Senate Candidates Weigh In On DOMA Death

The field of candidates for the vacant U.S. Senate seat on Wednesday weighed in on the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to strike the Defense of Marriage Act.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, one of four Democratic hopefuls vying for the seat of late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, said the ruling was a major decision – one that Congress should have taken on long ago.

“This is an important step in America's work to extend civil rights to all of our citizens,” Holt said. “Congress should have repealed DOMA long ago, and its failure to do so is a shameful chapter in American history.”

But, Holt said the fight for gay rights in New Jersey must continue, pledging to continue.

“The court stopped short of ensuring that every state recognizes the right of every American to marry,’’ he said. “I will vote to confirm judges and justices who seek to extend civil rights and civil liberties to all Americans.”

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who leads the four-way pack of Democratic hopefuls, said he was ‘overjoyed’ that the Defense of Marriage Act was struck down Wednesday.

“I am overjoyed for countless gay and lesbian couples whose love and commitment will no longer be classified as unequal to that of their straight counterparts,” Booker said in a statement. “I am also overjoyed for all Americans who now live in a country that is more free and equal than ever before – for truly, the meaning of American citizenship as a whole was elevated today.”

Booker also said the state legislature should once again pass a measure allowing gay marriage in New Jersey and put it before Gov. Chris Christie. 

“I urge our legislature, which already passed gay marriage, to act immediately to put it before the governor once again,” Booker said. “I know they will, and I’m hopeful that other states around the country will follow their lead.”

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone said he was ‘thrilled’ by today’s decision and called for further action to “end discrimination in our nation once and for all.’’

“I am thrilled by today’s ruling and optimistic that it well usher in a new era of equality in our nation,” Pallone said “I look forward to standing resolute in the fight to tear down the remaining barriers standing before the LGBT community and I applaud the court for its decision today, which moved us closer toward total equality.”

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver also praised the ruling, adding that now New Jersey should continue the fight to achieve marriage equality.

“Today’s ruling is a tremendous victory for equality,” Oliver said.  “I have long said that there is no place for discrimination in our laws or our constitution and this ruling affirms that.”

Oliver called on the state GOP and Gov. Christie to reconsider their positions on gay marriage in light of Wednesday’s ruling.

 “I would hope that this decision will make Gov. Christie and Republican members of our legislature take a circumspect look at the many ways in which their denial of support has allowed discrimination to continue to flourish in our state and recognize that it’s not too late to change this,” Oliver said.

GOP hopeful Steve Lonegan called Wednesday's ruling "unfortunate.''

“Today’s decision is the unfortunate result of an activist, liberal court that has little respect for the Constitution and our nation’s founding principles," Lonegan said. "While I believe government should not be in the business of marriage, it is not the Supreme Court’s responsibility to make that decision. Laws should be made by legislatures, not by unelected judges. To do so is a usurpation of our
democratic tradition at the heart of this country’s founding.”

GOP candidate Alieta Eck was more circumspect in her response.

"While I personally believe that traditional marriage is an important institution to defend, the Supreme Court was correct in rejecting a federal attempt to define it," Eck said. "Marriage is a religious institution. There was a time when the general consensus agreed with organized religion, but those times have passed. We must never abandon the Constitution in guarding equal protection and free association under the law."