Obama Responds To Criticism Of DOMA Defense

The Obama administration responded Sunday to criticism of a Justice Department brief defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
In an interview with Kerry Eleveld, gay monthly The Advocate's Washington corresponded, posted on its website, John Berry, the highest ranking openly gay official in the Obama administration, responded to the LGBT community's growing frustration with the administration.
Gay rights advocates were outraged Friday on news the Obama administration was defending the 1996 law that allows states to ignore legal marriage performed in other states and defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies. Bloggers called the move a broken promise, and took exception to the brief's anti-gay tone.
Berry, who heads the Office of Personnel Management, reiterated that the president is committed to repeal of DOMA, but that the administration cannot cherry pick which laws to defend, and promised repeal “before the sun sets on this administration.”
“This president took a solemn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and he does not get to decide and choose which laws he enforces. He has to enforce the laws that have been enacted appropriately and that he has inherited.”
“[W]e want to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act,” Berry added. “Now, I'm not going to pledge – nor is the president – that this is going to be done by some certain date. The pledge and the promise is that this will be done before the sun sets on this administration.” See Obama Responds To Criticism Of DOMA Defense On Top Magazine