via First Read – Obama admin will no longer defend federal marriage act in court.

Obama admin will no longer defend federal marriage act in courtFrom NBC’s Pete Williams

In a major reversal, the Obama administration has notified Congress that it will no longer defend the federal law that says marriage can exist only between a man and a woman.

Attorney General Eric Holder says he has recommended, and the president has agreed, that the law unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples who are legally married but whose status is not recognized by the federal government.

“Given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination,” Holder wrote in a statement, the administration has concluded that classifications based on sexual orientation must be subject to a higher constitutional standard than ordinary laws. And the federal Defense of Marriage Act does not meet that test, he says.

Wanna watch the GOP scramble? This’ll do it.

When they get done with attacking reproductive rights, unions, and healthcare, they’ll go after this. Note that the message is clear – if Congresscritters want to defend DOMA any further, they’ll have to do it themselves, and be on the record about it.

And they will – it’s true red meat for their base. And of course, they’ll do it to the detriment of the economy and jobs, two areas where they have done nothing to improve the situation, despite their campaign promises.

This won’t be good enough for LGBT folks, as they would prefer that the administration worked to repeal it, not just leave it undefended. But it is a step in the right direction.