BREAKING: House Republicans Drop DOMA Defense

[William769]

Source: The Advocate

Nearly a month after a decisive ruling from the Supreme Court declaring a key section of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, the Republican-led congressional committee that's been defending the law in court announced today that it is abandoning its support for DOMA and legislation like it around the country.

Lawyers for the Republican-led House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group announced Thursday that in light of the June 26 Supreme Court ruling in Windsor v. U.S., they are withdrawing their legal defense of DOMA, according to BuzzFeed's Chris Geidner.

The announcement came as part of BLAG's latest filing in a federal case from Massachusetts that challenges the constitutionality of the military's statutory definition of spouse as "a person of the opposite sex" in Title 38 of the U.S. Code. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued Wednesday that the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA effectively decides the case in favor of their clients — a lesbian judge advocate general, Maj. Shannon McLaughlin, and her wife, Casey, — in the case brought by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Chadbourne & Park.

"The Supreme Court recently resolved the issue of DOMA Section 3’s constitutionality," wrote BLAG's attorneys, according to Geidner. "While the question of whether 38 U.S.C. § 101(3), (31) is constitutional remains open, the House has determined, in light of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Windsor, that it no longer will defend that statute. Accordingly, the House now seeks leave to withdraw as a party defendant."



Read more: http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/07/18/house-republicans-drop-doma-defense

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He doesn't look like a happy camper.

Maybe now the rest of that law will go the way section 3 did.

[msanthrope]

1. We need a total on the legal fees already incurred. nt

[Mr. David]

7. Yep, payable to the U.S. Treasury only from Republican sources.

And no taxpayers dollars are touched.

The people of the United States should sic the awful creditors after them, bothering them day and night until every single dime is repaid back to the coffers.

[harrose]

17. I think we should have every Republican in the country

write a check. Heck, call it a "stupidity tax."

[pinto]

19. Great point about the $'s the Repub House spent on this.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. When Boehner is unhappy.......well, you know the rest!

I am happy.

This is good news.

[William769]

5. Yes it is.

[Plucketeer]

15. News Flash!

DOMA dropped by DUMBAH (Dumb A** H***s)

[rurallib]

3. Mr. Boehner, can I have a refund on the money wasted

on this and the fucking ridiculous votes on Obamacare?

[onehandle]

4. Dear Fundies, Drop Dead. Love, The GOP. P.S. Please don't go third party. nt

[rhett o rick]

6. So are we waiting for a ruling from the Massachusetts court as to the Constitutionality

of the remaining parts of DOMA? Is the hearing underway or scheduled?

[William769]

8. I'm not sure.

I'm trying to fond out now.

[Iliyah]

9. This American taxpayer want

to be reimbursed, NOW!

[Blue Owl]

10. Sarah Palin's Freedom Party is now responsible for suppressing your rights.

n/t

[Cha]

11. I'm glad it finally seeped into their collective head that

it's a waste of time to defend that stupid law that's "Unconstitutional".

mahalo William

[hrmjustin]

12. K&R!

[Ohio Joe]

13. That asshole may not look like a happy camper but...

It makes me happy to see that face look like that

Awesome news, another step towards equality

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Okay folks. That's it. The bastards have conceded defeat....

WE WON ANOTHER ONE.

[William769]

16. I love that smiley!

May I borrow it?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. Why not? I found it. ;-)

[calimary]

22. Not so fast.

We women thought our right to choose was protected, too, with Roe v Wade back in the 70's. Done. Over. We won. That was that. Everybody go home. Not by a long shot.

Just because they've conceded defeat - for now - doesn't mean they won't come roaring back with their second thoughts flowered and bearing fruit. They're just gonna go underground for awhile. But it doesn't mean that they have come around in their own attitudes. Don't assume that one for a NANOSECOND!!! They still think it's wrong but they're picking their fights at the moment. Those who resolutely embrace Dark-Ages thinking WILL try to figure out a way back. Especially with many of them also embracing extremist religiosity. They still think God is on their side. So they'll be back someday, stirring it up, trying to change or modify public opinion, using Bible-thumping as their favorite weapon.

There will ALWAYS be people like this, trying to destroy what supporters of marriage equality have worked so hard to build - heck, trying to destroy ANY progress that advocates of tolerance and open-mindedness have worked so hard to build. They lie in wait. Remember the warning Mad Eye Moody gave Harry Potter: "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!!"

Don't take the ground you've gained for granted.

[William769]

24. I think your missing the point.

I like many in the LGBT community never take anything for granted.

The real story here is that they are dropping their suit on DOMA altogether. Thats huge! There is nothing standing in the way of getting rid of sections 1 & 2 now, thats the real story.

And as far as I can see there is nothing similar to Roe v Wade & this law.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. I agree with calimary, not with you.

Being cavalier is not going to secure anything, our work is not done and those of you who want us to lose traction to please certain bigots you dig can just bite me.
Feb 2011- DOJ finally stops defending DOMA. Two years later, House Republicans do the same. 'Our side' was defending it not that long ago, with your friends on DU urging delay and claiming it 'had to wait' your friends Bill.
May 2012- Obama stops saying this: "I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. For me as a Christian, it is a sacred union. You know, God is in the mix." And utters a few begrudging words of semi support for equality. So that's been 14 months of 'support' after years of telling us God joins him in hating us.
Our 'staunch supporters' were calling us profane and hated by God less than 2 years ago and defending DOMA in terms that were seriously trashy and uncalled for,
She's right. Until we have a license in hand in 50 states, she is correct.

[William769]

35. You have you opinion, I have mine.

I am not unforgiving.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

31. They float stuff that's rejected....

There was a Repug congresswoman who claimed they should repeal a women's right to vote.

How?

By her ability to vote away her ability to vote.

[titanicdave]

18. Alright Boner

er, I mean Boehner.........you can start crying now..........you jackass

[calimary]

23. Welcome to DU, titanicdave!

Glad you're here! Sometimes we do just need to be exultant. But as I posted earlier here - don't ANYBODY take this win for granted!!! There's still a loathesome pool of backsliders ready to obstruct and roll back any progress we make.

[RC]

20. Shouldn't that be, "Broken House Republicans..."

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. Bill - is this finally the end of it?

[William769]

25. At the Federal level? pretty much looks like it.

Now the States don't have a leg to stand on in defending State Unconstitutional laws. The repubs at the federal level have basically hung them out to dry.

There have been so many law suits on the State level since June 26th, I have lost count. Will they all end up at the Supreme court? Probably but the writing is on the wall. I wrote on June 26th that we will have marriage equality in all 50 States within five years. I am sure of it now.

[Ruby the Liberal]

26. What a blessing!

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Reading your post, I just felt like a 50 pound weight came off my chest.

[William769]

27. it may be to late for me

But not for many others.

Not only do we have many in the LGBT community to thank for this but people like you (and there are many) that stood in solidarity with us.

[Ruby the Liberal]

28. It is NEVER too late, Bill.

[William769]

29. My armour is tarnished (I'm sure you know what I mean).

I had the love of my life, even though he is gone now but not forgotten, he fulfilled my life. It's time to pass on the torch to the new generation.

But I appreciate what you said.

[Ruby the Liberal]

30. You know David is smiling right now

knowing what the future looks like.

And yes, I know what you mean - but remember not to close doors in advance...

[Crowman1979]

33. I want to say this to Boehner:

[progressoid]

36. Whaaa???

[blkmusclmachine]

37. NOM to the rescue.

[AndyA]

38. How many millions of taxpayer dollars have the Republicans wasted on defending DOMA?

Assholes.

[roamer65]

39. This ought to pour gas on the infighting.

The fundamentalist sect of the party is gonna go ballistic on this one.