Social Conservatives Criticize Cheney on Same-Sex Marriage

[struggle4progress]

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
Published: August 26, 2004

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 - Leading social conservatives made their unhappiness clear on Wednesday that Vice President Dick Cheney expressed opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, a position in conflict with that of President Bush and, now, the Republican Party platform.
<snip>

Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, an organization of 43,000 churches, went a step further, predicting that Mr. Cheney's remarks might even help Mr. Bush's re-election efforts.

"A certain amount of Republicans are not pleased with the constitutional amendment," Mr. Sheldon said. "He may be appealing to them. I see it as a plus for the upcoming election."
<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/politics/campaign/26gays.html


Of course, the traditional values website sounds less compromising than Sheldon: "August 25, 2004 – NEW YORK - Republicans endorsed an uncompromising position against gay unions Wednesday in a manifesto that contrasts with Vice President Dick Cheney's supportive comments about gay rights and the moderate face the party will show at next week's national convention." ( http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1841 )

These folk live in a bizarre alternate reality: "Transhumanists Look Forward to a Post-Human World" ( http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1384 ). And here's the blurb for a pdf I really didn't have the stomach to examine: "'Homosexuality 101: A Primer' provides a brief history of the homosexual movement in the U.S. and its roots in Marxist ideology. This paper describes how homosexuals terrorized the psychiatric community and have created a marketing strategy to vilify their opponents."

It's going to be one busy, bloody-drenched country if Alan Keyes succeeds at putting machine guns in the hands of these lunatics.

[kestrel91316]

1. I wonder how long before..........................

the RWFundies start demanding Cheney's head on a platter...........

[zmdem]

2. They won't

Cheney's conservative creds are rock solid. Straying off the farm on this issue is no biggy for two reasons:

1. He espoused a view based on federalism.
2. He has a lesbian daughter. Blood, water, etc.

[Voltaire99]

4. Exactly. It was a harmless little display...

...of humanity, intended to soften the edges of Cheney for swing voters.

Ironically, one of its other goals was to allow the looney family values brigade to cluck and wag their finger. They love it when they're needed.

[zmdem]

5. Perhaps, but

Cheney expressed the same view in his VP debate with Lieberman in 2000. In this case I think Cheney is saying what he truly believes. Being the brain trust in the WH, he can afford to do so, occasionally. I doubt there was any deep political calculation here. Politicians are human, just like the rest of us. Generally they prevaricate, flip-flop, and hem & haw because we, as the public are fickle and demand it of them.

We reap what we sow. Nice to see a politician once and a while say what he really believes.

[themaguffin]

9. that's part of it

But he is also on the 2nd ticket of a possible 2nd term (hurts to even type that) and will not run himself, there is not too much political risk here. I suppose the fundies could really get riled up, but I also think they were throwing crumbs to the Logcabin Reps before the convention (weren't they complaining?)

[Pushed To The Left]

3. Good for Cheney

I still probably disagree with him about 99% of the time, but I just gained a lot of respect for him. It bothered me when GW Bush was doing his anti-gay-union rhetoric during his State of the Union Address and Cheney had to go along with it and clap. I'm glad he is now standing up for what he believes in and for his daughter.

[Child_Of_Isis]

6. Cheney could never say anything

that would make me respect him! Never happen. The man is the spawn of satan.

[leesa]

11. Don't respect him. He's gone both ways on this issue

This man is a hard core criminal who deserves no repect...ever.

[RivetJoint]

7. Time to do away with Government recognized "marriage"

altogether. The government should only recognize civil domestic partnerships. Marriages should be religious ceremonies.

If your "Church" will marry you and your partner, great. If not, find one that will.

Either way, let's get the Govt out of defining what is, and isn't marriage. Domestic partnerships for all.

[BeFree]

12. Individual rights means...

Stopping the State from regulating what individuals do whilst using their
"God given Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Hap-penis"

The State has no business whatsoever telling me who I can live with, do business with, or, lie down with. The State should stay out of my house and off my lawn!

I stand up for my Rights as an American Citizen to do as I please on my property! State: Get thee away from me!

[malachi]

8. Am I reading the situation wrong or does it appear

more and more with each passing day that the repug party is about to implode. They seem to have more factions then the Dems. None of them flexible enough to give an inch.

[skooooo]

10. Will he tell them to go fuck themselves?

[henslee]

13. Maybe a few social conserves'll decide to stay home due to this flip flop!

no message

[otohara]

14. Damn You Mary Cheney

why did you have to be GAY?