Really?
In Shift, U.S. Says Marriage Act Blocks Gay Rights
Agree or disagree with him in that reversal it clearly shows he
could have not defended the case if he so desired.
Yeah and guess what? The DOMA still fucking exists and will continue to until SCotUS decides on it because Congress won't be repealing it for a very long time. SCOTUS won't be ruling on this issue for quite a long while. If Obama defended and appealed, these cases would have worked their way through the court systems much faster. By not appealing cases, Obama is sandbagging on gay rights, whether they want to think that or not. The only way to get rid of gay marriage bans and the DOMA is if SCotUS gets a case. By not appealing the cases, its fewer opportunities for SCotUS to get a crack at the gay marriage issue. It also means its going to take a lot longer for a case to reach SCotUS.
As of today, because the DOJ appealed to SCotUS, GPS tracking without a warrant is illegal in all 50 states + DC. If the DOJ did not appeal, it would not be illegal outside of the Feds and DC. It would have taken many more years to have the question answered and all that while LEOs could do as they please inregards to the issue.
Counter-intuitive maybe. But the DOJ did EVERY GOD DAMN ONE a favor by appealing. Obama would have been doing gays a favor if they appealed in regards to the DOMA. It would have made it to SCotUS sonner and the issue would have been answered once and for all.
Oh and just because an Admin appeals and defends does not mean they are giving it their all. SCotUS cannot declare something unconstitutional, unless they hear the case.