Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident talks about weighing in on Prop 8 challenge
Last edited Sat Mar 2, 2013, 10:01 AM - Edit history (1)
QUESTION: Mr. President, your administration weighed in yesterday on the Proposition 8 case. A few months ago it looked like you might be averse to doing that . . .
OBAMA: As everybody here knows, last year upon a long period of reflection, I concluded that we cannot discriminate against same-sex couples when it comes to marriage, that the basic principle that America is founded on, the idea that were all created equal, applies to everybody regardless of sexual orientation, as well as race or gender or religion or ethnicity.
And, you know, I think that the same evolution that Ive gone through is an evolution that the country as a whole has gone through. And I think it is a profoundly positive thing. So that when the Supreme Court essentially called the question by taking this case about Californias law, I didnt feel like that was something that this administration could avoid. I felt it was important for us to articulate what I believe and what this administration stands for.
And although I do think that were seeing on a state-by-state basis progress being made, more and more states recognizing same-sex couples and giving them the opportunity to marry and maintain all the benefits of marriage that heterosexual couples do. When the Supreme Court asks do you think that the California law, which doesnt provide any rationale for discriminating against same-sex couples other than just the notion that, well, theyre same-sex couples -- if the Supreme Court asks me or my attorney general or solicitor general, Do we think that meets constitutional muster?, I felt it was important for us to answer that question honestly. And the answer is no.
----------------
. . . thats an argument that I make, personally. The solicitor general, in his institutional role going before the Supreme Court, is obliged to answer the specific question before them. And the specific question presented before the court right now is whether Prop 8 and the California law is unconstitutional.
And what weve done is, weve put forward a basic principle, which is -- which applies to all equal protection cases. Whenever a particular group is being discriminated against, the Court asks the question, Whats the rational for this? And it better be a good reason. And if you dont have a good reason, were going to strike it down.
And what weve said is, is that same-sex couples are a group, a class that deserves heightened scrutiny, that the Supreme Court needs to ask the state why its doing it, and if the state doesnt have a good reason, it should be struck down. Thats the core principle, as applied to this case. Now, what the -- you know, the Court may decide that if it doesnt apply in this case, it probably cant apply in any case. There -- theres no good reason for it. Thats -- if I were on the Court, thatd probably be the view that Id put forward. But -- but Im not a judge, Im the president.
So the basic principle, though, is lets treat everybody fairly. Lets treat everybody equally. And -- and -- and, I think, that the brief thats been presented accurately reflects our views.
read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obamas-news-conference-on-the-sequester-and-funding-cuts-transcript/2013/03/01/6dca0d8c-8290-11e2-a350-49866afab584_print.html
watch:
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
1 replies, 505 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
President talks about weighing in on Prop 8 challenge (Original Post)
bigtree
Mar 2013
OP
bigtree
(85,998 posts)1. update: video of presser