Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couples

On Thursday, July 8th, U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. President Clinton signed DOMA into law in 1996 after it passed the House by a vote 342-67 and the Senate by a vote of 85-14. Judge Tauro holds that through DOMA, the federal government violates the 10th Amendment by defining marriage as between one man and one woman, a right he believes belongs exclusively to the states.

The state had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004.

Tauro agreed, and said the act forces Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens.

“The federal government, by enacting and enforcing DOMA, plainly encroaches upon the firmly entrenched province of the state, and in doing so, offends the Tenth Amendment. For that reason, the statute is invalid,” Tauro wrote in a ruling in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Martha Coakley. (Associated Press)

There has been concern that Department of Justice has not defended DOMA wholeheartedly. This concern is supported by the fact that President Obama has publicly opposed DOMA, and has even referred to it as the “so called Defense of Marriage Act.” Click here to read more on this story.

Speak Out! Against Slavery

California Against Slavery is holding a rally on the West Steps of the Capitol on June 28th, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. The rally will feature CAS, State Representatives, C2BU and Special Ministry Guests. For more information, please visit www.californiaagainstslavery.org.

Nomination of Sotomayor

THE NEW YORK TIMES

May 27, 2009

Obama Hails Judge as ‘Inspiring’

By PETER BAKER and JEFF ZELENY

President Obama announced Tuesday that he would nominate Sonia Sotomayor, a federal appeals judge in New York, to the Supreme Court, choosing a daughter of Puerto Rican parents who was raised in a Bronx public housing project to become the nation’s first Hispanic justice.

In making his first pick for the court, Mr. Obama emphasized Judge Sotomayor’s “extraordinary journey” from modest beginnings to the Ivy League and now the pinnacle of the judicial system. Casting her as the embodiment of the American dream, he touched off a confirmation battle that he hopes to wage over biography more than ideology.

Judge Sotomayor’s past comments about how her sex and ethnicity shaped her decisions, and the role of appeals courts in making policy, generated instant conservative complaints that she is a judicial activist. Senate Republicans vowed to scrutinize her record. But with Democrats in reach of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, the White House appeared eager to dare Republicans to stand against a history-making nomination at a time when both parties are courting the growing Hispanic vote.

“When Sonia Sotomayor ascends those marble steps to assume her seat on the highest court of the land,” Mr. Obama said as he introduced her in the East Room of the White House, “America will have taken another important step towards realizing the ideal that is etched above its entrance: Equal justice under the law.”

Iranian Election Sparks International Debate

Iranians went to the voting booth on Friday, June 12th, for their 10th presidential election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After election results were prematurely announced, naming Mahmoud Ahmadinejad president again, riots erupted in the street alleging election fraud. This riot, led by the nation’s youth (over 66% of Iranians are under the age of 30) has spurred international attention. Rallies, protests, and violent squalls have ravaged throughout the country as Iranians citizens ask, “Where is my vote?”

Ahmadinejad’s chief opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has declared himself the true winner of the election. In previous elections, tallies began to trickle in hours after the polls closed; this year millions of votes poured in almost immediately from a huge turnout of about 85 percent of Iran’s 46.2 million voters. The final outcome: 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75 for Mousavi, a former prime minister from the 1980s. Much of the electorate, however, are unsatisfied with the results.

Ahmadinejad accused the foreign media of producing coverage that harmed the Iranian people, saying “a large number of foreign media … organized a full-fledged fight against our people.”

Authorities also called foreign journalists with visas to cover the elections, including members of The Associated Press, and told them they should prepare to leave the country. Italian state TV RAI said one of its crews was caught in the clashes in front Mousavi’s headquarters. Their Iranian interpreter was beaten with clubs by riot police and officers confiscated the cameraman’s tapes, the station said.

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California Most Hostile State to Life

Shortly after the 36th anniversary of America legalizing abortion comes news that California is the most hostile state to life. Americans United For Life released its annual ranking of the most pro-life states in America; California is at the bottom of the list.

The AUL determines rankings based on the laws in each state regarding abortion practices, parental notice or consent, taxpayer funding of abortion, and regulations on abortionists. Pennsylvania, Lousiana, and South Dakota received the top ranking while California, Hawaii and Vermont ranked lowest.

American Flag Unwelcome in California Capitol

Tea Parties protesting our government’s fiscal irresponsibility took place throughout the nation on Tax Day, April 15th. Sacramento hosted one of the largest events with over 150,000 citizens in attendance.

Despite the peaceful display of the right to assemble, there was also a display made by the Capitol security forces. Capitol security responded to the commotion outside by assuring that no sign of political disagreement would cross the threshold of the state Capitol, including the illustrious American flag.

Outrage has broken out due to this political action made against patriotism by Capitol security. Capitol Resource Institute distributed hundreds of flags to attendees only to be notified that they would have to be discarded in order to enter the public building. Karen England of CRI writes, “It is hard not to conclude that there is an aversion to patriotism.”