Specter tweets support for DOMA repeal

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) on Monday hinted he would support an effort to repeal a 1996 law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Referencing his chamber's recent, successful effort to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act -- a law that permits harsh penalties on those who commit crimes based on sexual orientation -- Specter tweeted:

Just as we were finally able to pass hate crimes legislation, it's time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

However, that would be an interesting, unexpected change of heart for Specter, who initially voted for the Clinton-era marriage bill.

As recently as a month ago, the Pennsylvania senator was defending DOMA and stressing same-sex marriage was a debate "appropriately addressed at the state level" -- a position that has long earned him the scorn of the liberal blogosphere, much less local voters, who still scoff at his decision to defect to the Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, the six-term incumbent now seems somewhat amenable to some form of a repeal -- a position, interestingly enough, long maintained by his Democratic primary challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.).

Sestak, however, is a step ahead of Specter: The congressman and Senate candidate is the primary advocate for the Respect for Marriage Act, which, among other things, "would require federal recognition of marriages that are valid under the law of the state where performed."

Yet, it is unclear whether Specter supports his Democratic opponent's iteration of a DOMA repeal.

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