Mr. Fineman,
I was disappointed with your column today in Newsweek online. It pains me to think that "the press" is as bigoted as you imply - given their reaction to John Kerry's remark regarding Mary Cheney's daughter. There was NOTHING inappropriate about John Kerry's comment because there is NOTHING wrong with Mary being a lesbian. Secondly, it is appropriate for Kerry to bring it up because Cheney has done so himself within the context of a political setting. I am sure you remember the town hall campaign meeting with Lynn where he discussed it extensively.
This whole episode reminds me of a time in my childhood when my Aunt came to visit us in Florida with her new "friend" Marci. I was told that "we just shouldn't talk about it - it is ok, but a lot of people might not understand". You might think not a lot has changed in 30 years, but you would be wrong. You see, my Aunt was a 45 year old white woman, and Marci was her African American boyfriend. Today, I look back on that whole episode and laugh - as the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court has an Inter-racial marriage. I would not be surprised to see an openly gay man or Lesbian as Chief Justice 30 years from now. I expect to look back on this whole episode and laugh.