Darth Cheney Supports Gay Marriage

[babylonsister]

I can hear heads exploding...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/01/cheney-offers-his-support_n_209869.html

Sam Stein

Cheney Offers Support For Gay Marriage

First Posted: 06- 1-09 02:09 PM | Updated: 06- 1-09 02:26 PM



Dick Cheney rarely takes a position that places him at a more progressive tilt than President Obama. But on Monday, the former vice president did just that, saying that he supports gay marriage as long as it is deemed legal by state and not federal government.

Speaking at the National Press Club for the Gerald R. Ford Foundation journalism awards, Cheney was asked about recent rulings and legislative action in Iowa and elsewhere that allowed for gay couples to legally wed.

"I think that freedom means freedom for everyone," replied the former V.P. "As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don't support. I do believe that the historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. ... But I don't have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that."

Cheney has made similar arguments in support of gay marriage in the past, including during the run-up to the 2004 election. But his current comments come at a moment when the Republican Party and conservative movement is increasingly split on the issue. Bush recount lawyer Ted Olsen and John McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt have both argued in favor of gay marriage. The religious right, as expected, remains opposed.

Caught up in the debate is the Obama administration. The president has said he supports civil unions for gay couples but that he remains committed to marriage being between and man and woman. His press department has been completely quiet about the recent California Supreme Court case upholding a ban on gay marriage in the state -- something that, it seems, Cheney would object to in spirit if not law.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Talk about a mixed blessing n/t

[BuyingThyme]

2. He's always said this, but I think we can use it effectively at this point in time.

It draws a line between Darth and people like Limbaugh.

[babylonsister]

8. You mean the darth that prefers limbaugh to colin powell? That darth? nt

[Dappleganger]

9. Like Dante

I've always believed there are divisions in hell. :P

[joeybee12]

3. His daughter is living proof that lesbians--sadly--can be

right-wing nutjobs also.

[4lbs]

18. Cheney has two daughters. The one that we've been seeing everywhere for the past month is the

straight one. She's Liz Cheney, is married to some guy, and has 5 children.

The lesbian daughter, Mary Cheney, has been heard from very little the past several years.

[AndyA]

4. Oh geez.

:puke:

He sure kept his mouth shut about it when the GOP used this as a wedge issue during the 2004 elections. And I'll bet if he didn't have a gay daughter, he'd not have this opinion. They are only willing to make exceptions for their family, it seems.

[wyldwolf]

5. It's GOP rebranding. Which Republican strategist recently encouraged this?

[ZombieHorde]

6. Hopefully Obama will follow suit.

Sad day when Cheney has a more progressive stance than Obama on civil rights.

[TheBigotBasher]

7. Imagine A Darth Wedding.

You may now waterboard the bride.

Yeugh.

[konnichi wa]

10. Don't throw out your seismograph. That Richter 7.5 was just

my chin hitting the floor...

:silly:

[readmoreoften]

11. So the Penguin comes out as slightly more socially liberal than Obama on LGBT issues.

Well, goes to show ya that even a demonically-possessed stopped clock made of solid evil can be right twice a day.

[Terran]

12. He's being disingenuous

on the state vs. fed aspect of this issue. He knows damn well the federal government plays the biggest regulatory role of all when it comes to marriage because that's the place from which all the economic benefits flow. State-based same-sex marriage is worthless without federal recognition.

[ZombieHorde]

13. "State-based same-sex marriage is worthless without federal recognition."

I disagree, state-based same-sex marriage has deep emotional value.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. yes, but thats neither here not there. its basically conservative code

for liberals state can do as they like, and we true red states will not have to give up our rights to be bigots.

[Terran]

28. You got me.

I must agree on that point. :hug:

[BolivarianHero]

14. "it is something we have lived with"

OMG I LIVED WITH TEH GAY!!!!

[SemiCharmedQuark]

27. Yeah that line stood out ot me too. He makes it sound like a disease.

[AntiFascist]

15. Even Cheney is more progressive than Obama?!!

...on this issue?

[Vickers]

16. "one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family"

It's always about you, ain't it Dick?

OH THE HORROR, OUR GAY DAUGHTER RUINED OUR LIVES!!!1!!1!!1!!!!

:eyes:

[HopeOverFear]

25. he said "lived with" like it's a disease. Don't fall for it, folks. Cheney's taking advantage

of the anger over DADT to win the gay vote in 2010. Don't fall for it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. since most of the benefits are federal, this position is as useless as obama's

and far more dishonest.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

26. It's the same useless stance as Obama's.

It requires no guts and puts people's rights in the hands of the state while allowing the person that holds said view to claim to be pro-gay rights.

To me, it is basically a cynical "Well, it's going to happen at some point anyway, but if I come out for it now I'll lose votes" stance.

[Dukkha]

19. So if Saddam Hussein was pro gay marriage would that be accepted?

He's an evil murdering torturing fascist dictator monster. His position on this issue is totally irrelevant and not welcome.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. accepted as what?

[konnichi wa]

23. Has he been resurrected?

:shrug:

[Blue_Tires]

22. fuck 'im... someone look up his stance back in the '04 election

[La Lioness Priyanka]

24. indeed.

[Toasterlad]

29. Again With This "States" Bullshit.

The ex-Vice Bigot is no better than the current Commander in Bigotry. Allowing states to decide equality is patently immoral...not to mention an historic epic fail.

[backscatter712]

30. My speculation as to the story behind this...

I'll bet that Mary Cheney (Dick's daughter who happens to be a lesbian, not Liz, who was on TV last week,) mentioned to her dad that she wanted to marry her partner, and knew where his coffin was...