At today's White House news briefing, WND asked presidential press secretary Scott McClellan why President Bush had not taken action to prevent San Francisco from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

WND: California's Democrat state attorney general, William Lockyer, has refused to obey Governor Schwarzenegger's direction to "take immediate steps to obtain a definitive judicial resolution of this controversy," because San Francisco's actions and the governor's words present an imminent risk to civil order. And my first question, why won't the president, under his obligation in Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution, send federal agents to stop any more of these now 3,000 violations of state law by the mayor?

McCLELLAN: Well, I think, one, the governor of the state of California is working to address this issue, as you pointed out. It continues to be troubling that there are people who are ignoring the law. And there was a Superior Court ruling the other day that allowed these licensings of same-sex marriages to go forward. The president is committed to protecting and defending the sanctity of marriage. And he views some of these events as deeply troubling. And he continues to look very closely at this issue. Those events are certainly having an influence on his decision.

WND: Your explanation, that the president is giving this issue serious thought, is called, "politically foolhardy hesitancy that makes true believers think he's not with us," by Bay Buchanan. Gary Bauer says, "There is nothing else on the president's agenda that comes close to the polling numbers on this." And Tony Perkins, of Family Research Council, calls this a tremendous cultural crisis. And my question –

McCLELLAN: I was wondering if you were getting to the question.

WND: How long is the president going to fail to take action against what the governor recognizes as an imminent risk to civil order? And how many millions of evangelical votes does he expect to lose by this hesitation?

McCLELLAN: Les, this is a principled decision for the president of the United States. His views are very clear. Marriage is an enduring institution of this country, and he is committed to protecting the sanctity of marriage. He has made it very clear that he is committed to doing what is legally necessary to protect and defend the sanctity of marriage. He continues to look at this issue very seriously, and it's an issue that he feels strongly about and he will stand on principle on this issue.

WND: When will there be any action, Scott, any action?

McCLELLAN: As I said, he continues to look at it very closely and he is committed to doing what is legally necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage. WorldNetDailyNews.  (WND)