to no wonky knowledge of how a law firm works.

And I'll even stipulate as to the usefulness of a nominally, at least, independent DoJ.

That said... I can't imagine that, in cases where cases defending laws from suits by citizens, that the DoJ would not consult the White House to determine how these laws are being interpreted in terms of a given administration's policy priorities.

It would be one thing, if it were a law that has a long history of precedents... and if the challenge to the law didn't involve a complete shift in the legal "background" within which it is being offered. However, as the legal context of DOMA has shifted, now that same sex marriage is legal in a number of states... the idea that Holder wouldn't've been contacted to see how the DoJ wanted to approach this case seems ridiculous to me. And the idea that Obama was too busy to respond if Holder left him a message regarding policy in relation to which Obama made several political speeches, also seems ludicrous to me. Add in the continuing public outcries... and Rachel Maddow now regularly referring to Obama as the "Fierce Advocate"... and I can't imagine that no one would think to re-consider this lawyer's line of argumentation going into this case.

If I were to take your interpretation of the issue to heart, I would find myself convinced that lawyers in the DoJ can argue however they want to any case that they get... and that odds are slim that the AG will ever notice... and that model of the DoJ just doesn't seem like one that would be allowed to go on in a political town like DC.

On the other hand... if Obama/Holder had given the green light to defend the law... a lawyer who had been appointed by W's people would likely have come up with a Michael Steele inspired defense, as indeed was the case... so logically, I must conclude that Obama & Holder (as his proxy) have just pissed on a segment of the "base" and flouted his campaign promises to that constituency.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. The Department of Justice

is not a law firm. Not even remotely like a law firm.

It's a government agency, operating with all the advantages and disadvantages of that status.

[LooseWilly]

8. Heh... ok. That doesn't change my lack of wonky knowledge.

If you are trying to suggest that I should imagine the DoJ to be like the DMV... and that I should expect the lawyers of the DoJ to be no more likely to check their "in-boxes" for memos &/or to "happen to remember" changes in policy directives... well then I would at the very least expect to have heard a statement from the White House by now... but all I'm hearing about is DoJ lawyers defending the briefs.

I think I'll go back to breaking whatever laws seem inconvenient to me. If they're that incompetent... and they're the "big leagues"... well then, they'll never catch me... bwahahaha :evilgrin:

[G_j]

7. K&R