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Scripture admonishes us to be as wise as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

Nowhere does Scripture implore us to lie, be phonies, excuse the bad conduct of others based on political affiliation or weasel-word our statements. Christ had a term for people who did this: whitened sephulcres.

Alan Keyes is actually the only one not being a hypocrite in this sad circumstance. He's stuck to his position on homosexuality (the proper position, I might add) despite the fact that his own daughter has turned against him.

Alan Keyes is actually the only one not being a hypocrite in this sad circumstance. He's stuck to his position on homosexuality (the proper position, I might add) despite the fact that his own daughter has turned against him.

I agree. All the criticsizim I've seen so far has been looking for a problem to have.

Jesus Christ used different techniques in different circumstances to achieve His goals on earth. He used harsh language to denounce the Pharisees, yet stated to the woman who was to be stoned to death for adultery that He did not condemn her, but commanded her to sin no more. Our Lord used different methods of correction on the same person. When Peter refused to accept Jesus' statement that He would be killed, Jesus called Peter "Satan." Yet He also admonished Peter for his triple betrayal after His arrest, not with harsh language, but the question, "Do you love me?". Jesus defied the religious and civil authorities when He expelled the moneychangers from the Temple. Yet he commanded obedience to civil authority in his command to "render unto Caesar." More significantly, Our Lord offered no resistance to the Jewish and Roman authorities from His arrest at Gethsemane to His crucifixion.

Furthermore, it is overreaching to compare Dick Cheney to a Pharisee. On foreign policy and most domestic matters, Cheney is more conservative than the Bush Administration generally and thus closer to Alan Keyes' positions.

Nowhere did Jesus Christ alter his principles, but His technique and strategy changed depending on the circumstance and the person. Strategy is not the same as principle. It is wrong when one abandons principle for the sake of strategy. Last year, President Bush and Senator Santorum (R - Pennsylvania) abandoned their pro-life and conservative principles by supporting the pro-abortion Arlen Spector (RINO - Scotland) against a pro-life, conservative challenger in the Republican primary. However, it is not compromise to tailor one's message before certain audiences. Inner city residents are interested in tougher law enforcement and stiffer sentences for convicted criminals. Lower taxes and less regulation of business will appeal to residents of more affluent suburbs. The wise politician will know what to say and when to say it.

I agree with Alan Keyes' position on homosexuality and support his "tough love" technique toward his daughter. I regard the Cheneys' approach toward their daughter as too permissive. I also don't see a problem with Keyes condemning homosexuality despite the sexual orientation of his daughter. Phyllis Schafly's son has been "outed" for more than a decade, yet that has not stopped her from condemning perversion. That being said, there is a time and a place for comments on Cheney's daughter and her lesbianism. Keyes, under pressure, chose the wrong one.