Boehner: Gingrich is a Conservative

Is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich a real conservative?

House Speaker John Boehner described Gingrich as such during Politico’s monthly Playbook Breakfast at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

“It would be hard to describe Newt as not conservative,” Boehner told Politico reporter Mike Allen. “I’m not sure he’s as conservative as some people think he is, but Newt is a conservative.”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continues to cast doubt on Gingrich’s conservative credentials ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. The thrice-married Gingrich on Monday, Dec. 12, pledged to remain faithful to his wife Callista and defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act when he became the latest Republican presidential candidate to endorse the Family Leader’s so-called “marriage pledge.”

Is this enough to convince traditionally conservative Iowa caucusgoers?

A Public Policy Polling survey found that 22 percent of likely Iowa caucusgoers support Gingrich, compared 22 percent who back Texas Congressman Ron Paul and 16 percent who endorse Romney.

“We have a lot of good candidates out there,” said a non-committal Boehner when asked whether he would endorse Gingrich. “I’m sure the primary voters will select one of them. Whoever it is, I will be there to support.”

Republican Co-Sponsors DOMA Repeal Bill

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has become the first Republican to co-sponsor a bill that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

"I co-sponsored the repeal of DOMA because I firmly believe that equality is enshrined in our constitution and in our great democracy," said Ros-Lehtinen in a statement released by Log Cabin Republicans early on Friday, Sept. 23.

New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in the House in March along with several other Democrats, applauded Ros-Lehtinen.

“Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has long been a tremendous ally in the world’s struggles for freedom and against oppression and discrimination," said Nadler. "She is widely recognized as a champion of human rights and human dignity. Her support reminds us that the march to repeal the discriminatory DOMA is not a partisan issue."

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.,) Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced a companion DOMA repeal bill in Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the measure in July.

Langerin and Walz Co-Sponsor DOMA Repeal Bill

The bill to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act has 122 cosponsors with Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langerin and Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz announcing their support earlier on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

“As the march toward full equality for LGBT Americans is seeing some real, concrete progress, the movement to repeal DOMA is steadily growing stronger and more robust,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.,) who introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in the House in March. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.,) Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced an identical measure in the U.S. Senate.

“Getting married to my wife Gwen and building our life together was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Walz. “I simply cannot imagine why we would want to ban our fellow Americans from that commitment. Martin Luther King Jr. once said ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’ I believe that arc is getting shorter and I look forward to a day in my lifetime when Americans are not discriminated on based on who they love.”

The White House announced in July that President Barack Obama supports the DOMA repeal bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Respect for Marriage Act on July 19.

Is Obama's DOMA announcement a game changer?

Is the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court a game changer?

Hours after the White House made its announcement, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed his state's civil unions bill into law. The Maryland State Senate is poised to vote on a marriage equality bill later today. Rhode Island lawmakers continue to debate a similar measure, while Republican legislators in New Hampshire have introduced two bills that would repeal marriage for gays and lesbians in the Granite State.

Obama's announcement certainly amounts to a game changer in the battle to secure marriage for same-sex couples. As I blogged yesterday, however, the fight for marriage equality in the United States is far from over.

Boy in Bushwick appears on "The Brian Lehrer Show" to discuss the administration's DOMA decision and its implications for same-sex couples.