Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich recently slammed the Obama administration for declining to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. Gingrich, in a television interview, said that the decision not to defend the law in court meant that “Obama law” had gained prominence over constitutional law. The law is still in effect.
Gingrich cries constitutional crisis, but law is still in effect
Social conservatives are up in arms over a recent decision by the Obama administration and the Justice Department to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, in federal court cases. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich appeared on television and went on a tear concerning the decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act in court, according to ABC. Gingrich said that “the rule of law” had been supplanted by “Obama law,” and he implied a constitutional crisis was at hand, though he declined to mention that the decision to not defend the law was based on constitutional grounds. He furthered the point that had Sarah Palin been elected, she would be up for impeachment.
Mixed reaction
The reaction by conservative members of Congress has been harsh, though not universal. A spokesperson for current Speaker John Boehner (R – Ohio) criticized Obama for focusing on a divisive issue rather than economic issues such as unemployment and fiscal policy, which the American people consider a higher priority, according to the Washington Post. Eric Cantor (R-Vir.), the House Majority Whip, is said to be looking into legislative solutions, such as perhaps reducing funding to the Justice Department.
Controversy faces presidential hopefuls
The loudest responses have come from people possibly looking to launch a campaign for the presidency in 2012, including Newt Gingrich. Former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney said the President Obama and Eric Holder’s decision to stop defending DOMA was a mistake, according to ABC. Other potential candidates Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty said they were disappointed, and former Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum said that a more vigorous defense of “traditional marriage” was necessary. Santorum was vilified in his last term as a Senator for making statements that were interpreted as being bigoted against homosexuals.
Sources
ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/critics-slam-obama-doma-decision-newt-gingrich-calls/story?id=12992207&page=1
ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/social-conservatives-vow-defend-doma-pressure-obama/story?id=13000776&page=2
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022502503.html
Connect
Do you have a fantastic idea related to this article, but just don't have the money you need to start your own company or side-business? Get the loans you need from https://personalmoneynetwork.com to help get your new company underway, from the small loan professionals at PersonalMoneyNetwork.
