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Frank Does 180, Supports DOMA Brief

Rep. Barney Frank has gone from criticizing the Defense of Marriage Act brief to supporting it. Why the 180? According to Frank, he gave his negative reaction to the brief before he'd actually read it.


Rep. Barney Frank has gone from criticizing the Defense of Marriage Act brief to supporting it.

Why the 180? According to Frank, he gave his negative reaction to the brief before he'd actually read it.

Bloggers had been critical of Frank for taking five days to respond to the Department of Justice's motion to dismiss a legal challenge to DOMA. Frank then told a reporter, "I think the administration made a big mistake. The wording they used was inappropriate."

Now Frank has amended his reaction with a new statement, which can be read in its entirety here .

In the statement, Frank says: "Now that I have read the brief, I believe that the administration made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric. There are some cases where I wish they had been more explicit in disavowing their view that certain arguments were correct, and to make it clear that they were talking not about their own views of these issues, but rather what was appropriate in a constitutional case with a rational basis standard -- which is the one that now prevails in the federal courts, although I think it should be upgraded."

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jeff
    Date posted: 6/20/2009 7:38:00 AM
    Hometown: Birmingham, AL

    Comment:

    And you all are surprised by this why?

  • Name: Rich
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 7:23:00 PM
    Hometown: Falls Church, VA

    Comment:

    I keep on asking myself the same question I did when Prop 8 passed in California: Who in the hell pissed in their drinking water? I hope Mr. Frank realizes that he has just confirmed his own status as a second-class citizen, like the rest of us! Yeah...I'm pissed!

  • Name: Paula
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 3:28:00 PM
    Hometown: El Paso, TX

    Comment:

    I need to write a letter to Obama and Barney frank to thank them for all that hope and change. I think that Barney Frank would be the person pinning the pink triangles on people before they are loaded onto the trains.

  • Name: RichardS
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 1:00:00 PM
    Hometown: san diego

    Comment:

    Barney must have gotten a late night call from Rahm........ change your tune...or else! It's a shame when democrat politicians turn their backs on LGBT equality, but it's even worse when Gay politicians do so. I am heartened by the number of prominent gay folks dropping out of the $1000.00 a plate DNC 'gay' fundraiser. It high time we in the LGBT community stop giving our hard earned money to democrats (gay or straight) that don't give a damn about us or our issues..... they may say they do...ala obama.... but it's ALWAYS all talk...no action. The "memo" for gay federal worker benefits is nothing more than crumbs..... and lousy ones at that! Wake up boys and girls and put your checkbooks away until we see DADT and DOMA gone, and the H8 crime bill passed. Until at least all three are done I'm not giving a dime to the DNC or DSCC.

  • Name: Godfrey
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 12:45:00 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    When Barney is man enough to openly support and give public view to his "partner": only then would I believe that he is not a self-serving fool! Bye, bye, Barney!

  • Name: antonio
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 11:03:00 AM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    JUST THINKING: you're an Obama suckup. I'm gay and I'm tired of that bitch OBAMA (and his bucktoothed wife too). JUST THINKING: keep kissing Obama's butt. That's what you get paid to do.

  • Name: newz4i
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 10:52:00 AM
    Hometown: Phoenix

    Comment:

    Today's (06/19/2009) news: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, "The people have made their choice" Hmmm, reminds me of California's Supreme Court decision on their Prop 8.

  • Name: garychapelhill
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 9:38:00 AM
    Hometown: chapel hill, nc

    Comment:

    just thinking, you are full of it. Are the Stonewall Dems religious nuts and homophobes? And to say that the DOJ brief actually helped us is beyond absurd. I think that people like you are the impostors, who are coming in her to plant seeds of doubt about the very rational, justifiable anger that the gay community feels. That makes more sense doesn't it? And Obama's insulting "memo" was not an executive order. Get YOUR facts straight before you come in here making accusations and spreading lies and smears.

  • Name: Just thinking
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 9:30:00 AM
    Hometown: everywhere

    Comment:

    Fellow gays I am convinced that the negative writings here comes from the religious right and homophobes to spur turmoil and deceit amongst gays whom have not read the DOJ brief and Barney's words. The DOJ did us a favor outside their purview. The gay issue was being buried by the media, our concerns were surely loosing ground, dimissed from the table. The DOJ brought it back on the table. The brief zeroxes how unconstitutional and discriminatory current law read without opinion forcing it back on the table blanketing change and debate at the Congressional Level. There is no denying why Obama issued the Executive order within the turmoil in the world and restraints to other promises such as health care. Don't get me wrong, gay passion is admirable but think to guide you. Step back to admire what Mixner and others of his caliber professes. Protest is the gay American way as patriots but think first. Knowledge is power.

  • Name: garychapelhill
    Date posted: 6/19/2009 9:17:00 AM
    Hometown: chapel hill, nc

    Comment:

    Why doesn't the advocate have a story about the Stonewall Democrats' letter to the DNC telling them to go to hell and justifiably comparing Obama to Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson? Just WHO are you an advocate for? The gay community or the DNC/Obama?

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