“Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. ... Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible. We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama.”

“[Sen. Larry] Craig’s peculiar hand and foot movements while in a bathroom stall don’t constitute a crime. Even if he intended a silent sexual proposition, no law exists nor should one that criminalizes a request for noncommercial sex between adults. So the cops relied on a disorderly conduct charge, which outlaws any conduct that could ‘arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others.’ I’ve probably written columns that violate that law. I know I’ve gotten e-mail that does.”

“My mother had a hairdresser who looked like, I don’t know, Liberace on steroids. It was frightening! And I thought he was the only gay person in the world, and I didn’t wanna be like him. I figured out that the feelings that I had towards other boys were not to be revealed. So, you learn to live a double life.”

“[T]he worst thing [about being famous] is that I can’t meet guys on Manhunt anymore. Well, I guess I can. No. The worst thing I guess is there’s a certain preciousness to privacy, and just having that anonymity to go to the grocery store and look a mess, and just go get your paper on a Sunday morning. But that’s a small price to pay for all the great things, and that’s what my job is now. With every job there are pros and cons, but I’m happy to take them. I usually get a better table at a restaurant.”