Posted by JM Ashby
Ron Paul, a favorite among Teabaggers and Lbertarians for president, is adamantly opposed to the idea of government imposing its will on the people except for when he isn't, as in the case of the Defense of Marriage Act. Apparently its ok for big government to define marriage, but not ok to have a Department of Education or the FDA.
Speaking to a group of religious conservatives in Iowa, Republican Congressman Ron Paul (TX) said he supports the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because the controversial legislation protects states' rights. [...]
During a speech organized by the Christian conservative group The Family Leader, Rep. Paul said the president's goal "is really to undermine state law that defines marriage" and that marriage should ultimately not involve government, the SourceMedia Group reported.
"The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in 1996 to stop Big Government in Washington from re-defining marriage and forcing its definition on the States," Rep. Paul said last week in a statement. "Like the majority of Iowans, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and must be protected."
I'm having difficulty following this logic.
If the federal government ceases to define marriage, how does that infringe on states rights? States already have the power to allow gay marriage so what's to stop them from passing their own laws to restrict it?