The Washington Post reports that, though there has been no official statement from the Tea Partyregarding the recent striking down of the Defense of Marriage Act because of the party's wish to remain fiscally and not socially focused, many of its members support the court's decision:
"The silence is by design, activists with the loosely affiliated movement said, because it is held together by an exclusive focus on fiscal matters and its avoidance of divisive social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Privately, though, many said they back the decision because it emphasizes the legal philosophy of states' rights...'I do think it's a state's right,' said Phillip Dennis, Texas state coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots. The group does not take a position on social issues, he said, but personally, 'I believe that if the people in Massachusetts want gay people to get married, then they should allow it, just as people in Utah do not support abortion. They should have the right to vote against that.'
Everett Wilkinson, state director for the Florida Tea Party Patriots, agreed: 'On the issue [of gay marriage] itself, we have no stance, but any time a state's rights or powers are encouraged over the federal government, it is a good thing.'"
Posted Jul. 13,2010 at 8:24 AM EST by
If only someone could persuade the Obama that he doesn't have to be afraid of supporting gay marriage. The pressure that was put on Bill Clinton would not be put on him.
It's 2010 not 1996.
Posted by: Jeff | Jul 13, 2010 9:53:43 AM
States are required to recognize marriages performed in other States. The Tea Party position would be to strike down the Loving case (which legalized interracial marriage) and to allow interracial couples to be married in states that recognize them.
However, it would be interesting if people could go to states that provide marriage equality, get federal benefits (such as federal tax filing status), but not be able to get state benefits or recognition.
It is the reverse that is the status quo. People married in DC can get DC tax breaks but not federal tax breaks because of DOMA.
Posted by: Charlie | Jul 13, 2010 10:19:07 AM
Ha! Obama: more bigoted than the tea partiers. Now that's change we can believe in!
Posted by: gaylib | Jul 13, 2010 11:30:46 AM
Loving was won under the 15th amendment, which bars state discrimination based on race.
Posted by: anon | Jul 13, 2010 12:17:57 PM
@ GAYLIB
The president does not support DOMA, dumbass.
Department of Justice Spokesperson Terry Schmaler:
“The president has said he wants to see a legislative repeal of DOMA because it prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits"
Please do your homework before you comment; and yes the DOJ must defend federal law in court; we don't want a heavily politicized DOJ like we had under the Bush administration. If Congress passes a law repealing DOMA or more likely the Supreme Court upholds the Boston Federal court's ruling that it is unconstitutional then the DOJ won't have to defend the terrible law in court.
You should go join a tea party; you're no different, just a far left wing fringe version of it.
And by the way, Glenn Beck (the titular leader of the Tea Party movement) railed against Obama for him urging Congress to repeal DOMA. He is an extreme far right wing CHRISTIAN (Mormon) conservative.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Jul 13, 2010 12:42:19 PM
@ Brian in Texas. Does it mean that the Tea Party is better on this issue then the Democractic Party itself? Cause the Democrats have controlled both House since like 2006 and they haven't given a shit about us, except for our wallets.
Posted by: name: | Jul 13, 2010 2:01:08 PM
fuck you brian. I'm more informed then your zombie ass will ever be. Obama does NOT have to appeal the DOMA ruling (go do YOUR homework) and congress is NEVER going to repeal DOMA (do you really think they're ever going to have majorities this big again???). And if Obama doesn't support DOMA,his inaction on spearheading repeal, along with his DOJ's consistent defense of the policy, sure tell a different story. Here's a clue, just because someone says something, doesn't mean its true. You're pathetic regurgitation of Obot talking points is only surpassed by your profound gullibility.
Posted by: gaylib | Jul 13, 2010 2:03:50 PM
Not all democrats think the same. When you have a big tent party/large majorities as the democrats do you will obviously have representatives and senators who are from more conservative districts and states. In order to keep their seats and reflect the views of their constituents they can't vote positively for every progressive bill or else they will be voted out and replaced by a right wing conservative republican.
It's going to take the mood to change in the country not just a simple majority in congress to repeal DOMA and legislate other gay rights initiatives. Our best bet is the Supreme Court ruling it unconstitutional.
Politics is the art of the possible and not letting the good be the enemy of the perfect. We've moved further as far as gay rights goes than we ever have in history. It's not enough until we are FULL citizens with FULL rights, but I'm positive that we will continue to see more change.
So GAYLIB you take a page from the Tea Party and republican playbook and assume that the President and his administration are lying or being deceptive in some way. If you come to the discussion and just flat out accuse the other of lying then that ends debate. You can't argue about facts. You sound like a whiny child who will scream and kick until he gets everything he wants RIGHT NOW! I feel sorry for you that you have that kind of negative outlook on things.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Jul 13, 2010 2:38:53 PM
GAYLIB Still sucking Clinton's dick stupid BITCH...Don't worry gurl I know you're still hoping for Hillary to carry you away..But she isn't BITCH ASS FAG!!!
GET OVER YOURSELF YOU TEA PARTY COCKSUCKER!
Posted by: Bruski | Jul 14, 2010 6:57:50 AM