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.

 

[politicket]

Do you always do commercial advertising in your tag?

[Stoat]

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.

Yes, although it's pretty pathetic that they are imploding with such a lack of grace or dignity.  Instead of honorably conceding defeat on intellectual and policy grounds, they instead become shrill and hysterical, driving anyone but the dedicated Koolaid drinkers away.  It's like shooting fish in a barrel, such is the lack of a coherent challenge.

I remain concerned, however, because of the margin of victory in the last Presidential election.  Even with the MSM and Hollyweird cheerleading for Kerry, a treasonous idiot like him should have been laughed off the stage while winning no more than two states.  It's an indication that there is still much work to do and we must remain vigilant.

[Flyer]

Not always.

[highlandbreeze]

My "good for you" reply was meant to be sarcastic. I really wanted to say "too bad for you."

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.

[Flyer]

Can I rent your space?

[JustaCowgirl]

I wish I could watch Lynne Cheney verbally smack idiots like you upside the head.

I wish I could watch Lynne Cheney verbally, then physically, smack idiots like him upside the head.

[Flyer]

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[JOE6PAK]

GROSS!

Pick on someone your own size.

[Old anti feminist]

I agree with you. Lynne should have stated, she hates her doughters perversion, otherwise she helps the lifestyle.
I am proud of Keyes who stood on the Truth!Naturally you love your kids, but to CHOOSE, this horrible thing, cannot be accepted. Down deep, they must hate it.

[Goodgirlinred]

Right on! Thank you for saying exactly what I was thinking.

[Mo1]

thanks for the info on this link

[highlandbreeze]

Perfectly alright. I should have put a sarcasm tag on my reply.

[politicket]

Can I rent your space?

No thanks...I'm not into a sodomistic lifestyle.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Hate the sin...love the sinner. You're ridiculous.

Can you quote that Bible verse for me?

[Chef Dajuan]

This man is aptly named.

Gross!

[TexasCajun]

Joe! Joe! Joe!

Remember, we're suppose to be compassionate conservatives!

I smell smoke.....

[Luke21]

That's a punkin' if I ever saw one. Forget where I first heard that euphimism for lesbian, but it sure fits.

[Admin Moderator]

Lose the tagline.
Thanks.

[Orbiter]

Without getting into the kind of specifics about a women's appearance that might invite my being labeled sexist, this Gross woman's managed to smear the previously clear distinction between fugly and androgynous.

She might consider consulting an endocrinologist to address an apparent estrogen and testosterone imbalance.

[highlandbreeze]

Thank you for making me feel better about it.