Four days after the third and final presidential debate, a panel discussion on Fox News Sunday turned into a virtual shouting match on the question of John Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney's homosexuality. Posted on 10/18/2004 9:00:35 AM PDT by JustaCowgirl
With the U.S. presidential election just a few weeks away, much political discussion centers on questions of national security and economic affairs. But America's news media remain focused on the controversy that erupted last week when Democratic Party presidential hopeful John Kerry mentioned the sexual orientation of Vice President Cheney's daughter, Mary, who is gay. Debate over the appropriateness of Mr. Kerry's comment dominated several U.S. television political programs Sunday.
Four days after the third and final presidential debate, a panel discussion on Fox News Sunday turned into a virtual shouting match on the question of John Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney's homosexuality.
Passions ran even higher on NBC's McLaughlin Group.
The furor began during last week's presidential debate, when President Bush and Senator Kerry were asked if they believe homosexuality is a choice. Mr. Bush said he did not know.
"I think, if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she is being who she was [is]. She is being who she was born as," replied Mr. Kerry.
After the debate, Vice President Cheney's wife, Lynne, denounced the senator for his remark.
"This [Mr. Kerry] is not a good man," said Mrs. Cheney. "What a cheap and tawdry political trick!"
A poll released by The Washington Post newspaper shows two-thirds of Americans believe mentioning the sexual orientation of Mr. Cheney's daughter in a public forum was "inappropriate."
But Democratic Party officials are defending Mr. Kerry, pointing out that Mary Cheney is an openly gay public figure. She has served as a beer company's outreach coordinator to America's gay community, and is currently working for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. They also point out that the vice president, himself, has spoken proudly of his daughter while discussing the politically-contentious issue of gay marriage on the campaign trail.
"With respect to the question of gay marriage, Lynne and I have a gay daughter," he said. "We have two daughters and we have enormous pride in both of them. They are both fine young women."
Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation program, Democratic strategist Tad Devine said Senator Kerry meant no disrespect in mentioning Mary Cheney, and accused Republicans of pouncing on the controversy to deflect attention from pressing issues at home and abroad.
"John Kerry was being positive," said Mr. Devine. "Unfortunately, it [the remark] was perceived otherwise. And I think I know why. The president lost three debates to John Kerry. The president's position is eroding in the polls. The president cannot defend his record over the last four years."
Republicans strongly disagree. President Bush's campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, spoke on NBC's Meet the Press.
"It is wrong to bring up the private life of a member of the vice president's family to make a political point. It is that simple," he said. Mr. Melhman added that Senator Kerry has shown he is willing to say anything to get elected.
Public opinion surveys taken after the last debate showed Senator Kerry edging President Bush in the 90-minute exchange. But most polls continue to show President Bush leading Mr. Kerry by single digits nationwide.
B) August 24, 2004: ""Lynne and I have a gay daughter, so it's an issue our family is very familiar with," Cheney told an audience that included his daughter.
C) Gay. Or stupid or drug users or idiots or slime bags or drunkards. What is truly amazing is that you don't even understand how that comment is about 400 times more insulting to Mary Cheney than anything JF'in said.
GET A LIFE!!!
I did not say it about Mary Cheney I was using it as examples of what other people might say about your children that would be offensive.
You seem to be the one that doesn't UNDERSTAND. You made a comment to me about what if and I answered with examples of nasty things that could be publically said about your children that would need to be defended.
If VP Cheney wants to say things about his family so be it - but that idiot John Kerry does not know Mary Cheney and should keep his mouth shut about her.
But Kerry has a *plan*...
http://www.asjewelers.com/FRstuff/7/I_have_a_plan.wmv
If it is in the category of tall or brunette, who cares whether Kerry says it in public? If it is in the category of drunken or slime bag or idiot, then it would be a slur to say it.
If it is a slur to call her a lesbian, being a lesbian must, ipso facto, be a bad thing. So how can her parents say that Kerry slurred her?
The Rats would be having a hissy fit if the president said ANTYHING about one of Kerry's daughters.
Kerry and Edwards taking the time to mention the sexuality of the vice president's daughter is so below the already low level of discourse that we expect from the Rats that I'm surprised he hasn't lost even more votes.
If Kerry loses, it's because he turned off so many voters with that comment.
Can you imagine the meltdown the Rats would be having if the president said:
"We recognize that obesity is a problem in the country and so we know that Edwards loves his wife who is overweight and we admire that."
OR
"We recognize that mental health is a serious issue in the country and so we will be addressing that topic. We admire Senator Kerry for loving his first wife, despite her mental health problems. He loved her. Right up until he left her."
I can just imagine!!!!!
If Kerry loses, it's because he turned off so many voters with that comment.
Well, I'm hoping that's not the only reason, but it's certainly not helping him. I don't think it's the comments themselves, it's the monumental insensitivity and arrogance that he (and his associates) displayed in that episode.
So ... you're a female, then?
You know what - one of my kids is gay and we love him with all our hearts - but until HE wants the public to know it is none of anyones business!!!!!
You seem to think anyone and everything is fair game
Plan and simple -
Stay out of other people lives unless and until they want your input.
It's a slur to call anybody anything that is taken as a perceived insult. It has nothing to do with what the victim thinks about it, and everything to do with what the person saying it means by it. And that is partly an issue of context. Do you assume that a person is ashamed of being Hispanic if they don't like being called a Spic? Or that a person from the South thinks it's 'wrong' to be Southern if they object to being called a redneck by someone they don't know?
It is a huge, huge insult to call her out, expose her private life to millions, and put words in her mouth that purport to present how she feels about private and personal issues. It has nothing to do with whether one considers that saying someone is gay is inherently an insult. And Kerry took a rhetorical detour from about New York to California to throw those jabs in, also, so it was OBVIOUSLY a preplanned event.
There is NO comparison between Kerry's stunt and Dick Cheney saying in public, in context, that his daughter is gay and that is partly why he feels a certain way on a particular issue. Absolutely none.
Her homosexuality has been public knowledge for years.
See #53
Completely irrelevant.
He didn't do that. Mary Cheney did, years ago. Her mom and dad did, years ago. The VP has even mentioned in on Meet The Press.
And she isn't ashamed of it. And nothing JF'inK said indicated that he meant it as a slur, like your examples of spic and redneck.
Tempest, meet teapot.
Why do you feel that "outing" her on national tv is somehow aokay? EVERYONE did not know about her. And it was simply an attemt by Kerry to "out" her to some Bush backers.
You know what, I am just a simple housewife and mom. I do not possess your superior intelligence as all I do is take care of kids,clean house, wash and iron,make meals, etc.
But I do know that family privacy should be protected!!!
I will say it again and keep repeating it - do not mess with my family unless you want the wrath of one mean and angry mom after your a***s. Believe me I have had to defend my kids in the past and the other guy was not a pretty sight.
Well David Spade said most women are two drinks away from a girl/girl encounter.......
However, as usual, he never answered the question.
The furor began during last week's presidential debate, when President Bush and Senator Kerry were asked if they believe homosexuality is a choice. Mr. Bush said he did not know.
"I think, if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she is being who she was [is]. She is being who she was born as," replied Mr. Kerry.
So, he THINKS that if you ask Mary, she JUST MIGHT, MAYBE, KINDA say YES or NO.
His answer can be deciphered, but really takes no official stand on the issue.
she would tell you that she is being who she was.
And what is that. Human, or female, or lesbian, or born rich, or what?
She is being who she was born as,"
Ok. Again... Human, small, hungry, female baby.
I rather doubt that anyone ever looks at their newborn, and says, (he or)She is gay.
I rather doubt God creates newborns gay. It is counterproductive to the species.
Or
Prenuptual agreements are a serious issue in this country but if we asked Teresa Heinz Kerry I think she'd say she was just doing what she does.
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