When Pajamas Media asked me to write a piece on former Vice President Cheney’s recent reiteration of preference of a federalist approach to same-sex marriage, I decided to see what the various gay groups were saying about this good man’s recent comments. What I found should not be a shock to those who read this blog. Indeed, it fits their pattern. That pesky little (R) after a politician’s name renders him all but immune from praise (from gay groups).
Let me whet your appetite with a few paragraphs from that article:
Two weeks ago, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a speech at the American Enterprise Institute “on the serious and ongoing threat terrorism poses to the United States.” He defended the Bush Administration’s record in the War on Terror and took issue with some of the criticisms and policies of the current President.
It was a good speech, earning him high marks across the political spectrum, particularly among conservatives, eager to hear our ideas defended with such vigor and conviction. As Cheney burnished his conservative credentials at AEI last month, on Monday, in remarks at the National Press Club, he showed that he does not toe the party line on all issues. He once again parted company with George W. Bush, the man who tapped him as his running mate and in whose Administration he served loyally for eight years, on gay marriage. The former Vice President reiterated a point he has made publicly at least since the 2000 vice presidential debate, that we should take a federal approach to recognition of same-sex unions:
I think that freedom means freedom for everyone. And, as many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don’t support. I do believe that the historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. … But I don’t have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that.
You can read the rest here.
Well put, Dan. You rock!
Regards,
Peter H.
Where are the Republicans who are actually in office supporting Gay rights issues? And what did Cheney do to support Gay marriage while in office?
Unfortunately, BDS still has my leftist friends in its gripe, and they are completely unimpressed with Cheney’s comments, saying that leaving it to the states is a cop out and that “if he had his way” he wouldn’t support it at the federal level. In other words, he and all Republicans are still christianists and hate us.
/head banging
Um, Tom, it seems all you can do is attack, attack, attack.
If you bothered to study the former Vice President’s record, you would know he distinguished himself from Bush while he was in office. Made it easier for wavering Republicans to vote against the FMA, knowing there was dissension on the issue within the Administration.
Is it not within your programming to offer even the slightest praise to a Republican?
Would love to read page 2, but it won’t load on PJM.
Is it not within your programming to offer even the slightest praise to a Republican?
Of course not. Especially hilarious given what “Tom in Lazybrook” and his fellow gay leftists endorse and support.
Good thing he’s not running again because he pissed off a whole lot of his former supporters. Matt Barber says that Cheney’s love for his daughter clouds his judgement. Would have been nice if Cheney could have said something while in office but I understand why he couldn’t (since it is against the party line). The major gay groups should definitely have acknowledged Cheney’s statements.
Cheney won’t get any accolades until he declares himself a Democrat.
Actually, he did quite a few times. However, when you’re blinded by your own hatred and bigotry, I can understand how you would totally miss it.
#9
As one who idolizes scum like Ann Coulter you certainly know what it means to be blinded by hate and bigotry, you live that way daily.
And faced with the fact he was wrong adDave resorts to insult and slander. I think the best part of adDave’s drivel, is he apparently missed the link in the psot to the 2000 debates. VP Cheney has been consistant.
I don’t doubt that he loves his daughter immensely. I do see him as being representative of a generation that is not as comfortable discussing LGBT issues so openly.
I sometimes get the feeling that it has helped shape his daughters personal approach to disussing her own sexuality.
#2 you are correct. Cheney isn’t interested in helping out our community. He’s only saying this stuff because his daughter is gay. I can guarantee you that he would be completely against same sex marriage if she wasn’t.
Maybe so, NJ Liberal. But Cheney has done more than Obama in support of same sex marriage since the election.
And now NJ bigot has psychic powers?
The facts on the ground remain that VP Cheney has had a consistant position he’s spoken abotu for at least nine years. Instead of appriciating an ally, in one post, NJ Bigot proves the point of the thread.
May liberal gays/lesbians have a hard time grasping the fact that some go us prefer to stay out of the limelight. They believe if you are a high profile homosexual then it is your duty to serve as an activist to the cause.
He’s only saying this stuff because his daughter is gay. I can guarantee you that he would be completel y against same sex marriage if she wasn’t.
you’re probably right, NJLiberal…. but what’s wrong with that? i grew up in the southern baptist church believing homosexuality was a sin. fortunately, a friend of mine wrote a book which convinced me otherwise. had i never known this friend, i’d probably still believe what i grew up being taught.
it’s largely through relationship and trust that our opinions are changed. that cheney’s thoughts on the subject have been shaped by his daughter’s sexuality is no surprise. i have friends whose parents have rejected them because of their sexuality. if anything, this is a credit to cheney.
Kelly, why do you assume the worst about Cheney? Though you may well be right that he wouldn’t support such unions if his daughter were not gay, he does support them now.
No need to assume the worst, just acknowledge what he has done — as you do.
sorry if i miscommunicated… i don’t assume the worst about him at all.
Kelly, thanks for clarifying. What explains then the first ¶ of your post, you “guarantee” that he would be completely against gay marriage if he didn’t have a lesbian daughter?
Can you cite things he has said or done on which you base your observation?