you still have not answered the question
What Operating System is this ?
su and su - are used as default on RHEL based systems
BUT
RHEL / CentOS /SL all allow root gui login
!!! use at own RISK!!!
Now , Fedora DOSE NOT!!!!!!!
so a guess here
you are using fedora
there is a so called " pam hack"
that is NOT RECOMMENDED !!!!!!!!!!!
it causes all kinds of problems
problems that will basically turn the fedora install into a "horror story"
and a pain in the rear end to even try to use
Warning:
DO NOT USE THAT HACK!!!!!!!
PS
and what ever you do
DO NOT do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Code:
"username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL"
DO NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
do not set up a normal user as root with no pasword
!!!!! a very very VERY BAD IDEA!!!!!!!!