Memorial Day, continued: "This amendment doesn't represent what I went to fight for."

To be sure, it's a legislative vignette from Minnesota, where rationality has been known to break out periodically in spite of Michele Bachmann's residency. I doubt it's necessary to remind you who might profit from this example when it comes to elucidating principle, rather than counting next election's votes.

Jon Tevlin: Kriesel's honesty is a breath of fresh air at Capitol

... (John) Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, was the guy who broke with his fellow Republicans on the attempt to put a gay marriage ban into the state Constitution. His eloquent and passionate speech on the floor of the House brought cheers from gay marriage supporters outside the chamber.

That day, Kriesel distributed a photo of Andrew Wilfahrt, a gay Minnesota soldier killed in Afghanistan.

"I cannot look at this picture ... and say, 'You know what, Corporal? You were good enough to fight for this country and give your life, but you were not good enough to marry the person you love,'" Kriesel said. "This amendment doesn't represent what I went to fight for."

Watch: Conservative lawmaker, Iraq veteran crushes GOP gay bashing