"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 202 Recap: “An American Family”

Kevin has parked the minivan and Kitty is out on the road talking to Luther Reeves (think Rush Limbaugh sans the vicodin slur.)

Luther: The American people are entitled to know that the Lincoln bedroom might well be used for sexual acts forbidden in the bible.

Kevin grabs the phone away from Kitty.

Kevin: It wouldn’t be the first time.
Luther: What was that? Did you just say Abraham Lincoln was gay?

Nora gets in on the act at this point and grabs the phone.

Nora: Just pick up a recent history book Luther, if you can read!
Luther: Well there you go America. The McAllister campaign thinks Abe Lincoln was gay.
Kitty: You’ve twisted everything I’ve said. You and the lunatic fringe that listen to this drivel have ruined the country and subverted conservatism into the ideology of hate. (Hangs up. Gets off soap box.)

Uh oh. When McAllister gets wind of this Kitty’s going to have some 'splainin to do.

Almost on cue Kitty’s cell phone rings.

Cut to McAllister’s private jet/traveling tanning salon. And he is mightily peeved.

McAllister: You gave him our heads. We’ll be sucking up to Democrats for the next eight years.

And that’s a real shame because I was looking forward to a scene next year with Jason and Kevin actually ensconced in the Lincoln bedroom. Not having sex mind you, just checking the comforter for bodily fluids like they do on CSI – with an ultraviolet light.

Kitty: Did you hear what Luther Reeves was saying?
McAllister: I don’t care what he was saying. I care what you were saying. You called Abe Lincoln a homosexual.
Kitty: Technically that was Kevin. But what if he were? Would you simply dismiss his presidency?

You tell him Kitty. Lincoln’s sharing a bed with a male companion is no big deal. Hardly on the same order as, say, mentioning Warren G. Harding and those scandalous things he did with a teapot dome. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Prez Harding was in the hospital emergency room trying to explain that one: “Clutzy me. I was touring the White House china room, tripped over a gravy boat, and landed in Dolly Madison’s tea service!”

Kitty tells McAllister to calm down. She knows she’s made a mess, but she’ll fix it. After they hang up, Travis the heartless campaign manager pulls the Senator aside.

Travis: Man to man. Is there any chance you can get out of this wedding?
McAllister: (clearly thinking about it). No. I’m madly in love with her.

Cut to Tommy’s office. He’s interviewing Rebecca’s pretty blond friend, Lena.

Tommy: Well, let’s see here, old friend of Rebecca’s, Holly gave you a glowing recommendation, hey that’s good enough for me.

Oh for goodness sake. Charles Manson could get past Tommy’s employee screening process. Maybe Tommy’s just taken in by her fetching blond hair and winning smile. Me, I’m not so quickly sold on this new Lena character.

Enter Saul, who is showing off a welcome home present he got for Justin. It’s a vintage Bakelite checker set. Ooh fancy. Uncle Saul is particularly lighthearted in this scene and talks about how he used to spoil his nieces and nephews with fancy restaurant dinners. Lena assumes he is gay and tries to fix him up with someone “handsome and completely age appropriate.”

Wow, that was hugely presumptuous of the girl. For all she knows, Uncle Saul is a total chicken hawk and, in his case, age-appropriate would be 22 or so. But as for reading him as gay – girlfriend hit a bullseye. This Lena’s a truth-teller. I think I like her already.

Tommy: Lena, my uncle is not gay.
Saul: Oh, please, I’m flattered. I also love opera and mid-century furniture. And the great irony of my life is that I love women as well.

Just not to sleep with.

Cut across the hall to Sarah’s office. Rebecca is there waiting for her and asks if she’s met with Joe yet. Sarah says she has, but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Rebecca: The thing is, I kind of wanted to talk to you about Joe and the kiss.
Sarah: Oh, please we are so past that.
Rebecca: Yeah, I know but it’s because I kissed him back. It wasn’t just him. I may have even led him on a little bit.