Obama calls plaintiffs in gay marriage case

President Barack Obama issued a statement applauding the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, saying the "country is better off for it."

He also issued a private statement via a phone call to plaintiffs in the case, including Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, offering them congratulations for their work.

The court's 5-4 ruling deemed the 1996 law unconstitutional under the equal protection clause and the opinion said the power to regulate marriage belonged to the states, not the federal government.