This Los Angeles Times editorial, while stressing often that they oppose DOMA, still rebukes the Human Right's Campaign's efforts to harass those who believe DOMA deserves the best defense:
The Human Rights Campaign has been a powerful force for the rights of gays and lesbians, but the organization has stumbled in objecting to the hiring of a former solicitor general to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. The tradition of lawyers defending unpopular or controversial clients is an honorable one.
DOMA, which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman and permits states to refuse to honor same-sex marriages performed in other states, is wrongheaded, and we welcomed President Obama's decision not to defend it. But that doesn't mean the House of Representatives, which took over defense of the law from the administration, shouldn't retain the ablest counsel available. Former Solicitor Gen. Paul D. Clement, a renowned Supreme Court litigator, qualifies.
Congrats to the LA Times!
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