Dr. Brugger, who holds four graduate degrees in ethics and related fields, dismisses the Obama administration's claim that DOMA lacks a "rational basis":

Rhetoric about ‘gay rights’ being civil rights, about ‘overcoming discrimination’ and ‘progress in equality’ has been shaken about in the faces of defenders of marriage like a drunkard’s fist for two decades. Rhetoric without argument will not do. We can’t let it. We should hold the administration’s feet to the fire and make it set forth arguments for the rational plausibility of its decision. (source)