You know, after I posted, I was afraid someone would take it that way, which was not my intent at all. I think, however, that Kerry et. al. believe that there are people, would-be Bush voters, who would and do equate homosexuality with those sort of things, and Kerry was pandering to that type of bigotry. I think that makes him as bad as a bigot himself. For him to try reaping electoral gains from the animosity of others toward homosexuals is pretty low. I wonder if any homosexual voters will consider that fact... that Kerry is trafficking in hatred toward them to try to boost his campaign. I am convinced that the reason for these comments by Kerry and Edwards was to try to alienate voters from Bush. Anyway, as I've posted elsewhere, I don't take issue with Mary Cheney's private life, but that is separate from my views on gay marriage, protected class, and other legal issues involving homosexuality. But I find it amazing that Kerry is apparently against homophobia... unless he can incite it to benefit himself. But I do apologize if my post offended you; it wasn't meant that way and I should have been more clear.
I'm glad that you do not harbor hatred toward gay people as a group. But I do not agree that Kerry's reference was an attempt to invoke the animosity of others. I thought it was an attempt to make President Bush look hypocritical because of his backing of a constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage.
I thought that Cheney's own public statement about his gay daughter showed that President Bush and his administration would not put up with homophobia. If there were any hatred out there, I thought he was giving notice that it was not welcome in the Republican party, and I admired that courage. That is why I am puzzled by the remarks made by Lynne Cheney and Vice-President Cheney after the debate. But if they agreed with your interpretation of Kerry's remarks, that would explain their anger.