NPR Badgers Lynne Cheney on Daughter

NewsMax ^ | February 18, 2005 | Carl Limbacher

[Stoat]

 

NPR Badgers Lynne Cheney on Daughter

It didn't get much attention - probably because National Public Radio has so few listeners - but the taxpayer-funded network's Terry Gross recently tried to pull a John Kerry on second lady Lynne Cheney, by repeatedly hectoring her about her gay daughter Mary during a Feb. 9 interview.

After saying she knew Mrs. Cheney didn't want to discuss her daughter's private life, Gross proceeded to do just that, peppering the second lady with one question after another about the proposed constitutional gay marriage amendment and its impact on parents of gay children.

 

Mrs. Cheney, who was invited on the show to discuss her new book, "When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots," actually responded to the initial inquiry with a fairly detailed answer (see full transcript below). But the NPR host wasn't satisfied and kept pounding away on the issue.

Here's a snippet from folks who used to maintain that the private lives of elected officials are none of the public's business:

GROSS: When [President Bush] said that this amendment would be for the good of children, families and society, I couldn't help but wonder if parents of gays and lesbians would see it as being good for their families. And ...

CHENEY: I don't support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and I'll leave it right there.

GROSS: Is it because of the issue of gay marriage itself or is it because it should just be a state issue and not ...

CHENEY: Terry, I don't support the idea of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and I will leave it right there.

GROSS: Just one more question about the position that you're in.

CHENEY: Terry, I really think that we came hear to discuss history more than current events and I've made my position clear.

GROSS: Is it difficult to be in a position where you're different from the president?

CHENEY: Well, not too difficult, since I've done it - how many times now in the last ten minutes? Perhaps six? I've made my position clear. END OF EXCERPT

We trust that the next time Sen. Clinton pops in for a sit-down at NPR, Ms. Gross and her colleagues will be equally tenacious about why - to pick a topic at random - neither Hillary nor her husband have ever responded to questions about Juanita Broaddrick's sexual assault allegation.

The full Cheney-Gross exchange went like this:

GROSS: I don't want to ask you any questions about your daughter Mary because I know that you don't like to do anything that would be an invasion of her privacy. But I do want to ask your position as the mother of a gay daughter, because I think this impacts on public policy, and on the lives ...

CHENEY: How?

GROSS: Well, because the Republican Party and the President of the United States has [sic] called for a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. And because that would impact, not only the lives of gays and lesbians, but the lives of parents of gays and lesbians, I think that it would be interesting to hear your position on that constitutional amendment.

Now I know you've said you think the issue should be left to the states [but] I'd be interested to hear what you think about the issue of banning gay marriage, since it's not only an important issue in the party - you know, the president spoke about it in the State of the Union - um, and, you know, it was an important issue, I think, in getting out the evangelist vote.

CHENEY: I don't support an amendment to the Constitution banning gay marriage.

GROSS: Could you tell me why?

CHENEY: Well, I think it's a matter that should be left to the states. As a conservative I don't support constitutional amendments in general unless the cause is clear and evident. The issue here is that some people think a constitutional amendment is necessary in order to preserve the right for the states. I happen to not to come down on that side of the issue. And, indeed, there are many Republicans who do.

If you looked at our national convention, for example, among the prominent speakers - Governor Schwarzenegger, Rudy Giuliani - feel the same way. It's not an issue that sets the Republican Party apart in one great mass. It's an issue where people differ.

GROSS: In his State of the Union address, President Bush said that because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges. "For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage."

When he said that this amendment would be for the good of children, families and society, I couldn't help but wonder if parent of gays and lesbians would see it as being good for their families. And ...

CHENEY: I don't support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and I'll leave it right there.

GROSS: Is it because of the issue of gay marriage itself or is it because it should just be a state issue and not ...

CHENEY: Terry, I don't support the idea of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and I will leave it right there.

GROSS: Just one more question about the position that you're in.

CHENEY: Terry, I really think that we came hear to discuss history more than current events and I've made my position clear.

GROSS: Is it difficult to be in a position where you're different from the president?

CHENEY: Well, not too difficult, since I've done it - how many times now in the last ten minutes? Perhaps six? I've made my position clear.

 

[Lando Lincoln]

So how's the rest of the Taliban?

Bravo! I've been biting my tongue and the word "Taliban" has been in my mind from the beginning of this thread.

Lando

[Howlin]

Dear God.

[reg45]

Ms. Gross looks MUCH BETTER when she's smiling.

Ms. Gross would look even better in a line at the unemployment office. De-Fund NPR!

[Howlin]

She looks like Peter Pan.

What have you got against Peter Pan?????

[Howlin]

Bump to you!

[oldbrowser]

By the same token we should not be tripping over ourselves to castigate this case. I agree with your point but don't think it is necessary to single it out for special attention.

[reg45]

one of the best things on NPR

The ONLY worthwhile show on NPR is Car Talk.

[Old anti feminist]

Do you know If people aren't born with it? Its common sense that it is Lust. The Bible says so. Any behavior, which causes so much death and desease from rotten filthy actions is chosen. It is murder to spread it.

[Old anti feminist]

Right On!

[Old anti feminist]

They have already done this to themselves. Trash heap!

[Drango]

The ONLY worthwhile show on NPR is Car Talk

Car Talk and any number of other shows could survive on commercial radio/television. They don't need government funding.

[Old anti feminist]

Jesus said "Go and sin no more". Also to turn your backs on those who persist in their sins unless you be tainted also.

[AmishDude]

I would never give up any of my boys because one may become a homosexual. He was given to me to love and take care of and that is what I intend to do...until the day I die.

You're going to turn them gay!

[Old anti feminist]

Yes, Yes. The prodical son, stopped sinning and was welcomed back home when he suffered enough. The father didn't go looking for him. Who knows, maby the son was a queer.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

It is receiving special attention from the pro-sin crowd. I'm just trying to shed some light on what they're doing. If the sin were different the reaction would be different. This reveals an embracing of homosexuality by people who call themselves Christians. It also is a case study in the psychological power of an invented word (homophobia).

It is not loving to be an enabler. At the same time, I do not know all the details of this family and am not qualified to make sweeping judgments on what Lynn should or should not be saying and doing about her daughter. Going by appearances only, it seems that she is loving her daughter to death. I understand that urge, but it is not godly love. It's human love -- the weak and confused kind. It won't stand up before God on that day when He judges us all.

[highlandbreeze]

Oh please, I will not stand in the way of the right girl. Besides, I'm looking forward to grandchildren.

Do not worry...they are ALL boy. And, the girls are calling.

=0)

[highlandbreeze]

Okay, so maybe I didn't mean until the day I die. More like until they get families of their own. But I do still have my husband, so I'll be taking care of him until the day I die. Better?

[Flyer]

Would anyone like to see 2 sodomites sitting accross from you at Thanksgiving dinner, and force nicities, especially the father of his once little girl, or 2 guys for that matter.Its sickening. I wouldn't accept that

Is your heart really that cold?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

So no matter what sin your adult kids are into, and no matter how flagrant they are about it, they can come to your house for dinner anytime? What if their sin is theft? What if their sin is pedophilia, they just got out of prison, and your young nieces and nephews will also be present at the dinner?

It's really all about what YOU find acceptable.

[Carolinamom]

Re #34.....Glad you said that. I've been thinking it for ages. 'Course her mom also shacked w/her dad before they married. Then the bride's family accompanied the couple on their honeymoon. Strange/tacky/immoral people IMO.