This clip comes from before the New York Senate passed the state's marriage equality bill and Gov. Cuomo signed it into law last night. That said, it is just as relevant this morning.
President Obama speaks here of equal rights for all couples, the non enforcement of DOMA, and the extension of federal benefits to partners of federal employees. However, he does not go as far as endorsing marriage equality - openly. It seems though that in the smirks, smiles, and subtext of this speech, the President is leaking his own personal opinion on marriage equality. He appears positive on the issue, and it even seems that he is hinting at his approval of same-sex marriage.
The problem for the President is that he is walking a tightrope on the marriage equality issue. Gay Democrats and their allies comprise a vocal and wealthy subset of the party, while still many other Democrats of various backgrounds and positions are cold to the issue. President Obama walks the tightrope again in this speech, and does so tactfully. What has changed since that night, however, is the passage of marriage equality in the most populous state to do so yet, putting the ball back into Obama's proverbial court once more.
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