Obama Admin. shifts on DOMA.

[SirNitram]

Link

President Obama hasn't changed his policy, but he is softening his tone. Today, the Department of Justice filed a response to a legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act for the second time since Obama took office.

When DOJ first did this, its brief was full of rhetoric that appeared to supporters to be over-the-top and anti-gay. The White House -- and the Justice Department -- seemed to have taken the criticisms to heart. Their challenge in this case defends the idea that the government must defend constitutional laws -- even wrong-headed ones, but notes that the Obama administration opposes the substance of the policy.

The White House issued a rare statement in the name of Obama himself and distributed it to gay rights groups:

"This brief makes clear, however, that my Administration believes that the Act is discriminatory and should be repealed by Congress. I have long held that DOMA prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits. While we work with Congress to repeal DOMA, my Administration will continue to examine and implement measures that will help extend rights and benefits to LGBT couples under existing law."

[Darth Wong]

I think we should keep in mind that Obama is not Bush. He did not immediately sack everyone in the DOJ who was not ideologically "pure" the moment he got into office. So it's not surprising that they would still sound like the Bush Brigade shortly after Obama's election, even if that tone did not necessarily reflect the attitude of the new administration.

[SirNitram]

Pretty much. Bush holdouts remain all over, especially thanks to the Senators from Kansas putting holds on ten different appointees and preventing them from, well, even start cleaning their parts of the administration.

[Darth Wong]

In many ways, it would have been better if Obama actually was a bit more like Bush and did some autocratic house-cleaning as soon as he got into power. His conciliatory gestures were completely ignored by the other side, so he gained nothing for them. It was nothing more than a net-loss, because he kept trying to compromise with a bunch of hopelessly obstinate extremists. It's like trying to compromise with a cockroach. There is nothing you could possibly offer him which would make him stop acting like a cockroach.

[Kaiser Caesar]

In many ways, it would have been better if Obama actually was a bit more like Bush and did some autocratic house-cleaning as soon as he got into power. His conciliatory gestures were completely ignored by the other side, so he gained nothing for them. It was nothing more than a net-loss, because he kept trying to compromise with a bunch of hopelessly obstinate extremists. It's like trying to compromise with a cockroach. There is nothing you could possibly offer him which would make him stop acting like a cockroach.

Obama's is kind of in a no-win/half-win situation here though. One of the reasons he was elected was because he brought a message of "compromise" and "bipartisanship" which was refreshing to most Americans after almost a decade of Bush, Rove and Cheney. So either he goes back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise, which the Republican propaganda machine will more then likely turn against him and make full use of in heir propaganda machine, or he sticks to it and has to deal with quite a few said "hopelessly obstinate extremists" in positions of goverment.

[Superboy]

It's not like the republican propaganda machine is playing nice with him now. If they did start trashing him for not being bipartisan, at least it would leave them less time to trash him for being an illegitmate muslim socialist president.

[Kaiser Caesar]

It's not like the republican propaganda machine is playing nice with him now. If they did start trashing him for not being bipartisan, at least it would leave them less time to trash him for being an illegitmate muslim socialist president.

This is true. However, Obama doing what Darth Wong proposes, an "autocratic house cleaning" would give the Republic propaganda machine real life ammunition to use on which would be more effecive then painting him as an "illegitmate muslim".

[Darth Wong]

So either he goes back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise, which the Republican propaganda machine will more then likely turn against him and make full use of in heir propaganda machine, or he sticks to it and has to deal with quite a few said "hopelessly obstinate extremists" in positions of goverment.

He's being treated by the media as if he did go back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise.

[Mr Bean]

This is true. However, Obama doing what Darth Wong proposes, an "autocratic house cleaning" would give the Republic propaganda machine real life ammunition to use on which would be more effecive then painting him as an "illegitmate muslim".

Have you not been paying attention? With no evidence or made up evidence they are already playing the Hitler card. Had he purged what were they going to go worse than Hitler? Come on now, there's not much more worse they can go since they are already at the "making shit up" level.

[ray245]

In many ways, it would have been better if Obama actually was a bit more like Bush and did some autocratic house-cleaning as soon as he got into power. His conciliatory gestures were completely ignored by the other side, so he gained nothing for them. It was nothing more than a net-loss, because he kept trying to compromise with a bunch of hopelessly obstinate extremists. It's like trying to compromise with a cockroach. There is nothing you could possibly offer him which would make him stop acting like a cockroach.

Obama's is kind of in a no-win/half-win situation here though. One of the reasons he was elected was because he brought a message of "compromise" and "bipartisanship" which was refreshing to most Americans after almost a decade of Bush, Rove and Cheney. So either he goes back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise, which the Republican propaganda machine will more then likely turn against him and make full use of in heir propaganda machine, or he sticks to it and has to deal with quite a few said "hopelessly obstinate extremists" in positions of goverment.

He could easy point out that the Republicans are the ones who obstruct any attempts to be more bipartisan. Slam the Republicans right from the start, pointed out that they have learned nothing from the Bush administration and all that.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Obama's is kind of in a no-win/half-win situation here though. One of the reasons he was elected was because he brought a message of "compromise" and "bipartisanship" which was refreshing to most Americans after almost a decade of Bush, Rove and Cheney. So either he goes back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise, which the Republican propaganda machine will more then likely turn against him and make full use of in heir propaganda machine, or he sticks to it and has to deal with quite a few said "hopelessly obstinate extremists" in positions of goverment.

They're already comparing him to Hitler and Stalin and openly encouraging violent confrontation. Pray tell exactly how much worse they can get if Obama (and Democrats in general) actually grow a pair.

[ray245]

Obama's is kind of in a no-win/half-win situation here though. One of the reasons he was elected was because he brought a message of "compromise" and "bipartisanship" which was refreshing to most Americans after almost a decade of Bush, Rove and Cheney. So either he goes back on his position of bipartisanship and compromise, which the Republican propaganda machine will more then likely turn against him and make full use of in heir propaganda machine, or he sticks to it and has to deal with quite a few said "hopelessly obstinate extremists" in positions of goverment.

They're already comparing him to Hitler and Stalin and openly encouraging violent confrontation. Pray tell exactly how much worse they can get if Obama (and Democrats in general) actually grow a pair.

I think I would turn into happened in the 60s and 70s where the democrats are pushing for civil rights.