this is the most progressive president that we've ever had. >> that's a low bar, then. >> if someone else is president, all of the other things that i've talked about are going to go away. >> wow, welcome back to "hardball." that was dan defending the president this morning at the net root nation's conference. the president has been criticized by progressives, some, for not pushing hard enough with gay rights issues and reform. are they asking for too much? a great topic that is going to continue for months. the daily beast, michelle goldberg and steve. welcome back, steve. let's go to this whole question of the issue of the gay rights issue. michelle, i do know that the president was very good on don't ask, don't tell. it's gone and off the books. it's great it's gone. he's saying stop enforcing it, it's unconstitutional.