A federal judge's decision to strike down California's voter-approved gay marriage ban doesn't make things any easier for President Obama.

Obama opposed the ban when California voters approved Proposition 8 back in 2008, but he also opposes the concept of gay marriage -- a tricky balancing act he will have to maintain as the issue works its way through the appeals courts.

"The president does oppose same-sex marriage, but he supports equality for gay and lesbian couples, and benefits and other issues, and that has been effectuated in federal agencies under his control," White House aide David Axelrod said today on MSNBC. "He supports civil unions, and that's been his position throughout. So nothing has changed."

Obama opposed Proposition 8 because "he felt that it was divisive," Axelrod said. "He felt that it was mean-spirited."

Social conservatives who oppose gay marriage probably won't back Obama in any event because of such other issues as abortion.

Social liberals like Obama, but will probably pressure him to adjust his position on gay marriage in the months ahead.

"His position on Prop. 8 has always been clear," said Evan Wolfson , from the organization, Freedom to Marry, speaking to Politico. "What has not been clear is how he squares his position for equality with his refusal to embrace actual equality in marriage. That is unclear, increasingly unclear, and there's no good reason to explain it."

Wolfson added: "That's an unsatisfying position that does nothing but frustrate those of us who look to him as the champion he promised to be."

(Posted by David Jackson)