From Harvey Milk To Ted Olson

A fascinating interview with a conservative defender of individual freedom and civil rights. Money quote:

I hope some people will open their eyes to the decency of getting to the point where we allow gay and lesbian individuals to be married and have a happy life... I am getting comments from some segments of the society who feel that it's the wrong thing to do and I'm betraying the conservative cause and things that I've stood for in my life. Some of it is quite hostile. But that goes with the territory. On the other hand, I'm hearing from people, including plenty of Republicans, who are very, very grateful. It has been overwhelmingly gratifying to hear from very decent people who are touched by the fact that we're trying to help.

A woman came up to me in our library in our law firm and said, "You and I haven't worked together, but I'm a lesbian. My partner and I have two children." And she burst into tears. I put my arm around her and she put her arms around me. This stands for what we're trying to accomplish here. It's a principle, but it's a principle that deeply touches human beings. If we're successful, we can help the lives of literally millions of people. And what a great service that would be.

Indeed. Maybe one day, the current insanity on the right will moderate to a point where a humane and conservative reform can win out over the fundamentalist psyche. But not until the toxins of Rove and Fox are drained out of the system.