At Wednesday’s Senate DOMA repeal hearing, Senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican senior Senator from Iowa, had a great deal to say on “traditional marriage,” several of which were outright lies, much of the remaining of Grassley’s opening comments were right-wing twisting of facts.
WATCH: DOMA: Senate Repeal Debate – Watch The Entire Recorded Hearing (Video)
“Even President Obama ran on a platform of support for traditional marriage. Until yesterday he was a supporter of DOMA as well.”
President Barack Obama has stated clearly since 1996 that he opposes DOMA. He stated it very clearly during his campaign.
“Marriage is an institution that serves the same purpose all over the world: to foster unions that can result in procreation.”
Marriage serves many purposes, but procreation is hardly the only one, nor is it always the overriding one. Look to China, which has actually prohibited legally-married couples from procreating.
“It’s been the foundation of societies for 6000 years, not only here but around the world.”
Marriage did not exist — certainly as we know it — 6000 years ago, nor has it been the foundation of societies 6000 years ago. War generally was, and if marriage entered into the picture, it was to unite kingdoms, not couples.
“Unmarried heterosexual couples, siblings, and friends who live together all can face the problems, some of which can be addressed through other means.”
Perhaps, but so do individuals. Marriage is an important institution that the state has an interest in — the same interest for same-sex couples as for heterosexual couples.
Grassley’s lies are merely part of an orchestrated effort from the right, the latest of which is to suggest that DOMA need not be repealed, because legally-married couples that are affected by DOMA would not have had the right to any benefits even if DOMA existed because it was instituted before same-sex couples had won the right to marry. While that sliver may be correct, since six states now recognize the right, DOMA prohibits them from accessing these rights — over 1100 rights, actually.
Shame on Senator Grassley.