Dick Cheney’s daughter, Mary Cheney, has been labeled as a "sinner" by many right-wing republicans who don’t agree with her lesbian lifestyle. Despite this, Mary has continued to be a member of the republican party and was an active participant in the 2004 Bush/Cheney campaign for office.
But is Mary Cheney a hypocrite? The Republican party says homosexuality is incompatible with military service. Most Republicans are against gay marriage and gay adoptions. Yet Mary Cheney continues to be a card carrying member!
ABC’s Diane Sawyer interviewed her yesterday and she had to this to say:
Diane: If you went to your dad and said do something about gays in the military...what would he say to you?
Mary: I wouldn’t do that. My dad knows my position on gays in the military.
Diane: But is it hard for you?
Mary: Yes, we discuss and debate.. dinner time can always be an adventure in the Cheney house, but those are always private discussions.
Diane: President Bush said on March 22, 1999, "Im against gay adoptions."
Mary: I’m not against gay adoptions.
Diane: Is your dad in favor of gay adoption?
Mary: You’re going to have to ask my dad that one.
Diane: If your dad were not Vice President, would you be in this party?
Mary: Um, I don’t tend to like hypothetical questions.
Diane: Would you be supporting President Bush?
Mary: In the 2004 campaign?...you bet.
I don't see her as a hypocrite. I see her as honest. She has chosen to respect her father's views and opinions on subjects that she does not agree with him on. That is bold. Especially when your dad is VP.
Disagreeing with someone on one issue, but supporting them overall, hardly counts as being a hypocrite. I disagree with the President and the Republican party line over a LOT of things, but I still support them over the Democrats - especially when a real hypocrite like John Kerry is running.
I agree with your statement. However, I find it hard to understand how gay people can support Republicans "overall" when Republicans blatantly discriminate against gays on more than one issue. I know that being gay doesnt have to be a political thing..but by having anti gay policies, the Republicans are attacking the very core of an entire group of people. It just irks me.
I respect a person's right to stay private. But its not accurate to say that she's done nothing more than quietly respect her father's views and opinions..she worked hard on the 2004 campaign to get Bush reelected..and yet Bush is the source of so much anti-gay legislation and policy.
She should be able to do what she wants. She can't help being a lesbian.. it just happens. I am proud of her and I definitely do not think she is a sinner. Gays and lesbians are people too and should all be treated equally.
That doesnt mean anything. Maybe Mary thought George Bush was the best presidential candidate. Mary cannot change the opinion of her father, and just because George Bush says he is agaisnt gay adoption, how does that mean she is? I have extremely different views than my parents, and apparently does Mary since she said she and her dad debate.
The fact that you may have different opinions that your parents is one thing..but if your parents views are decidedly different from yours on key issues that are extremely important to you...and you publicly support and endorse your parents' campaign..thats a whole other thing. Thats a thing I call hypocrisy.
I don't see her as being a hypocrite... I just think she's being supportive of her dad. It may not be the same thing I would have done, but it's her choice.
And not all Republicans are agaisnt gay marriage... look up "Log Cabin Republicans" on Google.
"Wer mit Ungeheuern kämpft, mag zusehn, dass er nicht dabei zum Ungeheuer wird. Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein."
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Friedrich Nietzsche
Ok, first off all Christians are sinners. That's a given. Being branded by one is just pointing out the obvious. I thought we put this issue passed us after Kerry lost the election.
It is all politics. Actually before the presidency George Bush was pro civil unions...Politicians are not always the nobel ones looking out for the good of all people...often they are just shmoes swaying with the wind trying to keep their jobs...She is just being a politician...she and heather are wealthy enough and well enough known to have many legal protections many of us wish we had and they being childless do not feel how unfair and frightening it could be to not have the right and protections for our children. She makes it sound that it was all her choice not to stir the pot or make her very presence a political statement. wheather she was muzzeled by her party or it was her choice she was muzzeled regardless... how extreamly sad and there is no explaining that away...when her father and mother and her sisters family got up on stage and they were in the seats whether that was their choice to do so doesn't take away how sad that they would be allowed to do so ...shame on her parents to leave it up to them...My parents would never have left that to be a choice for me and my partner it would be one choice and that would be for ALL of us to be on stage...
Not impressed. I think shes giving to much. She is still compromising her voice. Whether it is for her family or for some political party does not make a difference. Have any of you seen her father on television candidly speaking about his daughter and how he supports her? Yeah, I completely felt the love between them in that interview. Dinner sounds more like a Dr. appointed or trip to the lawyer in that household. Does anyone else think that it is her fathers duty as well to show support for her. For me the fact that her father is Cheney has no bearing on any of this. Many gay people, including myself, will compromise or change how they live, act or speak for the benefit of others. We make an attempt to smooth things over. Why is this our job? It is becuase generally in society it is still perceived that gays are not "normal". Therefore it seems we are always expected to make amends as our lifestyle is the factor that is creating waves. I have seen it too often and I myself did it for way too long. I was not impressed with anything she had to say. If her father actually appeared with her it might have been an impressive interview and actually supported that gays are a functional part of this society. GOD FORBID!!
Thanks for your brave opinion. Its an interesting point you make about Dick showing public support for his daughter. Not once did he do so in any of the campaign slinging. Of course, Kerry apologized after he commented about Mary being a lesbian..but Dick...he can't touch the subject with a ten foot pole.
Its a shame that Cheney can have a lesbian daughter and still be cruel towards gays. Shows how great hypocrates republicans are.
It important to remember that MANY democrats have come out against gay marriage as well so its not just a republican issue. We shouldnt be hypocritical ourselves when only mentioning republicans on that issue.
I have to say, I give her credit for writing the book. She seems to be a very well educated, down to earth person. The one item I would disagree with is her reaction to the question about Kerry using her homosexuality during the campaign. I dont believe he did anything wrong. The topic had been broached before by her parents while campaigning. Kerrys comments were not mean spirited by any means. He was asked a question about gay marriage rights and he his response included his thoughts on Dick Cheney and having a gay child.
Had she not been involved in her fathers campaign and her parents had not brought the topic up themselves, then I would agree with her. When you get so deeply involved in campaigning, especially during a time when the topic was such a huge issue in an election cycle, its going to be discussed. I think she was either being very naive or turning it around and using it against the Kerry campaign.
She is being very honest here. She won't say anything about her dad that is agianst anything else. You have to be proud of people like that.
I'm not sure what all the previous comments say, so if I repeat anything...forgive me.
People want political parties to be cut and dry. I agree with items in both parties and find it hard just to choose one side or another. There are so many aspects to be considered. I believe it's hard to call someone a hyprocrite because of such items, because there are stronger reasons for her following that party. If there weren't, then chances are the comments about gay marriage would have been a determining factor.
"Ideas are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny."
There are a lot of gay republicans...
http://online.logcabin.org/
Since this is the case, I don't really see Mary Cheney as a hypocrite. Not every member of the republican party is a bible-thumping maniac.
On the other hand, I think her dad is the real hypocrite here, since he advocates against the rights of gay people as a representative of his party, but then doesn't pursue that position when it is his daughter that is involved.
percivale
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Arthur: Which is the greatest quality of knighthood?
Merlin: Truth. That's it. Yes. It must be truth, above all. When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.
(From John Boorman's Excalibur)