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| Monday, May 26, 2008 |
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Candidates on Defense of Marriage Act
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Candidates on Defense of Marriage Act
If DOMA were repealed, every state in the nation would be required to recognize the same-sex marriages contracted in Massachusetts and California.
McCain voted for DOMA in 1996 and has since spoken in favor of it. On July 13, 2004, McCain expressed his support for DOMA on the floor of the Senate: "I supported the Defense of Marriage Act adopted by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1996," he said. "The law neither compels a state to recognize a same-sex marriage from another state, nor does it prohibit states from recognizing such marriages. It simply protects each state's right to choose how it will define marriage."
Also McCain appeared on the "The Ellen Degeneres Show" on May 22, 2008 and said that he believes that heterosexual marriage is unique. "I just believe in the unique status of marriage between man and woman, and I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue."
On the Spot (CNSNews.com) - A sampling of Senate Democrats expressed sharply divergent views yesterday on whether they would support Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) call to "fully repeal" the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which in the wake of this week's California Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage as well as a similar 2003 decision by the high court of Massachusetts, would have the effect of legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she would support Obama's position, while Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Thomas Carper (D-Del.) said they would not. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) expressed surprise that Obama had taken a position in favor of full repeal of DOMA.
The Defense of Marriage Act, signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, protects states from having to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states. Ordinarily, under the "Full Faith and Credit Clause" of the Constitution, states are required to recognize "the public Acts, Records and judicial Proceedings of every other State."
"Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally recognized unions," his campaign Web site says.
Read full article
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