Liz Cheney Would Be Fourth Republican Senator To Back Gay Marriage

Politix ^ | July 17, 2013 | David Mark

[BillyBoy]

Liz Cheney Would Be Fourth Republican Senator To Back Gay Marriage
Sen. Mike Enzi, her GOP primary opponent, opposes it

by David Mark
Editor-in-Chief

Liz Cheney, 2014 Republican Senate candidate in Wyoming, and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. • AP

There are few policy differences between Wyoming Republican Senate candidate Liz Cheney and the incumbent she's trying to oust in 2014, Sen. Mike Enzi. Except for one issue: Gay marriage.

Unlike Enzi, the 46-year-old daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney supports the right for states to legalize gay marriage. At least that's what she said in 2009, in an interview with MSNBC, of all places. At that was a time when the notion of same-sex marriage had considerably less support.

And that has even Daily Kos writer Scott Welch offering at least limited praise for Liz Cheney. Cheney, Welch writes:

Seemed to indicate tentative support for marriage equality and LGBT rights at large, saying: 'Well, look I think, you know, my family has been very clear about this, that we think freedom means freedom for everybody and that this is an issue that states have to decide for themselves.'

While Cheney's language is hardly a full-throated, ringing endorsement of equality ('this is an issue that states have to decide for themselves'), her aligning herself with her family is encouraging: her sister, Mary, who is an out lesbian and her father both are on record support marriage equality. She went on to reiterate opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, expressed support for the State Department's extension of benefits to same-sex couples, and said, 'I think it's wrong to discriminate, in those relationships, based on someone's sexual preference.' Additionally, she supported repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

All this leads me to wonder, should we be rooting for Cheney in her primary campaign against Enzi? Don't get me wrong: I would abhor seeing either of them elected to the Senate. Both embrace the Tea Party agenda and the right's nutty conspiracy theories wholeheartedly. That being said, even if the primary is as ugly as possible, the winner of the GOP primary will, come 2014, be elected Senator in a state as ruby red as Wyoming. Given that either of them would both toe the Tea Party line if elected, why not root for Cheney in the hopes that she might be a sleeper vote for LGBT rights such as the Employee Non-Discrimination Act? It's hard to see on what issues she might be farther to the right than Enzi.

If elected, Cheney would be the fourth Republican senator to back same-sex marriage, along with Mark Kirk, Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rob Portman (Ohio). Most Democratic senators have said they support gay marriage.

[BillyBoy]

Congrats, Liz Cheney supporters. For Wyoming's GOP primary, you're on the same side as Daily Kos! Isn't that special?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Nein, danke.

[ZULU]

The Cheneys are as repugnant as the Bushes and Obamas. All cut from the same cloth.

[BillyBoy]

From the National Review :

So what will this election be about, besides her argument that it’s time for fresh faces and new blood, and his argument that she’s not really connected to the state, having only bought a house in Wyoming last year? Probably gay marriage.
Liz Cheney on gay marriage, back in 2009: “My family has been very clear about this: we think freedom means freedom for everybody. This is an issue states have to decide for themselves…. States have got to make this decision… I certainly would not like to see a constitutional amendment you know, as was suggested in the last administration, banning it."

SOURCE: http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/353636/cheney-enzi-let-rumble-begin-jim-geraghty

[G Larry]

Would you prefer the incumbant, or some imaginary, perfect candidate?

[BillyBoy]

I would prefer the incumbent, who has a 93% lifetime conservative record and is not a “RINO”, despite the fantasy of Liz Cheney backers. There are numerous other Republicans up for re-election in 2014 who are more liberal and more deserving of a primary challenge.

[Blood of Tyrants]

this is an issue that states have to decide for themselves.'

And how is that a bad thing. I don't like it that several states have legalized homosexual marriage, but I don't heve to live in them either. When they start trying to force my home state to recognize their marriage, THEN I have a problem.

[Navy Patriot]

Not interested in putting big name Republicans into office unless that name is Palin.

[Wellington VII]

Liz must have seen Brokeback Mountain one too many times.

[grania]

How globalist-RINO of Liz Cheney to go for a conservative Republican Senator. Why didn't she move to AZ in 2012 and primary McCain? Or maybe she could primary Lindsey Graham. Or how about that NJ Senate seat? (it doesn't seem to matter where a connected person lives before they decide to run for office)

Her doing this and expending conservative energy like this tells me one thing. She's not on our side.

[Blood of Tyrants]

A constitutional amendment (affirming or outlawing homosexual marriage) is outside of all possibility, so why worry over it?

[cripplecreek]

I’d expect an open border vote out of her as well.

I actually like the woman as a communicator but we don’t need her in politics.

[MaxMax]

Not only no, but Hell No!

[RB156]

Agreed. An amendment would never happen at this point, so who cares? Might as well ask if a politician supports money trees or free supermodel spouses for everyone.

At least Liz won’t be a “go along to get along” career politician like Enzi.

[Williams]

She’s fine, I do want to know about the border issue. Wyoming can decide on her.

[BillyBoy]

And how is popular sovereignty a bad thing, Mr. Lincoln? I don't like treating human beings as property either, but if Maryland says its fine and dandy to have slavery and own another person, who am I to tell them otherwise?

[GenXteacher]

Conservative...not so much.....

[Nextrush]

All Cheney is doing is lining up support behind the incumbent Enzi who is as much a business as usual RINO as she is.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE INCUMBENTS ARE PHONY CONSERVATIVES AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE GUYS LIKE ENZI.

MAYBE A THIRD REAL CONSERVATIVE SHOULD RUN HERE AND LET THE RINO’S SPLIT THE REST OF THE VOTE.

[BillyBoy]

That ironic thing, Liz Cheney fans keep telling us she's better because she's willing to "Stand up and fight and against liberals", but that if WERE true, she'd be running for a Senate where she actually has to fight a liberal to get it, and face a real contest in November. She's not, she's carpetbagging in Wyoming because it's easier to run for a seat in a "safe state" with her daddy's name, even if that means having to run against a solid conservative.

[DTogo]

Where is "marriage" in the Constitution?

How about Mordor-on-the-Potomac get out of the issue of marriage altogether?