Codification is not a made up concept. The legislative process of passing a federal law to make the protections permanent would be binding in all states, and Obama stated it was his highest priority, until he had a supermajority and said it was no longer one. He did hand the GOP an SC seat however.
In this context it is made up. Democrats “codified” gay marriage in 2022, but it can still be overturned by the Supreme Court. Just like they overturned the Defense of Marriage act in 2015 when they legalized gay marriage. SCOTUS can strike down laws passed by Congress, that’s its job.
I'm aware that they can, but that supposes that it will. Laws have a role, and under a just dispensation, the SC will not overturn just laws. When you have a president going 'oh well nothing can be done' when it's blatantly his SC justice to nominate, you get a Federalist and unjust SC.
Obama governed in a constitutional system. He didn’t have powers to force the Senate to do anything. He could persuade individuals if they were willing, but from Lieberman to McConnell they were not. And he only had a cooperative House for two years.
And if you don’t want them to feel obligated to constitutional boundaries, good luck. That never ends well. That’s what you’re supposed to learn in history.
Again, 'the president couldn't do anything except hand over the country to neo-confederates' is complete horseshit. If it had been a Dem senate and a GOP president, the blood would have been flowing in the streets. Saying well it was our turn but they just wouldn't is why we have fascism.