While arguing on Wednesday that Republicans have long known the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi inadvertently and incorrectly blamed Republicans for trying to pass the Respect for Marriage Act — a pro-gay marriage bill proposed by a prominent Democrat and endorsed by former President Bill Clinton.
“Republicans knew — and they know right now — that DOMA is not constitutional,” Pelosi said. “In 2005, they introduced a bill, Respect for Marriage Act … [which] stated that, in the case of DOMA, the courts should not have the right of judicial review — the right to review the constitutionality of the act.”
Pelosi apparently meant to refer to the 2005 Marriage Protection Act, a Republican-sponsored bill that would have prevented federal courts from reviewing the constitutionality of DOMA.
“Why would you pass a bill in the Congress … that said the courts do not have the right to rule on the constitutionality of a bill, if you thought it could withstand that test?” Pelosi asked. “Because you don’t think it can withstand that test.”