In reply to Avistew.

I agree pretty much completely, and I think you hit on exactly what it is that bugged me so much about the reaction to the statement: I would rather have Obama (who's frequently described as an expert on Constitutional law) say that he's personally against marriage equality but that to deny it to homosexual couples is irrational and unconstitutional; than to say that he's personally for it but he'll do nothing about it.

Of course, it shouldn't matter what a politician thinks, but it did to some degree for Americans (especially liberal/progressive-minded Americans) with Obama, since his campaign relied so much on symbolism and so much on him being the opposite of Bush — not just Democrat vs. Republican, but an intelligent and well-spoken man from a modest background vs. well, Bush. The fact that he's black and has an unusual name just sealed the image of a President who was going to be progressive and all-inclusive, even before he made any of his speeches. It's been clear from the past 3 years that he's more interested in capitulation than being actually progressive, and of course I've been completely against his stand against marriage equality from the start. But this statement — election year damage control dressed up as a victory in gay rights history — effectively killed the last bit of me that cared whether he was on "my side" or not. I just want to see fair policy put into place; he can take his opinions with him when he goes away at the end of his second term.