Posted on 05/10/2006 3:25:14 PM PDT by Peach
John Edwards defended his decision to mention the sexual orientation of Vice President Dick Cheney's openly gay daughter in a 2004 debate, rejecting Mary Cheney's criticism in a newly released book.
Attending a labor rally in New York on Wednesday, Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, was asked about Mary Cheney's comments about the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee. In her book, "Now It's My Turn," Cheney called Edwards a "total slime" and argued that he tried to use her sexual orientation as a political tool against her father.
She said she mouthed an expletive after Edwards praised the Cheney family during the October 2004 debate for their willingness "to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter."
Edwards said Wednesday that he stood by the comments.
"What I did was express my respect and admiration for the way the Cheney family, along with millions of other families, have embraced members of their family, and if I remember the vice president was very gracious in reacting to that," Edwards said. "I think it was appropriate."
During the debate, moderator Gwen Ifill asked Vice President Cheney about his comments that "freedom means freedom for everybody" and whether that was consistent with the Bush administration's support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Cheney repeated his comments on freedom and added, "People ought to be free to choose any arrangement they want. It's really no one else's business." He said that was a separate question from government sanction of a union.
That prompted Edwards to mention the Cheneys' daughter and how they deserve respect for being willing to talk about her.
After additional Edwards' comments on gay marriage and civil unions, the vice president said, "Let me simply thank the senator for the kind words he said about my family and our daughter. I appreciate that very much."
In recent months, Edwards has traveled the country as a vocal anti-poverty advocate while contemplating a possible 2008 presidential bid. He refused on Wednesday to say whether he had made a decision about a possible candidacy, saying only that he is "seriously thinking about it."
What a turd. Only a supreme coward would bring up sensative family issues of his political opponent in a forum where the opponent couldn't drag his ass outside and beat the breck out of him for insulting his dignity.
Looks like the "uber-tolerant" uber-liberal Breck Girl still doesnt have the decency to say: "I'm sorry."
No surprise there.
Well, who else would know what is best for Mary Cheney then an elitist leftist snob?
Of course people should not be allowed to formulate their own thoughts, that what the democrats are for.
Exactly. Alan Keyes did something similar and it was pretty outrageous.
Bless her heart!
One of the first things mama taught me was, "Never trust an ambulance chaser. They are liars."
I know three people whose vote swung our way because of Edwards tasteless stunt in the Vice Presidential debate. Thank you Johnny.
The Breck Girl is so 2004. He didn't defend her then, and he isn't defending her now. His comment then was basically used to paint the VP into a corner, only Cheney handed Breck Girl's posterior to Breck Girl on a silver platter by answering the question directly and civilly. What business is it anyway of Breck Girl to meddle in the affairs of someone else's family?
Edwards is a metrosexual lightweight.
It always interests me that the self named "party of tolerance" is actually more racist and homophobic than any other group I can think of.
And after HE had instructed the press that he was NOT to be questioned about his son's death!
If I ever see that little creep, I'm going to have some words with him.
This still makes my blood boil.
I think Kerry and Edwards lost a lot of votes when they did this. Remember, Kerry did the same thing. They are both slimebags.
Looks like she picked up a thing or two from Dad.
I know it's wrong to make such blanket statements, but anyone who thinks otherwise is either and idiot, a liar, or both i.e. a Democrat.
I mean, there are some things we say about those in the other party that are just bashing, but this--and KERRY mentioning it, too--is so blatantly obvious.
It's like if Bush just out of the blue brought up Kerry's wife being a hag. I mean, it's true, too, but beside the point of the debate.
"What I did was express my respect and admiration for the way the Cheney family, along with millions of other families, have embraced members of their family,
Spoken exactly like an ambulance chasing douchebag lawyer.
A computer (a device that doesn't even recognize emotions) thought he was too feminine.
I understand making fun of politicians - but why drag the family into it?
Smart mama.
LOL. She nailed him.
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