WI: Bill Clinton vetoes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996?

[dw93]

What happens if Bill Clinton vetoes the Defense of Marriage act in 1996? Is the veto overridden? Is there a push for a constitutional amendment like there was in the early 2000s? How does this impact the 1996 election, if at all as I doubt Clinton would lose on this alone.

 

[Konrad Sartorius]

He would have been veto overridden as the bill passed with a super majority.

Depending on how he justifies his opposition it may or may not impact the election. If he says "marriage should be left to the states" or "he doesn't approve of the vague language in the bill" then he should easily ride it out. However, if he endorses gay marriage and it's recognition by the state then it could hurt him seriously. Keep in mind that the Republicans pushed this as a wedge issue.*

*Irronically by doing so they kindled the national debate on marriage which ultimately ended up with gay marriage becoming recognized in all states

 

[Lavanya Six]

*Irronically by doing so they kindled the national debate on marriage which ultimately ended up with gay marriage becoming recognized in all states

Hmm. It's probably more suited for a vignette than a timeline, but it'd be fascinating to do the story of a campaign to repeal an Anti-SSM Amendment passed during the mid-2000s.

 

[David T]

What happens if Bill Clinton vetoes the Defense of Marriage act in 1996? Is the veto overridden? Is there a push for a constitutional amendment like there was in the early 2000s? How does this impact the 1996 election, if at all as I doubt Clinton would lose on this alone.

(1) Yes, of course it is overridden. It passed the Senate by 85-14 and the House by 342-67. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_of_Marriage_Act

(2) It is hard for me to see a push for a constitutional amendment coming anywhere near succeeding so long as the veto is overridden and the Act is not found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (eventually, it will be, of course, but only many years later andafter a large change in public opinion on the issue).

(3) I doubt that this alone will defeat Clinton but it will definitely hurt him. It is really almost inconceivable that Clinton would veto it, anyway, given the state of public opinion at the time and the fact that he could justify his refusal to veto as allegedly necessary to head off a constitutional amendment.

 

[CaliBoy1990]

What happens if Bill Clinton vetoes the Defense of Marriage act in 1996? Is the veto overridden? Is there a push for a constitutional amendment like there was in the early 2000s? How does this impact the 1996 election, if at all as I doubt Clinton would lose on this alone.

Probably not. Had he come out in favor of same-sex marriage, though, it definitely would have hurt him with more socially conservative Democrats, as many would become uncomfortable(to varying degrees), and some would be outright unhappy, possibly with some votes switching to the GOP, and narrowing the race a bit.

(OTOH, a few very liberal Republicans might cross the aisle and vote for Clinton simply out of respect for taking a prinicipled stand.)