Obama Refuses To Take Hard Line On Same Sex Marriage

President Barack Obama praised New York’s passage of same-sex marriage but refused to take a hard line on the issue at an East Room press conference at the White House Wednesday.

“I’m not going to make news on that today,” Obama said jokingly in response to reporter’s question on the issue.

President Obama previously signaled his opposition to same-sex marriage but Wednesday, much like his comments before a crowd of LGBT donors last Thursday, he attempted to clarify and navigate a centrist position.

The president called the passage of marriage equality by the New York State Legislature “a good thing.”

However at the same time, Obama said that the issue is one for the states to resolve, not for the federal government.

“We’re moving in a direction of greater equality, and I think that’s a good thing, he said.

Obama will host an LGBT event at the White House tonight where he is expected to laud his administration’s work on behalf of the gay and lesbian community, including ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” and refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act..

It’s still unclear whether Obama, moving towards the 2012 campaigning season will move towards openly supporting same-sex marriage, which gay and lesbian donors tout as a top priority.

“I'll keep giving you the same answer until I give you a different one,” he said.