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House Democrats Introduce Bill Aimed at Overturning DOMA
House Democrats are mobilizing around a new bill that would overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman and relieved states of recognizing same-sex marriage performed in other states. Three representatives, including Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the first openly gay man to be elected to Congress as a non-incumbent, introduced their bill, the Respect for Marriage Act, at a news conference this morning.
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In his remarks at the press conference, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said that same-sex couples "have debunked the baseless myth that their marriages would somehow undermine or destroy the institution of marriage. The sky has not fallen, as our opponents had argued it would." The true harm of the law, he said, "is the harm it causes same-sex couples and their families."
The new bill already has 90 co-sponsors, though House leaders are skeptical that the timing is favorable to the cause. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told the Washington Blade that he saw little hope of the law passing "in the near term," and recommended the courts as a better option to overturn DOMA. President Obama has expressed support for repealing the '96 law, but is yet to make any moves toward doing so.
House Dems Take Aim at Marriage Law [The Caucus]
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In his remarks at the press conference, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said that same-sex couples "have debunked the baseless myth that their marriages would somehow undermine or destroy the institution of marriage. The sky has not fallen, as our opponents had argued it would." The true harm of the law, he said, "is the harm it causes same-sex couples and their families."
The new bill already has 90 co-sponsors, though House leaders are skeptical that the timing is favorable to the cause. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told the Washington Blade that he saw little hope of the law passing "in the near term," and recommended the courts as a better option to overturn DOMA. President Obama has expressed support for repealing the '96 law, but is yet to make any moves toward doing so.
House Dems Take Aim at Marriage Law [The Caucus]
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David Sessions
David Sessions is a journalist based in New York who covers politics, religion, and the arts. He is the founding editor of patrolmag.com. ...moreComments (38)
Chris Williams
3:52PM Sep 15th 2009
Although I am a supporter of same-sex marriage, the House is going to have make bolder moves than "aiming" at overturning the DOMA. They face a strong opponent whose opposition is based on belief not fairness or logic. For them to make any real headway, they have to go through this belief and the ignorance and hatred behind it. And all they're doing is aiming? Good luck with that.
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(-6)
(-6) 
thirdpartyvote
4:14PM Sep 15th 2009
Hey when Obama wants to keep jobs here, like he is proposing with the data centers, great. Keep jobs in the USA, but what is with overturning DOMA? WHY?
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(2)
(2) moderate
5:39PM Sep 16th 2009
Because it is a hateful piece of legislation. first, it ignores equality for all, second it violates the separation of church and state. The objections are all religous based hate. Gay marriage does not threaten straight marriage. Let the religous houses decide who they want to marry, do not tell people who they can marry. Most marriages are not religous based, judges, notary, lawyers, are just a few alternatives to make your marriage legal.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
(-1) daballofire
4:22PM Sep 15th 2009
Why? Do House lefties, lead by the whack job Pelosi from San Francisco, think that marriage should only between couples of the same sex? Now they want to piss off all the straights in America again for their kooky sexual preference at 80% of Americans are against?
They are past stupid and nuts and have moved back into self destructive mode again. Good for them but better for the rest of us. We can now go for a constitutional amendment to ban Gay marriage nationwide since it is clear that they will not stop this insanity until we do.
They are past stupid and nuts and have moved back into self destructive mode again. Good for them but better for the rest of us. We can now go for a constitutional amendment to ban Gay marriage nationwide since it is clear that they will not stop this insanity until we do.
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(9)
(9) foreignadaption
8:35PM Sep 18th 2009
"Now they want to piss off all the straights in America again for their kooky sexual preference at 80% of Americans are against?"
I would love to know where these false statistics came from? You mean that %54 of Americans are against it, while %44 are for it, right?
I would love to know where these false statistics came from? You mean that %54 of Americans are against it, while %44 are for it, right?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
(-1) krisb613
4:33PM Sep 15th 2009
The first poster had it right... opposition to gay marriage is not based in fact, intelligence or logic. It's all based on religion and an 'ick' factor that's best left to 5yr olds refusing to eat peas. Allowing gay marriage won't end straight marriage, no one is forcing any churches to perform gay marriages who don't want to, neither insurance nor social security is going to collapse by recognizing gay partnerships... And believe me, just because there are some gay people in the world, doesn't mean that all children exposed to it will become gay. There is not a single, solitary, logical reason to deny gay and lesbian Americans the same rights and protections (as guarenteed by the 14th amendment to the Constitution). If you can come up with ONE, just ONE, non-religious based or ick factor based reason, I would LOVE to hear it.
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(-6) harrell333
8:10PM Sep 15th 2009
krisb,, let's cut to the chase with it.
Gay rights have basically been slammed down the public's throats for the past decade by a very small minority who used to not have a voice at all. The American public graciously (or not) finally caved & accepted that gays have a right to relationships to live as they please.
With that said,, that wasn't good enough & now we have the gay activist outspoken sector of society that want more than recognition. They want to be a part of traditional mainstream America when the majority doesn't want to accept their side of the argument. Marriage in a traditional sense actually means something in parenting & procreationism. It's not the "ick factor" as you so put it although if you take away the glamor of "Will & Grace" & walk into the privacy of two men supposedly betrothed it does take on quite a different meaning far outside of what traditional marriage means to the vast majority of this country.
Why indeed does every single minority segment that has a strong opinion on issues end up grabbing the spotlight to make the rest of the country seem insulated or insensitive to their needs & lifestyles? We,, as the majority simply wish to keep the traditional sanctity of marriage preserved as it's always been.
Change is not always good or acceptable. I personally harbor no ill feelings against anyone who has gay tendencies or wish to live within those parameters. I do however have a strong objection to every single meaningful aspect of our lives being overturned for the sake of those who choose to walk outside the circle.
Again,, it's not the "ick or religious" factor that motivates my personal feelings. It's more to do with "enough is enough" & allowing the majority whose bent over backward accomodating gays to keep what's left of our traditions intact.....
Gay rights have basically been slammed down the public's throats for the past decade by a very small minority who used to not have a voice at all. The American public graciously (or not) finally caved & accepted that gays have a right to relationships to live as they please.
With that said,, that wasn't good enough & now we have the gay activist outspoken sector of society that want more than recognition. They want to be a part of traditional mainstream America when the majority doesn't want to accept their side of the argument. Marriage in a traditional sense actually means something in parenting & procreationism. It's not the "ick factor" as you so put it although if you take away the glamor of "Will & Grace" & walk into the privacy of two men supposedly betrothed it does take on quite a different meaning far outside of what traditional marriage means to the vast majority of this country.
Why indeed does every single minority segment that has a strong opinion on issues end up grabbing the spotlight to make the rest of the country seem insulated or insensitive to their needs & lifestyles? We,, as the majority simply wish to keep the traditional sanctity of marriage preserved as it's always been.
Change is not always good or acceptable. I personally harbor no ill feelings against anyone who has gay tendencies or wish to live within those parameters. I do however have a strong objection to every single meaningful aspect of our lives being overturned for the sake of those who choose to walk outside the circle.
Again,, it's not the "ick or religious" factor that motivates my personal feelings. It's more to do with "enough is enough" & allowing the majority whose bent over backward accomodating gays to keep what's left of our traditions intact.....
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) rkjofficeandy
4:51PM Sep 15th 2009
Democratic logic states that the needs of the few outweight the needs of the many. If marriage is an institution, then why can Democrats destroy 1000s of years of culture and history of this institution for their own selfish wishes. Instead of coming up with an alternate solution, their plan to abominate marriage and force everyone else to change.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) wdfisher57
5:02PM Sep 15th 2009
I want to see the video that promotes homosexuallity to our kids, its likely the next step these perverts will want to push down our throats. On the issue of teh House Democrats wasting valuable legislative sessions dwelling on a trivial at best issue, I'd advise them to get back to the job creation work they have promisd they and the leader Obama we going to create with all those stimulus billions. Failure to do so, will assure that they will be all looking for work next Novemeber.
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(-1) angeldolllogic
6:00PM Sep 15th 2009
I don't know about a video...but there is a book for grammar school aged kids about a gay family of penguins!
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(2) moderate
5:47PM Sep 16th 2009
The book is based on a real life situation at a zoo. It has been observed at several zoos and in the wild. Not an agenda just a fact of life.
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(0)
(0) norfwest
5:08PM Sep 15th 2009
If someone wants to marry another person, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so? Opponents that use the Bible to jusify this sort of discrimination, as usual, pick and choose which parts of that good book to follow. Contained within The Bible are numerous admonishments about judging your fellow man. Yet, and still, they point their finger in disapproval. They'll speak of the Book of Genesis from the Old Testament as an example of punishment for disobeying God. But, they will in the next breath use Adam and Eve to justify their opposition to allowing gays to get "married".
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(-2) HoosierPatriot
5:34PM Sep 15th 2009
.Watch Glenn Beck and see how 2 people exposed ACORN. They were willing to help set up a braufel and bring in underage El Salvadorian girls to work as prostitutes. Under age sex slaves and these people are who this President said were going to help him form his POLICY????????????????????? UNBELIEVABLE AMERICA?????????
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(2) cjjanis001
7:05PM Sep 15th 2009
You a fool ACORN is a national group with thousands of members, two rotten apples mean nothing. Is the REPUBLICAN party all child molesters because Foley was? Beck is a fool and from your spelling I am sure right up your alley.
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(-5) HoosierPatriot
5:39PM Sep 15th 2009
ACORN.........COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS........BRAUFELS WITH UNDER AGE GIRLS...........DEMOCRATS.....SEIU..........OBAMA SUPPORTERS........UNBELIEVABLE................
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(4) cjjanis001
7:06PM Sep 15th 2009
What [...] is a BRAUFELS???? That little button with the check on it, try it some time?
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(-4) pondermom
6:25PM Sep 15th 2009
I thought Repubs wanted big gov out of people's lives...
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(-2) Alwayspissedoff@something
6:28PM Sep 15th 2009
"I thought Repubs wanted big gov out of people's lives..." - wonderingmom
Yeah, and......?
Yeah, and......?
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(1) Evelyn Lorraine
6:52PM Sep 15th 2009
You're clueless, aren't you? Big government has nothing to do with this, dumba$$.
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(5) pondermom
6:36PM Sep 15th 2009
The Dems want to get rid of DOMA and the repubs want to keep it.
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(3)
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