Dan Savage is tearing Obama a structurally superfluous behind for sidestepping his campaign promises about DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act, which forces federal institutions to not recognize same-sex marriage) and DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell). During the presidential campaign, Obama promised to act to repeal both.

It must be frustrating to hear the talk but not see the walk, but I think something more is going on here. While pressure needs to be made from people like Savage, the absolute worst thing that the President could do to kill the momentum that has brought one state a month to recognize same-sex marriage would be to act to repeal DOMA.

It would be an incredible shot in the arm for the entire religious right wing to see Obama on national TV announcing that. And poor Gibbs is trying his best to keep the cards close to the chest. Remember how often Obama has been proven right in his long-term strategies so far. His maneuvering has so far felled the Clinton ivory tower, gotten Cheney to speak publicly and damn himself on torture, gotten the RNC to implode, and has Republicans giving Pelosi political cover for a Truth Commission (and even gaining support for said Commission among Republicans). Oh, and that whole one-state-per-month rate of recognition of same sex marriage thing.

The point is that tons of progress is being made WITHOUT him having to directly confront the opposition. At the rate things are going, he and Congress will have more than enough political cover to do it soon. When he has that, he'll tell the spineless Dems in Congress to repeal DOMA and DADT the right way - through Congressional legislation. I hated it when Bush thought he could make laws, and I would hate to see it from Obama just as much (if not more, as I expect better of him).

When he issues that directive to Congress, he'll be able to (truthfully) say it was the will of the majority.

But that only happens if he keeps his mouth shut about it for another 8 months or so.