David Mixner Talks to MSNBC's Thomas Roberts About Bill Clinton's DOMA Reversal: VIDEO

Political strategist and longtime activist David Mixner joined Thomas Roberts on MSNBC today to talk about former President Bill Clinton's op-ed urging the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA, which he signed into law in 1996.

Mixner said that while he welcomes Clinton's decision to do so, it's important to not rewrite history and sweep his original actions under the rug. Mixner also talks about the upcoming SCOTUS decisions.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Socarides: Why Bill Clinton Signed DOMA

Richard Socarides, who was Clinton's aide on LGBT issues in 1996 when the Defense of Marriage Act was signed, writes about Clinton's journey on gay rights issues, and why he signed the discriminatory law.

Writes Socarides, in part:

Inside the White House, there was a genuine belief that if the President vetoed the Defense of Marriage Act, his reëlection could be in jeopardy. There was a heated debate about whether this was a realistic assessment, but it became clear that the President’s chief political advisers were not willing to take any chances. Some in the White House pointed out that DOMA, once enacted, would have no immediate practical effect on anyone—there were no state-sanctioned same-sex marriages then for the federal government to ignore. I remember a Presidential adviser saying that he was not about to risk a second term on a veto, however noble, that wouldn’t change a single thing nor make a single person’s life better.

What we didn’t fully comprehend was that, sooner than anyone imagined, there would be thousands of families who would be harmed by DOMA—denied federal benefits, recognition, and security, or kept apart by immigration laws.

During the campaign season, Clinton would sometimes complain publicly about how the Republicans were using the marriage issue against him. He said, derisively, that it was “hardly a problem that is sweeping the country” and his press secretary called it “gay baiting, pure and simple.” And that September, when the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, President Clinton signed it.

There are no pictures of this occasion—no pens that were saved. My advice to the people who arranged for these things was to get it done and out of the way as quickly as possible; he signed it late at night one evening after returning from a day-long campaign trip...

Read the full piece HERE.

Related...
Bill Clinton, Who Signed DOMA into Law in 1996, Calls on Supreme Court to Overturn It [tlrd]

Bill Clinton, Who Signed DOMA into Law in 1996, Calls on Supreme Court to Overturn It

Former President Bill Clinton, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law in 1996, calls on the Supreme Court to overturn it in a Washington Post editorial. He writes, in part:

In 1996, I signed the Defense of Marriage Act. Although that was only 17 years ago, it was a very different time. In no state in the union was same-sex marriage recognized, much less available as a legal right, but some were moving in that direction. Washington, as a result, was swirling with all manner of possible responses, some quite draconian. As a bipartisan group of former senators stated in their March 1 amicus brief to the Supreme Court, many supporters of the bill known as DOMA believed that its passage “would defuse a movement to enact a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which would have ended the debate for a generation or more.” It was under these circumstances that DOMA came to my desk, opposed by only 81 of the 535 members of Congress.

...

When I signed the bill, I included a statement with the admonition that “enactment of this legislation should not, despite the fierce and at times divisive rhetoric surrounding it, be understood to provide an excuse for discrimination.” Reading those words today, I know now that, even worse than providing an excuse for discrimination, the law is itself discriminatory. It should be overturned.

Arguments will be made before SCOTUS to do so on March 27.

Frank Bruni on The Clintons, DOMA, and LGBT Equality: VIDEO

NYT columnist Frank Bruni talks about his op-ed last weekend in which he called on Bill Clinton to make greater amends for DOMA, calling it "strange" and "sad" that the Clintons are not "at the epicenter" of progressive pride over recent strides toward equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via good as you)

News: Jovan Belcher, Hoverboard, Frank Bruni, Drones

Model Renato Seabra was found guilty of murdering and mutilating journalist Carlos Castro in January of 2011. He will be sentenced December 21.

A detailed review of Mattel's so-called hoverboard.

The New York Times' Frank Bruni to Bill Clinton: "...DOMA, which says that the federal government recognizes only marriages of a man and a woman, is one of the uglier blemishes on your record, an act of indisputable discrimination that codified unequal treatment of gay men and lesbians and, in doing so, validated the views of Americans who see us as lesser people. If our most committed, heartfelt relationships don’t measure up, then neither do we. If how we love is suspect, then so is who we are. No two ways to interpret that. No other conclusion to be drawn"

Watch Adam Lambert's performance from the Mnet Asian Music Awards.

Florida tossed out Christian Slater's vote because his signature didn't match the one they had on file.

Boy Meets World actress Danielle Fishel does Lindsay Lohan doing Elizabeth Taylor.

Tom Daley and his mama hit the town.

The Rabbinical Council of America has come out against "ex-gay" reparative therapy.

Get excited for Jonny Pierce from The Drums' solo album.

I got a chance to talk with Darren G. Davis about Lost Raven, the graphic novel he wrote about coming to terms with his HIV positive status. I'd love for you to read it.

Police confirm that Kansas City Chiefs' linebacker Jovan Belcher, 25, fatally shot his girlfriend and then, despite his coach and others' attempts to calm him down, he shot himself. "[His coach, general manager and others were] standing outside and appeared to be talking to him. It appeared they were talking to the suspect," said police. "The suspect began to walk in the opposite direction of the coaches and the officers and that's when they heard the gunshot. It appears he took his own life."

Despite some architectural activists' efforts, an apartment complex where JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald will be torn down. "We're not just losing a piece of fundamental history to Dallas related to the assassination, we're also losing a piece of fundamental architecture to this area," said the building's owner.

US drones keep crashing at civilian airports overseas. "A review of thousands of pages of unclassified Air Force investigation reports, obtained by The Washington Post under public-records requests, shows that drones flying from civilian airports have been plagued by setbacks. Among the problems repeatedly cited are pilot error, mechanical failure, software bugs in the 'brains' of the aircraft and poor coordination with civilian air-traffic controllers."

The Salvation Army continues to deny it endorses hateful anti-gay politics and rhetoric, despite evidence that says otherwise.

Hillary Clinton compares her ever-changing hairstyles to the "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers."

Sally Field spoke with Oprah about raising a gay son, our very own Sam Greisman.

Edie Windsor, 83, says she just wants to be alive when DOMA's overturned.

Bruce Springsteen Sings For Obama And Bill Clinton Jabs Romney In Ohio: VIDEO

Bruce Springsteen headed to the swing state of Ohio for an Obama campaign rally, and he was literally singing the president's praises.

After being introduced by Bill Clinton, the Boss sang a song he wrote specifically for the commander-in-chief, which was easier said than done, he explained. Obama's name doesn't have too many rhymes, so Springsteen ended up going with "mama" and then "Let's vote for the man who got Osama".

Obama's official campaign slogan, "Forward" also proved a rhythmic struggle, so to make sure it was included, Springsteen had the crowd yell "Forward" after every line.

Here's a sample from CNN:

I came to Ohio lookin' for a date
Forward!
We kissed and I said it's a helluva state
Forward!
We made love but it wasn't so great
Forward!
Forward, and away we go
Smilin' Joe, he really brought the drama
Forward!
Tuesday, Romney was schooled by Obama

Springsteen originally said that he would not get involved in this election, but changed his mind because his career is based on songs "about the distance between the American dream and the American reality" and he feels he owes it to the president, the man he thinks can bridge those gaps, to join the White House fight.

Clinton seemed tickled to be introducing Springsteen, telling the crowd, "This is the first time in my life I ever got to be the warm-up act for Bruce Springsteen. I am qualified, because I was born in the USA -- and unlike one of the candidates for president, I keep all my money here."

I've included video of Springsteen strumming and Clinton jabbing Romney's "jobs guy" persona AFTER THE JUMP.