WaPo's WhoRunsGov: DoJ reaches out to gays.

[SirNitram]

Link

The Obama Justice Department has reached out to major gay rights organizations and scheduled a private meeting for next week with the groups, in an apparent effort to smooth over tensions in the wake of the controversy over the administration’s defense in court of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Tracy Russo, a spokesperson for Justice, confirmed the meeting to me, after I posted below that top gay rights lawyers were miffed that administration lawyers had rebuffed their requests to meet and discuss ongoing litigation involving DOMA.

At the meeting — which hasn’t been announced and is expected to include leading gay rights groups like GLAD and Lambda Legal — both sides are expected to hash out how to proceed with pending DOMA cases.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the meeting will achieve in a long term sense what gay rights lawyers told me they were and are looking for — an ongoing, less-confrontational interaction with the administration in the context of specific cases. It’s also an open question whether the meeting will resolve broader tensions in what has been an unexpectedly rocky relationship.

Nonetheless, this is likely to be greeted as a step forward by gay activists who have been raising questions about the administration’s commitment to their cause.

I continue my opinion that the only thing the DoJ could've done better was use a person who is not a Loyal Bushie, and who wouldn't write such a hate-filled bigot brief, but this might set a new course. We'll see. I expect Reid to continue to bat all repeals of DOMA and DADT back, whining that Obama should do it administratively.

[D.Turtle]

The best thing that can happen to the Democrats is that Reid loses his election in 2010 and they get a new Majority Leader. That guy is the biggest ally the Republicans have in the Senate. He has no spine at all and is constantly letting himself be pushed around by the Republicans. Just look at the whole Health Care debate...

[The Original Nex]

The best thing that can happen to the Democrats is that Reid loses his election in 2010 and they get a new Majority Leader. That guy is the biggest ally the Republicans have in the Senate. He has no spine at all and is constantly letting himself be pushed around by the Republicans. Just look at the whole Health Care debate...

I don't think it's so much a lack of spine on Reid's part as it is the fact that Reid is NOT a progressive senator, and doesn't actually WANT progressive initiatives to pass. He was just endorsed by dozens of Nevada REPUBLICANS for reelection.

In all likelihood he WILL be reelected because all credible challengers have so far either declined to run or have been indicted on felony charges. The Nevada Republican Party is falling into shambles at the moment. I want Reid out as Majority Leader as much as the next guy, but there are enough conservative/center-right Democrats in the Senate to block any attempts to remove him, it's also not clear that a good Dem would get the post if Reid loses reelection or is booted out of the Leadership. Best case scenario is Dick Durbin the current Whip, but that's not a certain promotion if the majority leader goes down.