Four days after the third and final presidential debate, a panel discussion on Fox News Sunday turned into a virtual shouting match on the question of John Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney's homosexuality. Posted on 10/18/2004 9:00:35 AM PDT by JustaCowgirl
With the U.S. presidential election just a few weeks away, much political discussion centers on questions of national security and economic affairs. But America's news media remain focused on the controversy that erupted last week when Democratic Party presidential hopeful John Kerry mentioned the sexual orientation of Vice President Cheney's daughter, Mary, who is gay. Debate over the appropriateness of Mr. Kerry's comment dominated several U.S. television political programs Sunday.
Four days after the third and final presidential debate, a panel discussion on Fox News Sunday turned into a virtual shouting match on the question of John Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney's homosexuality.
Passions ran even higher on NBC's McLaughlin Group.
The furor began during last week's presidential debate, when President Bush and Senator Kerry were asked if they believe homosexuality is a choice. Mr. Bush said he did not know.
"I think, if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she is being who she was [is]. She is being who she was born as," replied Mr. Kerry.
After the debate, Vice President Cheney's wife, Lynne, denounced the senator for his remark.
"This [Mr. Kerry] is not a good man," said Mrs. Cheney. "What a cheap and tawdry political trick!"
A poll released by The Washington Post newspaper shows two-thirds of Americans believe mentioning the sexual orientation of Mr. Cheney's daughter in a public forum was "inappropriate."
But Democratic Party officials are defending Mr. Kerry, pointing out that Mary Cheney is an openly gay public figure. She has served as a beer company's outreach coordinator to America's gay community, and is currently working for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. They also point out that the vice president, himself, has spoken proudly of his daughter while discussing the politically-contentious issue of gay marriage on the campaign trail.
"With respect to the question of gay marriage, Lynne and I have a gay daughter," he said. "We have two daughters and we have enormous pride in both of them. They are both fine young women."
Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation program, Democratic strategist Tad Devine said Senator Kerry meant no disrespect in mentioning Mary Cheney, and accused Republicans of pouncing on the controversy to deflect attention from pressing issues at home and abroad.
"John Kerry was being positive," said Mr. Devine. "Unfortunately, it [the remark] was perceived otherwise. And I think I know why. The president lost three debates to John Kerry. The president's position is eroding in the polls. The president cannot defend his record over the last four years."
Republicans strongly disagree. President Bush's campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, spoke on NBC's Meet the Press.
"It is wrong to bring up the private life of a member of the vice president's family to make a political point. It is that simple," he said. Mr. Melhman added that Senator Kerry has shown he is willing to say anything to get elected.
Public opinion surveys taken after the last debate showed Senator Kerry edging President Bush in the 90-minute exchange. But most polls continue to show President Bush leading Mr. Kerry by single digits nationwide.
I hope the Republicans keep saying it:
"These people will say anything to get elected!"
May you shouldn't go calling your opponent's daughter a dyke on national television. Voters don't seem to like that.
I think women hate it most, because a lot of them are really sensitive to sex.... as in, most of them have something to hide (maybe a lesbian encounter or two), and they'd be mortified to have it announced like that.
This was totally scripted, and planned for as part of a strategy.
Question: whose strategy? Who is advising the kery campaign?
Why, it's Carville, Begala, and Lockhart, that's who...
Hillary is torpedoing Kerry.
The laughable part is these dummies are played so well. They don't even know they are being politically killed.
Kerry/DNC message to gay community:
"If we feel like it, we'll out you."
Sung in the key of K
That's true too - we have a right to judge however we want, and he shouldn't tell us otherwise.
In the context of the culture war, I'd stand by my point that women are more ashamed of sex in general (straight or not). The real battle is that we prefer to keep those matters private and live with our own shame ("we are all sinners..."), while liberals want sex sex sex everywhere - they even have a name for it, the "Pride" movement.
The comment came across as pre-planned. As if his advisor said 'Make sure to mention that Cheney's daughter is lesbian'. This was just my impression, the way he seemed to force the sentence. I'm not particularly offended by it, but it is weird. 'Being as she was born as'? What's that supposed to mean? Is it good to be a serial rapist if that's what you were 'born as'? As a presidential candidate, Kerry should have known better. Maybe he could have led up to the same thing a little more adroitly.
That is exactly what offended me. Plus using the daughter of his opponent, instead of someone from his own party.
Additionally he never answered the question.....which was what HE thought........not what he believes someone else thinks.
Not only was the response stupid, it wasn't even responsive.
I don't think it's so much a sensitivity to sex as it is a sensitivity to FAMILY. I can say anything I want about my family but no one else has the right or the authority to do so. If someone outside my family said anything about my kids I would lay them out flat.
I'd stand by my point that women are more ashamed of sex in general (straight or not).
I'd suggest a therapist for this type of outlook. It's a lot more simple than you think. Since most girls grow up having been called a slut and other negative names by boys trying to score cheap points and keep the upstart girls in their place, girls just prefer to keep private matters private.
Don't make it any more complex than it is. Can you say, "It's none of your business ?"
""John Kerry was being positive," said Mr. Devine. "Unfortunately, it [the remark] was perceived otherwise. And I think I know why. The president lost three debates to John Kerry. The president's position is eroding in the polls. The president cannot defend his record over the last four years." "
Barney Frank coached Kerry for the debates. Kerry could have mentioned him and this would never have been an issue.
Kerry opened the barn. The horse just ran him over... as usual.
The smug superiority involved in that little slam is simply breathtaking, but it's gotten lost in the magnitude of his subsequent remarks.
Good grief, how I despise this man.
Who's being sensitive now?
I'm with you.
Could you imagine the outcry and outrage if during a discussion of healthcare, Bush commented about the high costs of the "obesity epidemic" and mentioned Edwards' wife's' obvious problem in that area?
Class versus cRass.
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