The difference, though, is that no Republicans on Wednesday were cheering the death of the law they had supported.

In most cases, these Democrats could point to a moment years ago where they had announced their reversal on DOMA — although they’re mostly within the last couple of years, for a law that’s more than 15 years old.

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Schumer came out against the law earlier than most. Spokesman Matt House noted that Schumer endorsed same-sex marriage and dropped his support for DOMA in March 2009, long before Obama declared his support for same-sex marriage.

Sen. Patty Murray, another Democratic leader who voted for DOMA, turned against the law in a February 2011 speech in Seattle, according to spokeswoman Meghan Roh. The speech took place right after Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA.

Some of them gave more thorough explanations than others. Schumer, at the time, declared: “It’s time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of America and no group should be deprived of it.” Murray, however, said only that “I support and applaud the President’s decision because it’s time to end this 14 year old policy.”

And Leahy’s aides note that he co-sponsored a bill to repeal DOMA in 2011, and pointed to a statement he gave at the Judiciary Committee markup in November 2011, when the Vermont senator cited his state’s approval of same-sex marriage and its longtime support for the rights of same-sex couples.

“In the 15 years since the passage of DOMA, I have listened to Vermonters and understand why these highly personal freedoms and protections are so important and so desperately needed,” Leahy said at the markup.

Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said the Senate majority leader had “talked about this issue a fair amount” and noted that he had filed an amicus brief supporting the repeal of DOMA.

The first time Reid specifically said he believes gay people should be allowed to get married, though, was in May 2012, right after Obama said it.

One lawmaker who did acknowledge his past support of DOMA was Menendez, who explained in a Star-Ledger op-ed in December 2011 that he had “reflected deeply and frequently about this issue” and talked with many people about same-sex marriage since his vote for the law.

“For me, this comes down to an issue of fundamental fairness. For me, this comes down to the principles I learned as the child of immigrants and that I cherish as an American: that we believe in equality for all people under the law,” Menendez wrote.