BREAKING: Obama Endorses DOMA Repeal Bill, Respect for Marriage Act, Spokesman Says
Posted by Chris Geidner
July 19, 2011 3:15 PM
http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/07/obama-endorses-doma-repeal-bil.html (http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/07/obama-endorses-doma-repeal-bil.html)
White House press secretary Jay Carney announced today that President Barack Obama supports the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act that will have its first Senate hearing on July 20. In response to a question from Metro Weekly, Carney said Obama is "proud to support" the bill that "would take DOMA off the books once and for all."
[...]
Carney: I can tell you that the President has long called for a legislative repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which continues to have a real impact on the lives of real people -- our families, friends and neighbors. He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act, introduced by Sen. Feinstein and Congressman [Jerrold] Nadler [(D-N.Y.)], which would take DOMA off the books once and for all. This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.
Signing DOMA is the one thing that I will remember most about former President Clinton - not what he did with a cigar!