Administration evolves even more on same-sex marriage, files legal brief
http://twitter.com/#!/jacobdcombs/status/307277048890675200
Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday that the Obama administration had filed a legal brief encouraging the Supreme Court to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Holder said in a statement:
In our filing today in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the government seeks to vindicate the defining constitutional ideal of equal treatment under the law. Throughout history, we have seen the unjust consequences of decisions and policies rooted in discrimination. The issues before the Supreme Court in this case and the Defense of Marriage Act case are not just important to the tens of thousands Americans who are being denied equal benefits and rights under our laws, but to our nation as a whole.
Holder hinted yesterday that the administration might insert itself into the case, telling ABC News that “this is really the latest civil-rights issue.” In short, the brief argues that tradition cannot justify discrimination against a minority group.
Admin’s Prop 8 brief looks like a sweeping case against the law as unconstitutional. Big news.
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) February 28, 2013
DOJ’s Brief: “Prop 8’s denial of marriage to same-sex couples…. violates equal protection.”
— Andrew Cohen (@CBSAndrew) February 28, 2013
DOJ: “depriving same-sex couples of right to marry,” Prop 8 “denies them the ‘dignity, respect and stature’” accorded opposite-sex couples.
— Andrew Cohen (@CBSAndrew) February 28, 2013
DOJ Prop 8 Brief: “As this Court has observed, laws once thought ‘necessary and proper’ may in fact serve only to oppress.”
— Andrew Cohen (@CBSAndrew) February 28, 2013
DOJ Brief: Prop 8 “does not affect, let alone substantially further, the liberty of people of faith who object to same-sex marriage…”
— Andrew Cohen (@CBSAndrew) February 28, 2013
Admin Prop 8 brief: … DENIES THEM THE “DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND STATURE” ACCORDED SIMILARLY SITUATED OPPOSITE-SEX COUPLES UNDER STATE LAW…
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) February 28, 2013
Admin Prop 8 brief: “… REFERENCE TO TRADITION, NO MATTER HOW LONG ESTABLISHED, CANNOT BY ITSELF JUSTIFY A DISCRIMINATORY LAW …”
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) February 28, 2013
Admin Prop 8 brief:”THE STATE … MUST EXPLAIN WHAT INTERESTS SUPPORTCONTINUING A “TRADITION,” … (cont)
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) February 28, 2013
Admin Prop 8 brief:(cont) ” … WHEN THAT TRADITION IS DEFINED BY A CLASSIFICATION BURDENING A MINORITY GROUP.”
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) February 28, 2013
Admin Prop 8 brief: “PREJUDICE MAY NOT, HOWEVER, BE THE BASIS FOR DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.”
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) February 28, 2013
The filing of the brief was big news to supporters of same-sex marriage, who sent #Prop8 trending.
The #marriageequality fight is about to get BIG. #Prop8 #SupremeCourt
— Brady Begin (@bradybegin) March 1, 2013
As far as civil rights are concerned, Barack Obama has secured his place in history as one of our greatest Presidents. #Prop8
— Chris (@TheOddDominion) February 28, 2013
No ambiguity or technicality relied on in Obama admin’s brief on #prop8. Full defense of same-sex marriage, it seems. #scotus
— Jake Grovum (@jgrovum) February 28, 2013
The United States’ amicus brief on #Prop8 takes a sledgehammer to the anti-gay position. A damn good read so far.
— Matt Ford (@HemlockMartinis) February 28, 2013
Not everyone is so happy to see Obama and his administration evolve.
Obama urges #SCOTUS to go against state’s rights. Lovely. #Prop8 #readyourBible can’t be both Christian and go against Biblical values..
— Keith R. Kingsolver (@keith4gop) February 28, 2013
Millions of CA residents voted to keep marriage between a Man and Woman, while Obama declares their votes unconstitutional. #america #prop8
— Blake Oakey (@BlakeOakey) March 1, 2013
Comments are closed.