Would Obama have signed the Defense of Marriage Act?

[TechBear_Seattle]

President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act on September 21, 1996, as secretly as was possible: very late on a Saturday night, with no ceremony and no cameras. Until this was signed, Clinton had expressed his opposition to the bill; afterwards, he sent Al Gore around the country in an effort to convince the gay community that this was just "political expediency" and that they were not throwing gay people under the bus in an effort to attract religious conservatives in a tight race, please vote for us and give us your time and money. Clinton latter claimed that he felt "obligated" to sign it because it had been passed by so many members of Congress and they would have overturned a veto anyway, never mind that he could have gone on record as opposing bigotry rather than endorsing it, and never mind that overturning a veto is not automatic no matter how many people voted to pass a bill.

President-elect Obama has made no secret of his opposition to equal marriage. He has repeated -- often -- than marriage is between one man and one woman. While he has stated -- often -- that he does not object to civil unions, domestic partnerships and other forms of Jim Crow substitutes, he has never -- not once -- stated that he would support any effort towards equal marriage for same sex couples at the state or federal level.

So my question: Suppose that DOMA had not been passed 12 years ago, but in 2011 by the newly elected Congress. Suppose it had been approved by both the House and the Senate by "veto-proof" margins. It is late September and Obama is running for re-election; the race is looking very tight. What would he do?

Edited to clarify question 8.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Not a fair comparison to either man. It was an election year stunt - right before the election...

to get Bible thumpers to the polls to prop up Bob Dole.

Even Barbara Mikulski voted in favor of the bill.

Under the same circumstances, yes, Obama would have signed it.

[MADem]

2. I can't think of a better, more accurate way than yours to describe the situation.

Quite succinct. Right on the mark. Sums it up perfectly.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. I took pains to create a parallel situation

Read the text :hi: It is September 2011, Obama is running for reelection in a tight race, and Congress has just handed him the newly passed "Defense" of Marriage Act, passed by at least two-thirds of both the House and Senate.

[Captain Hilts]

4. And, yes, he would sign it.

Hi there - Happy New Year!

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. If such a bill were to pass in a Democratic congress

There better be a lot of heads on the chopping block before it gets anywhere NEAR Obama's desk. Including his if he signs it.

And I'm speaking "politically", Agent Mike :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

5. Obama favors its repeal

He opposed the FMA as well. When he has spoken of DOMA, he has made it clear he favors its repeal. Even DOMA's infamous author, Bob Barr, now favors its repeal, and has indicated he agrees with Obama's positions against DOMA.

[closeupready]

10. And you actually believe him when he says that?

:rofl:

[mitchtv]

11. oh sure

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Zomby Woof]

12. He has more credibility than 99.99% of DU

Including yourself.

[JohnnieGordon]

13. Wow, more credibility than 99.99% of other people!

Doesn't sound like a mere mortal to me, sounds more like a deity. Can he walk on water too?

[closeupready]

17. He's a pharoah, actually.

:D

[Zomby Woof]

20. DU is not "other people"

Thank the deity or non-deity of your choice for that. For the general population, my percentage estimate would be far lower.

But your lack of reading comprehension (also typical for much of DU) proves my point. So do the histrionics and reactive B&W "thinking" in this thread (among many others). You muat have a crystal ball to divine Obama's intentions regarding DOMA (although he will be limited by what action Congress may or may not take). I love the CERTAINTY of the ignorant. It's very Palinesque in its arrogance.

DOMA is bad law, and Obama has repeatedly said so. Still, wretched as DOMA is, I am betting that not 1 DUer in 100 can properly explain in a LEGAL context why DOMA is bad law.

[JohnnieGordon]

28. I didn't make any claims about what Obama will do regarding DOMA

I was just commenting on your groveling worship of the man to say he has more credibility than 99.99% of others. DU'ers ARE, in fact, "other people", and I disagree with your assertion that they have any less credibility than the population at large. And calling me "ignorant" is a violation of the TOS, it's embarrassing that you have to fall back on such a weak tactic as name-calling.

[meegbear]

14. So you're the only credible 0.01% here?

Get me some coffee.

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. I believe him when he SAYS it

But I am under no illusions that he will DO anything towards making his words reality.

[closeupready]

18. Yes. Faced with any opposition at all, he will back down. No question about it.

n/t

[Zuiderelle]

19. Yeah, he favors it... someday... maybe... if the timing is right...

and if everyone agrees... and if it's politically expedient.

Otherwise, not so much. He'll just leave it alone.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zuiderelle]

22. No, what I know, Laurin, is that Obama has betrayed the GLBT community.

And I don't expect him to follow through on his "favoring" this or that. He'll leave marriage up to the states, and they'll continue to vote for propositions like the one in your state, and we'll continue to be shafted by our own party.

What we've had enough of for the past 8 years is being betrayed by our own party. I hope that Obama does come through for us in the end. I'll keep hoping he will.

[Richardo]

23. Laurin?

:-\

[Sheets of Easter]

25. The only thing that would make it funnier is if his middle name was Marion.

[Richardo]

26. ...or Evelyn

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IndianaGreen]

6. I frankly don't know what Obama would have done had DOMA been put on his desk

Considering his flirtations with Warren and his ilk, I would not put my faith in Obama to veto the bill.

:scared:

[donco6]

7. I have no doubt, in that situation he would sign it.

Perhaps in a more politically favourable climate, he would not.

[closeupready]

9. Given how completely oblivious he is to concerns of the GLBT Dem community,

I chose, he'd sign it without much fanfare.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

24. I Voted That, Too...

The man is oblivious to our concerns, or if he isn't, he is disdainful of them. I see him having no problem signing this without fanfare.

[sui generis]

15. Would Obama let David Duke speak at his inauguration?

Enough said.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

27. What has that got to do...

with Obama signing the DOMA or not? He's shown that he wants to be all cuddly and friendly with homophobes, so he might as well invite Duke so he can "reach across the aisle":sarcasm:

[The Brethren]

32. Very good point.

[Toasterlad]

29. Of Course He Would. He'd Sign It With a Jaunty Florish, While Humming a Merry Tune.

He will do WHATEVER is politically expedient. And he'll do it happily.

All politicians are panderers, but Obama is an unquestioned master. He knows who's safe to piss off and who isn't.

[TechBear_Seattle]

30. And there, in a nutshell, is our problem

We are safe to piss off. That must be the first thing to change, if we want real change.