Like the rest of America, President Barack Obama seems to be struggling with the issue of gay marriage, civil unions or whatever you want to call quasi-permanent same-sex relationships.  In an effort to pacify his gay constituents, the President signed an executive order yesterday allowing government employees in same-sex relationships to take leave to care for sick partners, receive larger housing allowances if they live overseas and other benefits, but failed to provide them with the most significant benefit that most employees’ partners can receive: health insurance.  This action is likely to leave all sides in the gay marriage debate terribly unhappy.  On some issues, there is no real middle ground, and this is one.