Barack Obama once again steps out and demands that the government stay out of the personal lives of its citizens. Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama has ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage for federal purposes as only between a man and woman, according to a statement Wednesday from Attorney General Eric Holder. “The president has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny,” Holder said. The key provision in the law “fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional.” “Given that conclusion, the president has instructed the (Justice Department) not to defend the statute” in two pending cases in New York, Holder said. “I fully concur with the president’s determination.” Obama has previously expressed his personal opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act but had never stated an opinion relating to its constitutionality. The administration had a March 11 deadline to respond to two lawsuits against the measure in New York. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — which includes New York — is the only federal circuit to have never decided the basic legal question of whether a law discriminates against gay men and lesbians. Republicans immediately ripped the White House’s decision, calling it a distraction at a time when they said the focus needs to be on the economy. But leave it to the Republicans to find a way to hate. Speaker of The House John Boehner’s rep says: “While Americans want Washington to focus on creating jobs and cutting spending,the president will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation,” Rep. Lamar Smith said that Obama’s plea is a: “…transparent attempt to shirk the (Justice) Department’s duty to defend the laws passed by Congress. This is the real politicization of the Justice Department — when the personal views of the president override the government’s duty to defend the law of the land,” Surprise, surprise… Source

View original post here:
President Obama Orders The Justice Department To Stop Using The Defense Of Marriage Act To Halt Gay Unions