President Barack Obama was the first president to include Lesbians, gays and transgenders in his presidential acceptance speech. It seemed for political reasons during the presidential debates, Obama expressed that he was for civil unions, but not for gay marriage. On Friday, Barack appointed a new social secretary, Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay. According to the Washington Post, Bernard has been involved in several gay rights organizations and was a California Finances Consultant for the Obama Campaign.
Two days after Obama appointed Bernard, he said that the administration would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA was passed in 2004 and is a law that bans same-sex marriage. According to Union Leader website, Obama and Attorney General, Eric holder, said that they believe that DOMA "amounts to illegal discrimination". It is great that Barack is coming forward in support of gay marriage. After Obama said this, there has been a lot of controversy. These two changes in the administration have angered many conservatives. In an interview with Newsmax website, Newt Gingrich said that he believes Obama's decision to stop enforcing DOMA could be an impeachable offense.
He feels that Republicans should call for articles of impeachment. He went as far as saying, “Imagine that Governor Palin had become president. Imagine that she had announced that Roe v. Wade in her view was unconstitutional, and therefore the United States government would no longer protect anyone’s right to have an abortion because she personally had decided it should be changed. The news media would have gone crazy. The New York Times would have demanded her impeachment.” Gingrich is taking it way too far. Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of an unlawful activity and can lead to removal of office. Obama has done nothing illegal. It is not common for an administration to not defend a law but it is allowed and it happens occasionally. Barack is standing up for what he believes in and always tries to have the American people's best interest at heart.
1 comment:
The fight for equal rights for people of all types of sexuality is one of the last great frontiers in the ongoing battle for civil rights. Conservatives will likely never support President Obama but at least he is willing to stand up for what he believes in. Another good post on an important topic.
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