Obama on Doma: Judge, Jury and Executioner!

(TRENTON) President Barack Obama announced today that his administration will no longer defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). It is clear from the Constitution that his obligation is to uphold the laws of our land as long as they do not violate the US Constitution. However, now in coordination with the President, the Attorney General, Eric Holder “who is supposed to represent the United States in legal matters, has also stated publicly today that he will no longer defend the laws.”

The enumerated powers of the Constitution clearly make the distinction between the three branches of government. Separation of Powers declares that the Executive Branch (the president and his administration) is required to enforce the laws passed by the legislative branch (congress) and does not have the power to declare anything unconstitutional – only the Federal Courts have that power.

So what do we do here in the Garden State? From our beginning, the New Jersey Family Policy Council has fought for the protections and preservation of the family in New Jersey. We sought to implement the Defense of Marriage Act, a legislative priority back in the late 90’s. We have opposed any and all attempts to redefine the essence and core of what marriage is…the exclusive union of one man and one woman.

“Just recently, on February 3, 2011, the French High Court ruled that the prohibition of same-sex marriage is in accord with the French constitution, effectively ruling that there is nothing unequal about upholding the definition of marriage between man and woman. We should learn a lesson from the French,” stated Greg Quinlan, Director of Government Affairs for New Jersey Family Policy Council.

Ultimately, we must have a federal Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. We must seek the position of every candidate and lawmaker on the definition of marriage and support those who will defend marriage as one man and one woman. Obama has let down the American people, showing we cannot always trust those elected to defend our laws and to defend the sacred institution of marriage. Finally, it will be up to the American people to petition Congress on this very important issue. New Jersey got it right last year when the NJ State Senate defeated a same-sex marriage bill upholding marriage as the union of one man and one woman.