The terse response of John Boehner's spokesman to the decision not to continue defending DOMA is more revealing than he wanted.
Attorney General, Eric Holder, today declared that the US government will no longer defend Section 3 of DOMA in court.
Eric Holder issued this statement
After careful consideration, including a review of my recommendation, the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny. The President has also concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional. Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination.
Consequently, the Department will not defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA as applied to same-sex married couples in the two cases filed in the Second Circuit. We will, however, remain parties to the cases and continue to represent the interests of the United States throughout the litigation. I have informed Members of Congress of this decision, so Members who wish to defend the statute may pursue that option. The Department will also work closely with the courts to ensure that Congress has a full and fair opportunity to participate in pending litigation.
Furthermore, pursuant to the President's instructions, and upon further notification to Congress, I will instruct Department attorneys to advise courts in other pending DOMA litigation of the President's and my conclusions that a heightened standard should apply, that Section 3 is unconstitutional under that standard and that the Department will cease defense of Section 3.
John Boehner's spokesman issued this terse statement in response: "While Americans want Washington to focus on creating jobs and cutting spending, the President will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation.
Of course to a Republicant, abortion is not an issue that divides the United States, re-defining rape is not a divisive issue, scraaping the health care reform is not a divisive issue, nor are vouchers for private schools and the de-funding of Planned Parenthood. To the Republicant Leadership these are issues that are far more pressing than the budget deficit (which according to their plan will take 50 years to end) and restoring jobs for Americans.
He is not worried about how this splits the US, he is worried about how it splits his Party, it will give a new voice to the bigots and then the super-bigots. Not something he would have wanted to happen in the run up to Republican Primaries for the 2012 Presidential election.
What a very very straight Ivory Tower Republicants live in.