You saw the Cheney headline: "[F]reedom means freedom for everyone." -- But there is more here . . . .
Vice President's Cheney says that he sees gay marriage as a state issue, stating that he and his wife "Lynne . . . have a gay daughter, so it's an issue that our family is very familiar with. . . . With respect to the question of relationships, my general view is that freedom means freedom for everyone. People . . . ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to."
It is being reported that this revelation during a town hall meeting in Iowa took leaders of the GOP conservative base by surprise. This is either baloney or such leaders should not have been; the timing of his response may have been a surprise, but not the response itself.
While Cheney's remark was the first time the Vice President has taken note of his daughter's sexual orientation in public, it has been public knowledge for some time.
We all know that blood is thicker than water. I have three daughters I love dearly just as you love your children. Who among us would not stand up for our kids.
Thus while his remarks may subject him to political criticism, I for one appreciate his saying my job be damned, when the roll is called, don't count me in on wanting to put discrimination of fellow human beings, including my daughter, in the Constitution.
The question came from what was supposed to be a Republican "friendly" audience; obviously it was not a staged question. It was a direct and to the point what do you think in your "heart" about same-sex marriage.
We've all knew the question had to come at some time, just as it did four years ago, but this time it is a more volatile issue courtesy of his running mate having endorsed a constitutional amendment preventing the states from recognizing such marriages.
Now the matter is behind him, and I feel certain he is relieved it is.
Kerry also should be happy, not because it confirms a difference with Bush on a high profile issue, but because it gave the press some fodder for reporting on something other than his service record.
If Kerry is smart, he will not comment on this matter in the context of the Vice President. If he does so, it will be at his peril, and anything he says most likely will backfire or at least help the Vice President (I am reluctant to use the word sympathy, but you get my drift).
Like the guy or not, he was very diplomatic in stating "my own preference is as I've stated, [b]ut the president makes basic policy for the administration. And he's made it."
The title of this post also says "But there is more here . . . ." The more follows.
An 8-25-04 Washington Post article reporting the story states:
"Although Bush has rarely discussed his support for the amendment, conservatives viewed his stance as one of the most important social statements of his term. Republican strategists said it would motivate Christian voters to the polls even though it risks alienating swing voters."
Someone please give these guys a life.
There were some 450 people at the town hall meeting. Most of the questions other than about same-sex marriage from the crowd were supportive and respectful, but there was one more who also strayed from the planned text.
But unlike the lady who got a straight answer to her question on same-sex marriage, I don't think Cheney's answer was what the second lady had in mind. Quoting from the Washington Post:
"[O]ne woman sobbed as she told the vice president that her husband had been unemployed for several years after the pump factory where he worked closed with most of its jobs going abroad.
Cheney responded that U.S. companies would become more competitive if Congress made the last three Bush tax cuts permanent and passed legislation to limit lawsuits against manufacturers and doctors."
Oh well, Cheney probably thought after reflecting on his response, she was going to vote Democratic anyway.
Final thought: Kerry needs to quit letting W lay out the agenda for this election. Next week this will be a given. But it should not have been up to now, and hopefully will change no later than mid-September, or however long it takes for any GOP convention boost to dissipate.
It is being reported that this revelation during a town hall meeting in Iowa took leaders of the GOP conservative base by surprise. This is either baloney or such leaders should not have been; the timing of his response may have been a surprise, but not the response itself.
While Cheney's remark was the first time the Vice President has taken note of his daughter's sexual orientation in public, it has been public knowledge for some time.
We all know that blood is thicker than water. I have three daughters I love dearly just as you love your children. Who among us would not stand up for our kids.
Thus while his remarks may subject him to political criticism, I for one appreciate his saying my job be damned, when the roll is called, don't count me in on wanting to put discrimination of fellow human beings, including my daughter, in the Constitution.
The question came from what was supposed to be a Republican "friendly" audience; obviously it was not a staged question. It was a direct and to the point what do you think in your "heart" about same-sex marriage.
We've all knew the question had to come at some time, just as it did four years ago, but this time it is a more volatile issue courtesy of his running mate having endorsed a constitutional amendment preventing the states from recognizing such marriages.
Now the matter is behind him, and I feel certain he is relieved it is.
Kerry also should be happy, not because it confirms a difference with Bush on a high profile issue, but because it gave the press some fodder for reporting on something other than his service record.
If Kerry is smart, he will not comment on this matter in the context of the Vice President. If he does so, it will be at his peril, and anything he says most likely will backfire or at least help the Vice President (I am reluctant to use the word sympathy, but you get my drift).
Like the guy or not, he was very diplomatic in stating "my own preference is as I've stated, [b]ut the president makes basic policy for the administration. And he's made it."
The title of this post also says "But there is more here . . . ." The more follows.
An 8-25-04 Washington Post article reporting the story states:
"Although Bush has rarely discussed his support for the amendment, conservatives viewed his stance as one of the most important social statements of his term. Republican strategists said it would motivate Christian voters to the polls even though it risks alienating swing voters."
Someone please give these guys a life.
There were some 450 people at the town hall meeting. Most of the questions other than about same-sex marriage from the crowd were supportive and respectful, but there was one more who also strayed from the planned text.
But unlike the lady who got a straight answer to her question on same-sex marriage, I don't think Cheney's answer was what the second lady had in mind. Quoting from the Washington Post:
"[O]ne woman sobbed as she told the vice president that her husband had been unemployed for several years after the pump factory where he worked closed with most of its jobs going abroad.
Cheney responded that U.S. companies would become more competitive if Congress made the last three Bush tax cuts permanent and passed legislation to limit lawsuits against manufacturers and doctors."
Oh well, Cheney probably thought after reflecting on his response, she was going to vote Democratic anyway.
Final thought: Kerry needs to quit letting W lay out the agenda for this election. Next week this will be a given. But it should not have been up to now, and hopefully will change no later than mid-September, or however long it takes for any GOP convention boost to dissipate.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 10:50 PM
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