This remark was made during a private conversation. If you want to blame someone for "corrupting" the children, blame it on Leahy for whining about it and media for reporting it as world shattering news. BTW, if you've ever heard a conversation between kids, this word is already part of their vocabulary. Furthermore, clinton didn't just make the use of the words Oral Sex acceptable, but the practice of it.
Cheney was at work as an elected official when this occurred. It is an untenable argument that children already say it thus our leaders should get a free pass when they use expletives. The idea is to set a good example. I'm sure Cheney, with his wealth of experience and knowledge, could have expressed himself better than he did.
If Leahy hadn't ran (and there are reports that, LITERALLY, he was scurrying to a reporter to relay the incident) and did the cry-baby, tattle-tale about a converstion between 2 grown men (...well, um, at least 1 grown man), then no one would know about it.
Second, I can't really that you are equating a expletive-laced phrase with what Clinton did. Are you series? Come on.
I understand that you are trying to be fair in your assessment of this situation and I appreciate that. But, it isn't the case that the VP was on TV at the time and started cursing at the camera. Nor is it the case that he was speaking in a magazine interview (like, say, I don't know, Rolling Stone) and let the F-bombs fly.
So, with all due respect, I think you are being a wee bit Puritan in your assessment.
"This remark was made during a private conversation. If you want to blame someone for "corrupting" the children, blame it on Leahy for whining about it and media for reporting it as world shattering news."
Even better, BLAME LEAHY for setting a bad example for children by
BEARING FALSE WITNESS
against the Vice President!
I, for one, was also quite disappointed with Cheney's behavior and cursing. The Senate is steeped in tradition and decorum. In fact, politics are set aside and members of the Senate are expected to be genteel men and women. Cheney violated that. If Cheney held this conversation on the steps of the capital out of earshot of anyone else I would have no problem with it. I wouldn't have a problem with it if the two of them went to blows over it away from everyone else. But to say what Cheney said on the floor of the Senate is crass and classless. I expect much better of Cheney. Having class means you don't stoop to the level Cheney did. Cheney should rise above the bitter partisan chatter and fulfill the role and image of the Vice President and President of the Senate.
Its pointless and looks very bad to try to blame Leahey for Cheney's classless gutter talk and behavior.