Condi recognizes gay man's "mother in law" in front of Laura Bush at official ceremony

It doesn't get more real than that. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a member of George Bush's cabinet, while standing alongside First Lady Laura Bush, recognized a gay man, his partner, and his "mother in law" - i.e., his gay partner's mom.

For all the criticism we give Condi, and it's well deserved, she gets kudos for this one. I interviewed her years ago, during the 1999 campaign for the presidency, and the lady doesn't let out a word she doesn't mean. She said "mother in law" because she meant "mother in law." And she meant to say it in front of Mrs. Bush and the cameras. She knew exactly what she was doing. The question is why Ms. Rice felt the need to make a pro-gay gesture at this point in time. With the Foley scandal in full bloom, you'd think the Bushies would want to stay away from gays like the plague.

Yes, I get it - Foley is not a "gay" scandal, BUT, the gay issue is obviously hot right now, and with the religious right seething like neo-Nazis at a synagogue, it just strikes me as odd, though welcome, that Rice decided now was the time to make a bold gesture in favor of gay marriage - and that's essentially what she did.