California Family Minute

Seldom does the phrase, “As California goes, so goes the country,” have such immediate consequences. On Wednesday morning of this week, President Barack Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the U.S. Department of Justice would no longer defend Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Passed by overwhelming majorities in both houses of Congress, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996. DOMA’s Section 3 defined marriage, for federal purposes, as only between a man and woman. 

In keeping with California’s former governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former attorney general and now governor, Jerry Brown, and newly elected state Attorney General Kamala Harris, the U.S. government is not willing to represent its people in the defense of traditional marriage. 31 states have defined marriage as only between a man and a woman, and that definition is established law, leading to the vast majority of court decisions confirming traditional marriage. But none of that matters to the president.

For more information, go to Focus on the Family’s Citizenlink Web site

I think we must also ask ourselves the timing and purpose behind President Obama’s release of his opposition to DOMA. Of course, it is critically important for the U.S. Congress to now respond to the president’s unwillingness to defend traditional marriage, and for the American people to contact their congressmen with their opinions. Yet at the same time, this will take some of the attention away from other pressing issues, such as an imminent vote in the Senate on the funding of Planned Parenthood, and the ongoing budget battles.

President Obama publicly stated 15 years ago when campaigning for the role of Illinois State Senator, that he favors homosexual marriage and “would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” He contradicted himself in 2008 when interviewed by Pastor Rick Warren, and then last year informed a group of bloggers that his opposition to homosexual marriage is not set in stone and that his attitude is evolving. Excuse me, Mr. President, but I think you mean to say that your attitude is dependent on your audience.

In closing, please go to CFC’s online legislative information page to keep abreast of the California legislation we are most closely watching for you. And if you’re able to help us continue our work with a financial donation, please click here to make a secure online gift.