john!
Smash Hero
you're assuming that the federal government should define those rightsNot really the same thing. It should be apparent that all citizens are entitled to the same rights and that states should not be able to vote away rights for certain groups of citizens. In a way it would almost be more helpful if he had said the reverse, i.e., "I don't personally think gay couples should marry, but I believe that they are entitled to those rights."
does everyone have a right to breathe clean air? a right to quality healthcare? a right to have access to an abortion? a right to $500 a week?
almost everyone will agree that the first "right" should be handled at the federal level (pollution cannot be handled at the state level since it affects neighboring states)
and almost everyone will agree that the last "right" should be handled at the state level (any state can budget $500 a week to every citizen if they think it will work, but this would be quite immoral to do on a country-wide basis)
so where is the cutoff point? that's the debate. it's not so black and white.