I Didn't Say It ...

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, on Meet the Press, about the Pope's statements this week that seemed to suggest the Catholic Church might support civil unions:

“He didn't come right out and say he was for them. Once again in an extraordinarily open, sincere, nuanced way, he said 'I know that some people in some states have chosen this. We need to think about that and look in look into it and see the reasons that have driven them.' It wasn't as if he came right out and approved them. But in a sensitivity that has won the heart of the world, he said, 'Rather than quickly condemn them, let's see. Let's just ask the questions as to why that has appealed to certain people."

I actually agree with Dolan, and I threw up a little in my mouth realizing that, but Pope Franky isn’t LGBT-friendly, y’all.

He’s simply realizing the Catholic Church is waaaay out of touch and he’s dipping his Prada-covered toe into the waters to test them.

Rachel Maddow, on her documentary Why We Did It, which delves into the reasons for the war in Iraq:

"I think that there is a desire to hear the truth told. Honestly, there are two million Iraq war veterans in this country and there are four thousand families who lost somebody. And when you think about that, when you look at Wounded Warriors and the people that are carrying this for the rest of their lives...I think even the people who were part of it in some ways want to see those people hear the truth, and it has never been explained."

And I wonder if it ever will.

Oliver North, gasbag criminal, speaking at CPAC:

"Some say that we must ignore social issues, like the definition of marriage and the sanctity of life, religious freedoms. I say those are not social issues. They are deeply moral and spiritual issues and they should be a part of America's elections. In the 1850's, a political party was born on the idea of a great moral issue - human bondage, the abolition of slavery in America. If we as conservatives cease to be a place where people of faith and those who believe in strong moral values can come, we will cease to be a political force in America.”

There’s so much to think and say about the disgrace known as Oliver North, but all I can see is that he says “deeply moral and spiritual issues … should be part of America’s elections.”

No, religion should not play a part in elections.

Separation of Church and State. We are a country of man-made laws not God’s laws. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights; we’d just have a Bible.

Paul Ryan, asshat, liar, failed Vice Presidential candidate, and droopy, dog-eyed dick, telling more stories that aren’t true:

"The left is making a big mistake here. What they’re offering people is a full stomach and an empty soul. The American people want more than that. This reminds me of a story I heard from Eloise Anderson. She serves in the cabinet of my buddy, Governor Scott Walker. She once met a young boy from a very poor family, and every day at school, he would get a free lunch from a government program. He told Eloise he didn’t want a free lunch. He wanted his own lunch, one in a brown-paper bag just like the other kids. He wanted one, he said, because he knew a kid with a brown-paper bag had someone who cared for him. This is what the left does not understand."

He says he got the story from Eloise Anderson, the secretary for children and families for the state of Wisconsin.

And then he says, of course, after he told his fable at CPAC, that he'd just learned that Secretary Anderson misspoke, and that "the story she told was improperly sourced."

First off, one cannot misspeak an entire story. You can misspeak about certain facts as part of a story, but when the whole story is blatantly, provably wrong, then what you’ve just done is lied, Paul.

You’re a liar, Paul Ryan, plain and simple.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, again, on Meet the Press, when asked if civil unions make him personally uncomfortable:

"The civil unions? It would. It would in a way, David, because I don't think, um, marriage between one man and one woman forever, leading to life and love. That's not something that is just a sacramental religious concern. You bet it is that. And that's how God is elevated into making a sacrament. But it's also the building block of society and culture. So it belongs to culture. And if we water down that sacred meaning of marriage in any way I worry that not only the church would suffer, I worry that culture and society would."

It’s funny that Dolan doesn’t see how marriage has changed even over the last century.

Just a few short decades ago, it would have been unthinkable for a Catholic to marry a non-Catholic; a Jew to marry and non-Jew; and even closer to home, it was just in the 1960s that interracial marriages became legal.

Marriage has changed Dolan, and society has not crumbled.

Put away the hate.

Ralph Reed, former Christian Coalition leader, speaking at on the GOP’s ill-fated and long-running federal marriage amendment:

"Even if you passed a federal marriage amendment, I would assume it would grandfather in anyone who's been married, so I don't know. It was always a very difficult option. I don't think we ever got 50 votes in the U.S. Senate for that amendment. So, we always knew that the amendment was going to be very difficult to pass."

Too bad that many in the GOP still don’t get that and still come out against same-sex marriage.

They need to goose-step faster if they wanna keep up with the changing times.

Tilda Swinton, on The Gays and the closet:

"Well, I think there’s something that gay people have. It is true that to pass through the transitions that gay people have to in order to come out to themselves, to their families when they’re quite young, it’s a grow-bag, isn’t it? And I think that very often, heterosexual people miss out on that. There’s a feeling of development and sometimes, heterosexual people have never had to go through that self-examination and just knowing themselves, and that sense of coming out, coming to your own defense, and being your own best advocate, and going, “No! I’m going to stand by myself and say this is who I am and you can all fuck off.” That is a wonderful transition to go through, and I suppose a lot of straight people miss out on that, and then maybe their relationship choices are potentially less examined. They could be lazier or less thoroughly thought-through."

I love that because I believe we all have “closets” we need to come out of and there not just gay closets, but they’re closets of fear and shame and self-loathing about something.

And whenever someone comes out of that closet, it’s a great thing.

Kevin Swanson, Colorado “pastor”, AKA Pastor Jazz Hands, believing that Disney’s newest animated film Frozen is an attempt to convert children to being gay:

“Man, how many children are taken into these things and how many Christians are taking their kids off to see the movie Frozen, produced by an organization that is probably one of the most pro-homosexual organizations in the country? You wonder sometimes, I’m not a tinfoil hat conspiratorialist, but you wonder sometimes if maybe there’s something very evil happening here. If I was the Devil, what would I do to really foul up an entire social system and do something really, really, really evil to 5- and 6- and 7-year-olds in Christian families around America?”

Gosh, the most sane thing he said in that whole paragraph is ‘, I’m not a tinfoil hat conspiratorialist’.

And if that’s the most sane thing he said, well …..

Timothy Dolan: Still Protecting Rapists and the Catholic Church

After years of listening to the Catholic Church sing their Deny, Deny, Deny song, this week a box of files was released by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee that shows that back in 2007, anti-gay Cardinal Timothy Dolan, then the archbishop there, requested permission from the Vatican to move nearly $57 million into a cemetery trust fund to protect the assets from victims of pedophile priests who were demanding compensation.

Let’s get that queer: Dolan asked the Vatican for permission to hide money in case monies were awarded victims of child rapists.

Still Cardinal Timmy, now the archbishop of New York, denied that he tried to hide funds, and, again, reiterated his denial in a statement just this week that these were “old and discredited attacks.” But, the files contain the actual letter, written by Dolan in 2007, to the Vatican in which he explains that by transferring the assets, “I foresee an improved protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability.”

The Vatican approved the request in five weeks.

The sickest part of all this mess, besides the fact that the Catholic Church harbored sexual predators, aided and abetted pedophiles, hid funds to avoid costly payouts in civil suits brought by the victims, is that Timmy Dolan played himself as part of the solution to this, um, problem. As the scandal grew, and continues to grow, Dolan expressed his personal outrage at the harm done to children; he apologized; he pledged to help the church and the victims heal.

Then he asked for permission to hide $57 million. I guess he wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to help the church; and, perhaps, help himself, since now he is Archbishop Dolan.

Victims of pedophile priests are now calling for a federal investigation into the actions of then-Cardinal Dolan and his predecessors; Dolan, perhaps to deflect criticism, says he welcomes the release of the documents.

The current archbishop of Milwaukee, Jerome Listecki—who planned to release the documents before a judicial hearing—did release a letter he wrote, warning Catholics in his archdiocese that the documents could shake their faith: “Prepare to be shocked. There are some graphic descriptions about the behavior of some of these priest offenders.”

Such as the fact that the files contain documents from the personnel files of 42 clergy offenders with “substantiated” allegations, going back 80 years. Such as, the Reverend Lawrence Murphy, who is believed to have molested some 200 boys during his 25 years of teaching; and Sigfried Widera, who faced 42 counts of child abuse in Wisconsin and California. Murphy died in 1998, and Father Widera committed suicide in Mexico in 2003.

In that letter to his flock, Archbishop Listecki said the documents showed that 22 priests were “reassigned to parish work after concerns about their behavior were known to the archdiocese,” and that 8 of those “reoffended after being reassigned.”

The release of these new documents comes from a case filed in bankruptcy court between the Milwaukee Archdiocese and 575 men and women who have filed claims against it alleging that priests or other church employees had sexually abused them.

The archdiocese of Milwaukee, saying it was the best way to compensate the victims and resolve the controversy, filed for bankruptcy in 2011, becoming the eighth Catholic diocese in the United States to do so. Negotiations between the two sides in Milwaukee broke down once the church began arguing that some 400 of the 575 cases are invalid.

In January, the archdiocese said it had spent about $9 million in legal and other fees in the bankruptcy process and was going broke.

Going broke? What about the money that Dolan hid away? What does that say about The Church and their stance on pedophile priests?

It says the same old thing, that the Catholic Church, and men like Dolan, is only out to protect the Church and not the children.

If in any other part of society, you came across an organization that harbored men who raped children, and then the organization moved those men to other jobs where they raped again, and the leaders of that organization began hiding money in fear of monetary judgments against them, we’d all be raising quite a ruckus.

So, why is that the Catholic Church gets to hide rapists and money and no one, notably the members of the Church, are demanding answers?

source

I Didn't Say It ... On The End Of DOMA And Prop H8

President Obama:

“I applaud the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act.  This was discrimination enshrined in law.  It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people.  The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it.  We are a people who declared that we are all created equal -- and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents' marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better …. The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts:  when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.”

Melissa Etheridge, openly gay singer:

"I look forward to exercising my American civil liberties and getting fully, completely and legally married this year to my true love of over three years, Linda Wallem. Once again our constitution stands strong. All men, and women, and everything in between are created equal."

Tony Perkins, FRC hellhound:

"By a single vote, five unelected justices determined that they know better than God and struck at the heart of marriage in America. It was a powerful rebuke of a law FRC helped develop, the Defense of Marriage Act, but not the final blow. Fortunately, conservative leaders across our country aren't about to let that happen. In interview after interview, tweet after tweet, the message echoed from Governor's mansions to congressional floors: we are not giving up. It started with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and flooded the wires since then. Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) vowed to lead the fight for a Federal Marriage Amendment. Governor Mike Pence (R-IN) said he would use today's rulings as motivation to work even harder for a state marriage amendment. Are these rulings demoralizing? Definitely. But we will not let a court's definition of marriage define us." 

Chuck Hagel, Defense Secretary:

"The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court's decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court's decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses - regardless of sexual orientation - as soon as possible. That is now the law, and it is the right thing to do. Every person who serves our nation in uniform stepped forward with courage and commitment. All that matters is their patriotism, their willingness to serve their country and their qualifications to do so. Today's ruling helps ensure that all men and women who serve this country can be treated fairly and equally, with the full dignity and respect they so richly deserve."

Maggie Gallagher, NOM lapdog:

"The Supreme Court has just abandoned 7 million voters, giving us no justice and no access to the courts.  The California Supreme Court made it clear that the proponents of Prop 8 are delegated the right to defend the law if state official refuse to do so.  But after accepting standing in DOMA because. . .well because it wanted to, the majority of the Supreme Court justices simply punted unable to recognize a clear injustice in kicking out of court people who have devoted thousands of hours to the democratic process –and $3 million to the defense of the law–that the Court today treats as beggars with no interest in the outcome."

Bill and Hillary Clinton, a former President and a future President:

“By overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, the Court recognized that discrimination towards any group holds us all back in our efforts to form a more perfect union. We are also encouraged that marriage equality may soon return to California. We applaud the hard work of the advocates who have fought so relentlessly for this day, and congratulate Edie Windsor on her historic victory.”

Jerry Brown, Governor of California:

"After years of struggle, the U.S. Supreme Court today has made same-sex marriage a reality in California. In light of the decision, I have directed the California Department of Public Health to advise the state's counties that they must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California as soon as the Ninth Circuit confirms the stay is lifted."

Judy Shepard, LGBT advocate and mother of Matthew:

"After Matt came out to me, he once asked me if I thought gay couples would ever be allowed to get married. I told him I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime, but it probably would in his. It’s so sad and ironic that it turned out the other way. But this case warms my heart, to think that his dream is still coming true. Dennis and I look forward to the day when loving, committed couples are able to marry in every state.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Catholic spokesbigot:  

“Today is a tragic day for marriage and our nation. The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so."

RuPaul, Supermodel of the World:  

"I'm sending you both home. #DOMA and #Prop8, sashay away!"

Michele Bachmann, quitting Congressoman:

"Marriage was created by the hand of God. No man, not even a Supreme Court, can undo what a holy God has instituted. For thousands of years of recorded human history, no society has defended the legal standard of marriage as anything other than between man and woman. Only since 2000 have we seen a redefinition of this foundational unit of society in various nations," she continued. "Today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to join the trend, despite the clear will of the people's representatives through DOMA. What the Court has done will undermine the best interest of children and the best interests of the United States."

Nancy Pelosi, US Senator, when asked about Bachmann's statement:

"Who cares?" 

Cardinal Authorized Paying Abusers

Oh, this is rich. And sickening.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, one of the most virulent anti-LGBT douchebagging, goosestepping members of the Catholic Church hierarchy, once authorized payments of as much as $20,000 to child raping priests as an "incentive" for them to agree to dismissal from the priesthood when he was the archbishop of Milwaukee.

Um, yeah, that sounds like a payoff, doesn't it?

And, naturally, when "Cardinal" Dolan was questioned at the time regarding a particularly notorious pedophile cleric who had been been given a “payoff” to leave the priesthood, Dolan, then the archbishop, called the inference “false, preposterous and unjust.”

But now we know it was true.

A document unearthed during bankruptcy proceedings for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee--because of lawsuits against them regarding pedophile priests--revealed that the archdiocese did indeed make such payments to multiple accused priests to encourage them to seek dismissal, thereby allowing the church to remove them from the payroll.

Pay 'em off, let 'em run, and the Catholic Church looks innocent. Except they aren't Innocent at all.

Jerry Topczewski, spokesman for the archdiocese, confirmed that payoffs were made to “a handful” of accused priests as a "motivation” not to contest being defrocked. And the church even has a name for paying off rapists; they call it “laicization;” a formal church juridical procedure that requires Vatican approval--which means the Pope knew about it--and can take far longer if the priest objects.

“It was a way to provide an incentive to go the voluntary route and make it happen quickly, and ultimately cost less,” Topczewski said. “Their cooperation made the process a lot more expeditious.”

It's all about money.

Oddly enough, "Cardinal" Dolan, president of the national bishops’ conference and fast becoming the nation’s most high-profile Roman Catholic cleric, does not have a comment. Perhaps he ran to the bank for another payoff.

The newly revealed documents are the minutes of a meeting of the Catholic Church finance council of the Milwaukee archdiocese from2003, which Cardinal Dolan attended. The minutes noted that “unassignable priests”--those suspected of abuse--were still receiving full salaries, and also states that it a proposal to “offer $20,000 for laicization ($10,000 at the start and $10,000 at the completion the process)” was discussed. Instead of salary, the pedophiles would receive a $1,250 monthly pension benefit, and, until they found another job, health insurance.

Pension and health insurance. It pays to be a child rapist in the Catholic Church.

The first known payment under Dolan's watch was to Franklyn Becker, a former priest who abused at least ten children. He received a payoff to leave the church and practice his pedophilia elsewhere. When asked, at that time, about the payment, Cardinal Dolan called it “an act of charity,” so that Becker could pay for health insurance.

No act of charity though for the multiple boys and girls sexually abused by Becker, I guess.

And, when you learn that the Catholic Church has paid more than $16 million to settle lawsuits involving Becker and one other priest, it all makes sense.

Pay the pedophiles about twenty grand and send them on their way, and then you don't have to worry about a $16 million payoff.

It is all about economics, I guess.

via NYT

I Didn't Say It......

Jim Daly, head of Focus On The Family, on Lady Gaga and "Born This Way":

"First, by Stefani Germanotta’s [Gaga's real name] own admission, she’s built her entire persona and celebrity on a platform that’s anything but typical. She is playing a part, a role, and not living as she would outside the bright lights. Put another way, Lady Gaga was clearly not born this way.
Second, and more importantly, the message found within the lyrics of Born This Way is in stark contrast to the message of the Gospel. All of us are born into sin, the Bible tells us, with desires and resulting actions that separate us from God and put us at odds with His blueprint for our lives. But the Good News is we’re not hopelessly trapped in our sin and failure. Despite the fact that we were 'born this way,' each of us can be set free – from homosexuality, or heterosexual sex outside of marriage, or pornography, or greed, or gossip, or any other human shortcoming – to be the men and women God intended us to be."

Um, Jim?
May I call you Jim?
Fucktard seems a little familiar.
Gay people don't need to be "set free" from homosexuality. The world needs to be set free from bigots like you who twists the Bible, and the "word" of God--because let's face it, it's really the word of mortal men speaking for god--into something akin to hate.
If you really truly believed in everything written in the Bible, you'd be living an entirely different life.
And you know it, but you cast the first stone like you have no sins.

Edwin O'Brien, Baltimore Archbishop, on having Maryland Catholics pray and fast to prevent marriage equality:

“The institution of marriage can only belong to the union of one man and one woman because nature – not social prejudice – has given this relationship the unique capacity to bring children into the world. It is for this reason that religion and governments alike have bestowed special recognition upon this relationship for thousands of years. We commend those political leaders who have had the courage to stand by their convictions by voting to uphold our society’s most fundamental institution…The value of marriage must not be abandoned for the sake of partisan politics or political gain. It is not too late for the members of the House of Delegates to hear from God’s people and to vote in accordance with their true conscience to uphold marriage.”

Oh, Archbishop.
May I call you Archie?
See, Archie, children are not brought into this world solely as the result of marriage. Lost of kids are born into single family homes. Lost of children are born via medical procedures that allow women to get pregnant. Lots of children are born via surrogate and given to loving parents, of all genders and couplings.
And now, as for your devaluing marriage remark.
Tell.Me.How.
:::crickets:::
Because you can't. Any gay marriage does not devalue the institution, it strengthens it.
And if you put down your bigotry and intolerance for one second, you'd see that.

Former Louisiana Governor, and presidential hopeful, Buddy Roemer, on legalizing same-sex marriage:

“I’m a traditionalist in marriage. Here’s as far as I can go: I’m comfortable with the states having this discussion. And I’m all for -- in my extended family, not my wife or kids, but beyond -- cousins, that sort of thing -- we have a gay member. We honor him. He’s a great guy. He moved to California so he would be in a community where he would be more comfortable. And I love living in a country where gays are honored and esteemed, but traditional lives can continue as well.”

He loves living in a country where gays are honored and esteemed?
Where the fuck does he live?
And he's okay with The Gays as long as it's not his wife or kids, but some, you know, some cousin, or great-aunt. And if they're gay, well, he honors them by having them move away from his family, to a place where he might feel more comfortable.
Yeah, Buddy, I imagine your cousin felt more comfortable in a  community thousands of miles away from you and yours.
Asshat.

Musician Henry Rollins, on John Boehner's desire to defend DOMA:

"Of course same sex marriage is constitutional! The right to be yourself, to pursue life, liberty, and property, is protected several ways over several amendments. John Boehner should know this. If only he read the Constitution as often as some of us do, he wouldn’t have bothered to lower himself to this time-wasting, pathetic attempt to invigorate his base of supporters. Damn, congressman, we’re trying to get up the road here. Either lay out a plan for job creation for all of us to see or get out of the way. You are the Speaker of the House. Scratching around in the ancient dirt of repellent prejudice instead of tackling the real issues is amateur hour. You have a plan? Now’s the time."

What's to say that Henry didn't say so eloquently?
I agree.
The GOP swept into office in the most historic election EVER and vowed to fix the economy and create jobs and repeal Health Care Reform, yet all they've done is give tax breaks to the rich, vote symbolically to repeal health care, and now this.
No jobs?
No fixed economy?
What's that you say? The GOP lied?

LaToya Jackson, a contestant on Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice,' endorsing the Hair:

"I truly believe that he would be a great running candidate if he did [run for president], and I would certainly vote for him. I think he would make an excellent president. I think he speaks the truth, I also feel that he knows a lot about the economy and the way [it's] heading. [The] world in general is basically involved around business with the oil crisis and things of that nature, that's basically controlling the world at this point and this moment. He knows so much about that. I think he's loved by a lot of people in America. I think he stands a chance, but then again, you have the other side who says, 'Well how much does he really know?'"

Wow.
What.A.Moron.
And I'm sure this particular endorsement is just what The Donald needed to make up his mind.
A great running candidate? WTF is that?
He knows so much about business that's controlling the world "at this point and this moment"?
Which is it, LaToya? At this point or this moment?
And which is it? Does he know it all, or how much does he know?
 Again....What.A.Moron.

Tea Party-backed GOP Senator Marco Rubio, from Florida, on Boehner and DOMA:

"I want to thank Speaker Boehner and the House Republican leadership for taking action to defend this critical law that was enacted by a bipartisan majority in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. It is unfortunate that President Obama decided to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act. While much of the debate in Washington is focused on creating jobs and growing our economy, we should not sit by while this administration makes profound and regrettable decisions based more upon the politics of the day than the words of our Founding Fathers. This law protects one of our most sacred institutions and because of the House’s actions today, it will be defended."

Yes, let's debate creating jobs and growing our economy, while we work on defending DOMA.
Hey asshat?
Obama is still enforcing DOMA, he said he will simply no longer defend the constitutionality of it.
For the love of RuPaul, don't these people, and by people, i mean Teabaggers, and by Teabaggers, I mean wingnuts, even read?
He admits we need to focus on jobs and such, but, well, let's do this first.

REM lead singer Michael Stipe, on exactly how gay he is:

"On a sliding scale of sexuality I’d place myself around 80-20, but I definitely prefer men to women. I had sex with, and enjoyed sex with, women until I met someone that I fell in love with, and who is now my boyfriend. I wasn’t troubled or confused, but I just felt there wasn’t a place for me. I hate and refuse to apply the term bisexual to myself. It doesn’t seem appropriate. It feels like just another label."

Honey? You're gay.
You had sex with women out of confusion, and didn't feel loved until you met your boyfriend.
That's so gay.
And it's okay.
Really.

Actor Jonathan Lovitz, on being excused from jury duty because he's gay:

"Just had an intense day at jury duty. During voir dire we were asked who would not be impartial. I raised my hand and said, 'Since I can't get married or adopt a child in the state of New York, I can't possibly be an impartial judge of a citizen when I am considered a second class one in the eyes of this justice system.' You wouldn't believe how people in the room reacted."

Wow.
The good news is that being gay really does have its privileges!
The bad news is that now everyone will want to be gay.
On a serious note, however, Lovitz--and he's not that Jon Lovitz--has a point.
Treat us as though we don't matter and how are we supposed to think and feel and react? Our life experience is that we are less than so how can we judge those who are, in their minds at least, our betters?

Jim Langevin, Democratic congressman of Rhode Island, announcing his change of heart on the issue of marriage equality:

"As the debate about same-sex marriage continues in Rhode Island and in Washington, I have taken time to reflect carefully on my own position. Based on my own experiences and my firm belief that all Americans should be treated equally under the law, I am now convinced that affording full marriage equality rights to same-sex couples is the only fair and responsible approach for both Rhode Island and the nation. If our nation expects to provide equal protection to all, then our civic institutions must reflect that noble goal."

Minds can change.
People can think with common sense.
You cannot legislate inequality.
Or, at least, you shouldn't.
Thanks Jim.

John Boehner, on defending DOMA:

“I will convene a meeting of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group for the purpose of initiating action by the House to defend this law of the United States, which was enacted by a bipartisan vote in Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. It is regrettable that the Obama Administration has opened this divisive issue at a time when Americans want their leaders to focus on jobs and the challenges facing our economy. The constitutionality of this law should be determined by the courts -- not by the president unilaterally -- and this action by the House will ensure the matter is addressed in a manner consistent with our Constitution.”

Oh, John, don't cry.
It isn't "regrettable" that Obama has chosen not to defend an unjust law.
It's regrettable that you are not doing, not planning on doing, and haven't done, one single thing that you promised when you were sweeping into power.
Well, except for giving a tax break to all those really rich people.

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, of Missouri, demanding that President Obama and the DOJ enforce DOMA:

“President Obama’s decision to order his Justice Department to stop defending DOMA is not a surprise but it is disappointing. Once we start going down the road of selectively enforcing our laws we are headed for chaos. President Obama took an oath to uphold the laws of the United States and he is breaking his word to the American people. The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act was enacted through large majority votes in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by President Clinton. President Obama is subverting the will of the representatives of the people. The good citizens of the 4th Congressional District are expected to follow the law and President Obama should not put himself above the law."

See what she does there?
She goes from saying he won't defend DOMA and then switches to saying he won';t enforce it.
She's taking a page from Wingnut Queen Michelle Bachmann's book: say it often enough and it's true.
Well, Vicki, you moronic dingbat, it isn't true.
Obama actually said he would continue to enforce DOMA, he just won't defend it's inequalities.
Seriously, speak the truth, and quit goosestepping along with Herr Boehner.

Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York  and Catholic High Henchman, on Obama and DOMA:

"The Administration’s current position is not only a grave threat to marriage, but to religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy as well. Our nation and government have the duty to recognize and protect marriage, not tamper with and redefine it, nor to caricature the deeply held beliefs of so many citizens as 'discrimination.' On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I express my deep disappointment over the Administration’s recent decision. I have written of these concerns to the President in separate correspondence, and I pray that he and the Department of Justice may yet make the right choice to carry out their constitutional responsibility, defending the irreplaceable institution of marriage, and in so doing protect the future generations of our children."

I love how he talks about protecting children, while he's a member of an organization with a huge pedophile population.
While he, himself, hid $130 million dollars so it could not be used as part of a settlement in pedophile priest cases.
Keep goosestepping along, working to protect the church and its money.
God will have a special place for you at the end of your life.