I hope that Wellstone, like Powell, might eventually have become one of those people who admit, "I was wrong" on this particular issue -- had he lived.

For what it's worth, Wellstone said this in The Conscience of a Liberal:

When Sheila and I attended a Minnesota memorial service for Matthew Shepard, I thought to myself, "Have I taken a position that contributed to a climate of hatred?" Of course, I had never believed this when I voted for [the Defense of Marriage Act.] But if you deny people who are in a stable, loving relationship the right to marry, do you deny them their humanity? I still wonder if I did the right thing.

That aside: a lot of people use "because Paul said so" in arguments about gay rights, but I've never seen it done with *that* Paul before! Disagreeing with Paul Wellstone is the best way I can think of to honor his memory.

-- R