The 'shame' belongs to the Kerry team, not to the Cheneys

The Star (So. Chicago) ^ | 10/24/4 | Michael Bowers

[SmithL]

There are two huge myths in American politics.

The first is that newsrooms play it down the middle. They don't favor Democrats over Republicans. Not them.

The second is that Republicans are the "mean" party and Democrats the "nice" party.

I've addressed the first myth more than once in the past, so today I will confine myself to the second: The truth is, if Republicans play mean, Democrats play meaner.

I still remember Lloyd Bentsen's gratuitous insult of Dan Quayle in the 1998 Omaha debate. "Senator," Bentsen said, mockingly, "I knew Jack Kennedy ... and you're no Jack Kennedy."

Well, of course Dan Quayle is no Jack Kennedy. Quayle never said he was. Nor is Bentsen any Jack Kennedy. Nor was Michael Dukakis any Jack Kennedy. Only Jack Kennedy was Jack Kennedy. Just as no one is you, my reader, but you.

For the record, let me say Quayle never said he was Jack Kennedy. He said only that he had about as much experience in Congress as Jack Kennedy had when Kennedy ran for president.

Just as "Seinfeld" was a show about nothing, Bentsen's stab was an insult about nothing. Still, it was cruel and without justification.

Then there was Bill Clinton in 1992, kvetching endlessly about how the economy was "the worst in 50 years."

In fact, the economy actually grew in 1992 by 4.2 percent, a quite respectable figure. But with the help of his press protectors, Clinton got his lie to stick, and the voters turned out of office an excellent president and replaced him with a crude president.

Now we see new, greater crudity: the transformation of John Kerry, John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards into gay-baiters.

Yes, it's true about Mary Cheney. Our conservative vice president, Dick Cheney, has two daughters, both of whom are talented, both of whom are loved, and one of whom is a lesbian. Mary is the lesbian.

To partisan Democrats, somehow this means Cheney is a hypocrite and maybe even a monster.

To libertarian-minded Republicans like me, it means Cheney's daughter is a lesbian. So what's your point?

The Mary Cheney flap started during the vice-presidential debate Oct. 5. Edwards complimented the Cheneys for standing by their "gay daughter." Cheney replied with class and graciousness.

However, according to a report in Time magazine, the vice president was actually quite angry. He saw no reason Mary's name should have been invoked.

There was more, in the third presidential debate, on Oct. 14.

Responding to a question from the moderator, Kerry stated: "If you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as."

At this point, Mary Cheney's mother, Lynne Cheney, had had enough. Her beloved daughter was being used as a political pawn.

She told an audience in Pittsburgh: "Now, you know, I did have a chance to assess John Kerry once more, and now the only thing I could conclude: This is not a good man. Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick.''

Dick Cheney made similar remarks.

If this imploding campaign had any common sense, Kerry would immediately have issued an apology. He did not. The next morning, he dug his hole deeper, allowing Elizabeth Edwards, wife of his running mate, to remark:

Lynne Cheney has "overreacted to this and treated it as if it's shameful to have this discussion. I think that's a very sad state of affairs. ... I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter's sexual preferences."

So now Mrs. Cheney feels "shame"! If the Cheneys were not angry before, they surely are filled with cold fury now.

I know I feel deep anger, because I have a gay family member myself. She is a highly talented graphic artist on the North Side of Chicago. She's been married to her partner for four years now, and they have a 14-month-old girl who is confident, brilliant, beautiful and adorably curious.

I am straight and generally conservative, while my sister is gay and generally liberal. But, again, what's the point? She is my sister, and I love her. She also has been a big help during some difficult times in my life. What else matters?

So when Elizabeth Edwards suggested that Lynne Cheney was ashamed of her daughter, I felt like she was also suggesting that I am ashamed of my sister.

I called my sister. We reminisced a little. She was 15, and I 17 when she told me the news. I was a disturbed for a couple of days back then, but then I basically stopped caring. The only important thing to me is that she is happy.

Here's the main thing I wanted to know: "Sister," I said, "since you came out to me in 1980, have I ever, ever, ever, said anything to indicate I am ashamed of you in any way?"

Her reply was flat and simple:

"No."

Therefore, I think it's now time for all tolerant Democrats and Republicans (and yes, there are many tolerant Republicans) to give a flat and simple reply to the Kerrys and the Edwardses:

"Dear Democratic candidates:

"When it comes to Mary Cheney, would you please pour yourself a nice hot cup of shut the hell up?"

[SmithL]

Michael is a nicer person than I am.

[Woogit]

NOV. 2nd....Shut the hell up AND go away!

[etradervic]

[Honestfreedom]

Dick Cheney should have told the Edwards that they should not talk about his daughter's homosexuality and he will not talk about Mrs. Edwards being fat and her husband being prettier than her.

[CaptRon]

A thought occurred to me a couple of days ago.

If the discussion had been about health care and the topic of depression had been brought up, would it have been OK for the President to make an example of Kerry's ex-wife?