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In yesterday’s New York Times article Obama Is on the Spot as Rulings Aid Gay Partners, the overall idea seemed to be that, in response to strongly worded orders from two judges of the federal appeals court in California that said employees of their court were entitled to health benefits for their same-sex partners under the program that insures millions of federal workers, Obama was in a political pickle about whether to support the order because the federal Office of Personnel Management has instructed insurers not to provide the benefits ordered by the judges, citing the Defense of Marriage Act.

Just seven weeks into office, President Obama is being forced to confront one of the most sensitive social and political issues of the day: whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

But, how is that putting Obama on the spot?

The same article goes on to say:

[Obama] Administration officials declined to say what they planned to do in the California cases if the judges tried to enforce their orders.

Ben LaBolt, a White House spokesman, said: “While the president opposes gay marriage, he supports legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. He believes this country must realize its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”

Mr. Obama and his choice for director of the personnel office, M. John Berry, have endorsed the idea of providing health benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

Mr. Berry, who is gay, has been director of the National Zoological Park since 2005. As an Interior Department official in the Clinton administration, he developed procedures to deal with complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation. They became a model for other agencies.

Recall that John Berry was recently picked by Obama to head the Office of Personnel Management. The OPM oversees the civilian federal workforce, which is about 2 million members strong, and helps enforce policies put in place under the Clinton administration that bar job discrimination against federal workers based on sexual orientation.

Berry’s position, once confirmed by the U.S. Senate is the highest position in the executive branch of the U.S. government ever held by an openly gay person. So, I don’t see what the pickle is.

Obama has voiced his support for federal benefits for gays and appointed a gay man to oversee the federal department responsible for overseeing federal benefits for gays. Obama on the spot? More like Obama hit the bulls-eye.