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.

 

[NorCalRepub]

you are right that we shouldn't accept the homosexual AGENDA,. but we still need to be tolerant of them as human beings....I would think that one would love their daughter whether she was straight or gay.........

[wolfpat]

Lesbian?
An answer questioning bears and woods would be appropriate, but I can't think of a decent way to phrase it.

[Cold Heat]

We just look like hypocrits if we embrace this.

No we don't Joe, because how one manages family matters is not issue we normally deal with.

Families come to consensus on how to deal with something like this. It is not a matter for public debate, since we do not and cannot expect to know how and why they came to their conclusions.

The Keyes matter is again a family decision that was handled differently. We again do not know exactly how this came to pass or what was said in private.

To sum up, we really have no business judging their decisions.

[Drango]

PBS/NPR funding is down to 15% and falling.

Interesting, I'd not heard that. I know the president's budget is knocking out $10 million (I'll believe it when I see it). Do you have a source or link?

[highlandbreeze]

LOL!

Next time warn becasue I had to scrub my eyes out with Comet.

[Flyer]

Well, Lynne Cheney deserves it

You should apologize immediately.

[Stoat]

She did a good job answering the question!

Agreed....a mark of a true diplomat, as well as a well-bred person, is the ability to be gracious despite the efforts of a less-than-gracious host.  Mrs. Cheney is a wonderful member of our Administration and it will be a shame that she will have to leave after 2008.  I haven't heard her make any statements regarding any future plans for holding any public office, but hopefully she might consider it...she would be great at whatever she might choose to do.

[getitright]

Her daughter is a sinner

As opposed to...???

I would prefer a lesbian daughter to a moronic son. I suspect your mother would "publicly repudiate" your intensely idiotic post if she saw it.

[highlandbreeze]

Good for you.

[VRWCisme]

There's a big difference between "embracing the homosexual agenda" and having love and compassion for a person who is a homosexual, especially when they are a family member. You can have a relationship with someone like your child, friend, co-worker, etc. without condoning everything they do or promoting the leftist agenda pushed by many homosexuals.

[John Lenin]

It's the last issue the liberals have left to bash Republicans with and it's a Losing issue. This is too funny watching the RATS self destruct.

[brewcrew]

NPR Badgers Lynne Cheney

Oh, no! Not badgering...

BadgerBadgerBadger

[NorCalRepub]

well I know all about tough love practicing therapy and working with alcoholics but as you can see, most people on this thread disagree with your choice of words on how Lynne should respond......and many Repubs and conservatives have serious reservations about Alan Keyes, me being one

[imintrouble]

O'Reilly has had Gross Terri on a couple of times and the woman is a complete loser even when trying to "best" O'Reilly.

It is possible she favors lesbianism "Terri" would be a handy name no?

Whatever her sexual preference, she exudes one very unhappy, deprived and loveless female - an example of our species it is best to stay far away from.

Nothing would please this creature and no answer would be good enough.

[JustaCowgirl]

Amen to that, what a disgusting post. You think homosexuality is everything that's wrong with America?

You have a very, very warped view of what is wrong about America, Joe. And undoubtedly what's right about it.

[Flyer]

Good for you

At some point you will find that you have a family member or very good friend that is homosexual. I hope you don't throw them on the trash heap of life.

[Ignatius J Reilly]

I suspect Terry Gross is a dyke.

I suspect you're right, and she is also very liberal in her politics which is fairly obvious. I still think she is one the best interviewers out there, she has an ability to draw poepole out that is amazing. Sometimes when I listen to her I don't think "that's jsut what I would have asked" instead I end up thinkin " Wow I never would have thought to ask that and it's an awesome question"

IMO one of the best things on NPR, stopped listening to much of their stuff but still like to catch Fresh Air and This American Life

[NorCalRepub]

these are the kind of intolerant red neck types that stereotype "Christian Conservatives" or Republicans...like you, I disappoved of their message and the manner in which it is delivered..........

[Flyer]

If they're proud, there should be no shame in having it mentioned. Flip-Flop!

There is no shame in having it mentioned.

The shame is that the Left uses the point as a political tool.