Cheney family 'delighted' as lesbian daughter marries partner

[Newsjock]

Source: Tribune Washington Bureau

Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, has married her longtime partner, Heather Poe.

The couple, who live together in Virginia and have two children, were married Friday morning in Washington, D.C., according to the Daily Caller, a news site co-founded by Neil Patel, a former adviser to the former vice president.

"Mary and Heather have been in a committed relationship for many years, and we are delighted that they were able to take advantage of the opportunity to have that relationship recognized," the Cheney family said in a statement. "Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness."

The Cheneys are perhaps the most prominent Republican family to embrace same-sex marriage.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/22/4582114/cheney-family-delighted-as-lesbian.html

[beac]

1. Yeah, they "embrace" it for their daughter but Darth did everything

in his power to oppress any non-Cheney gays when he was in the White House.

And Mary Cheney is a disgusting hypocrite. Can't really gin up one well wish for her or her rotten family.




edited to correct anger-induced typo

[former9thward]

10. Actually he did not.

Cheney said same sex marriage was a states rights issue which was a progressive view compared to the rest of the Bush WH.

[beac]

15. Actually, he DID. He may have given wishy-washy lip service to "states rights", but

he actively supported Bush's attempt to impose a constitutional BAN on same sex marriage, using the excuse that since he worked for Bush he had to support him in all things.

Actions speak much louder than words.

Cheney is, and always has been, cowardly scum.





edited for typo

[former9thward]

23. Where is the link to that?

[beac]

29. Since you are too lazy to Google it on your own:

from 2004....

from that bastion of "liberalism" Newsmax:

Cheney: I'd Support Ban of Gay Marriage
NewsMax.com Wires
Monday, Jan. 12, 2004
DENVER — Vice President Dick Cheney, who has said states should handle the issue of gay marriage, now says he would support President Bush if he proposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

*snip*

"At this stage, obviously, the president is going to have to make a decision in terms of what administration policy is on this particular provision, and I will support whatever decision he makes," Cheney told the Post.
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/1/11/101918.shtml

and from the Chicago Tribune:

Cheney would back gay marriage ban
January 11, 2004|WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President Dick Cheney, who argued during the 2000 presidential campaign that the issue of gay marriage is best left to the states, said he would support any attempt by President Bush to ban the practice.

Cheney said recent court rulings in Massachusetts and other states recognizing the rights of gays to the civil benefits of marriage have caused the Bush administration to revisit the need for a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-01-11/news/0401110220_1_gay-marriage-ban-same-sex-marriages-massachusetts-and-other-states

(Note how he's saying that "states" exercising their "rights" have made a federal ban necessary! Real "progressive" attitude there, no?)


and from USAToday:

Posted 3/3/2004 9:14 AM Updated 3/3/2004 12:18 PM
Cheney says he supports gay-marriage ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday he supports President Bush's call for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, though one of his daughters is gay and he has said in the past the issue should be left to the states.
"The president's taken the clear position that he supports a constitutional amendment," Cheney said in an interview with MSNBC. "I support him."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-03-03-cheney-gay-ban_x.htm

and as recently as today in the LA Times...

... Dick Cheney once supported an effort by the George W. Bush administration to impose a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-mary-cheney-same-sex-marriage-dick-cheney-happy-20120622,0,1184321.story

That enough linkage for ya??? If not, there are dozens and dozens more available on the series of tubes.

[former9thward]

32. You are putting links to something that never happened.

Bush "called for" such an amendment in the run-up to the 2004 election. An amendment was never proposed or introduced. I'm sure you know that.

[beac]

33. You are unbelievable.

Your ability to not admit you've been bested is the becoming stuff of legend.

Can you point to where I said anything about it "happening"?? No, because I didn't say it "happened." I said Cheney "actively supported Bush's attempt" to pass such legislation. But then, I'm sure you know that.

I made and supported my point that Cheney, when push came to shove, actively endorsed Bush's anti-gay policies and wiped out his previous weak sauce "states rights" statements by saying a federal ban on same sex marriage was needed.

Oddly, every time I run into you, you are voicing support for Republicans and their misdeeds.

[former9thward]

36. Oddly everytime I run into you you are busy creating strawmen.

I am trying to bring in some actual facts into the discussion. Apparently facts mean support for Republicans -- at least in your mind. Other than making a campaign statement there was no attempt to pass legislation. No amendment was introduced or debated in Congress. Cheney, whatever his sins, actually took a position to the left of Obama, Kerry or Edwards in the 2004 VP debate.

Where is this phone booth where "Your ability to not admit you've been bested is the becoming stuff of legend." is being discussed?

[TroglodyteScholar]

37. Wow.

You are something else.

[former9thward]

38. Thank you. I don't think you are.

[beac]

40. You know and I know that I proved my point that Cheney was no

friend to the gay community by using "actual facts."

As for the "phone booth"... just look around this very thread.

[Angry Dragon]

42. I have to come down on the side of beac

cheney made a statement and then said he would back whatever bush wanted .......... that is putting the party before ones' principals and beliefs .......

[former9thward]

49. I can't believe people on a poltical discussion board can be this naive.

Any VP including Biden or anyone else will always support the administration's view. That is their job. Deal with reality.

[Angry Dragon]

50. How about this:

Politics as we know them are not working in this country. And it is not the job of politicians to support the party view. It is the job of the politicians to work for a better country. If they feel the party is wrong then they have a duty to speak up and let their views be heard. It is past the time were the party is more important than the country.

I am really sick and tired of politicians letting others decide what to do and think.

[former9thward]

53. I agree with your post.

But I also think we are beyond the point of no return. Our country is very polarized and the politicians simply reflect that view.

[crim son]

48. I haven't seen anything of you but this exchange

and you were just proven wrong. Deal with it.

[lob1]

2. I'm sure the leaders of the pubs were all there with good wishes for the couple.

[christx30]

5. I just bopped on over to FR

They are denying that it actually happened.

[lob1]

25. LOL. That's the PERFECT republican solution.

[christx30]

44. As in:

Two women can't get married. It's not possible.

Those people are clueless. They seem to think that giving prople more rights, or equal rights is somehow a threat to freedom. They want to control every aspect of our lives, and will play stupid word games to do it. The best message we can send them is to put their leaders on the unemployment line.
I did see one sane person on there wish the couple good luck, and dared anyone else to flame/zot him. But everyone else kept just spouting out bible verses like a machine at a Christian carnival.("step right on up, folks, and our amazing Christ-o-matic will show you why you're going to Hell. Only 25 cents, ladies and gentlemen!&quot . It's amazing how they think that non-Christians still have to follow Christian laws. Like if a Muslim or Jew tried to ban pork.

[octothorpe]

62. hahaha, you read that too?

Those type of people make it clear I could never fit in at the republican party. These are the types who want to enforce their moral views on everyone at a federal level, but would cry foul if any other group did the same (or more likely, when we try to remove/change batshit insane religious laws created by these people)

[Blue_Tires]

3. Funny that they live in a state where same-gender marraige

isn't even recognized...Also funny how quiet they were about it when Bush was in office...

Would be nice to see some local advocacy on their part, but of course, the GOP is running Richmond, so I doubt they'll make waves about it...

[xxqqqzme]

7. That was my thought too.

Married in DC, live in state of Denial. Too bad.



This sort of thing doesn't seem to even register on the far rong. I would think heads would explode but nope....only crickets.

[former9thward]

11. Except Cheney was not quiet about it.

In the VP debate he said he supported the right of same sex couples to get married if the state allowed it.

[Blue_Tires]

12. NOTE the little subtle fence-straddling cop-out at the end

In the VP debate he said he supported the right of same sex couples to get married if the state allowed it. -- which he uses to wash away any moral or ethical responsibility...

You're not sticking your neck by saying "Yeah, I'd support something if it was legal..."

[coalition_unwilling]

20. Just like Cheney supports the right of blacks to sit anywhere they

choose on the bus if the state allowed it.

Eesh, defenses of "Other Priorities" really piss me off.

[former9thward]

22. And what was Edwards position at the time?

Or Obama? Remember? How soon we forget.

[Blue_Tires]

24. Hadn't forgotten

I just thought we were talking about Cheney...Since the story is about his worthless spawn...

[2ndAmForComputers]

60. Wow, you REALLY want to make this high-profile Republican politician look good.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Changing deeply held beliefs doesnt' happen overnight -

but this is exactly how change happens. When you love someone who is in the LGBT spectrum, it is hard to reconcile the bogeyman in your mind with the person you love, and usually love wins out. Not necessarily instantly. Not necessarily gently. But it usually wins out.

I am glad it finally did for Dick Cheney.

To those who are criticizing Mary Cheney - she never hid who she was while her father was politically active. That is a lot. I have been an out lesbian for 30+ years, and have allowed myself to be used publicly in a court case, in a recently published book about our faith community, and in starting a state-wide organization. (As well as being out during law school, and as a public school teacher in an inner city school.) I think it is vitally important that no one be able to say, "I don't know anyone who is gay," and the only way we get there is by people who are able to take the risk of being out stepping up to the plate and taking that risk.

That said, I have been experimenting the last year with being out in an ongoing ungated internet forum using my real name talking about LGBT issues, as a lesbian. I have done that in one-off situations before (there are a handful of single publications I can find, if I look hard enough) but never continuously. I had no idea how much more energy this experiment would require of me - and I don't know that I would make the same choice if I knew then what I know now.

I applaud Mary Cheney for not hiding when she was as on stage during her father's candidacy and vice presidency. How many of us "ordinary" LGBT individuals are that public about who we are? As someone who is, and who stretched myself way beyond my comfort zone this past year, I respect her choice to put boundaries around her willingness to be a poster child for the cause - and wish her and her wife and children the best.

[JDPriestly]

8. Great post.

I am not gay or lesbian, but went a university music school as an undergraduate in which there were many lesbian and gay students, often some of the best musicians.

You are correct. The more that gays and lesbians open up to everyone else, the more straight people will realize that being gay or lesbian is really not so unusual and certainly not a problem anywhere but in their own minds.

Thanks for telling your story. When it comes to sexual preference, we are what and who we are. Nature decides.

[beac]

17. I can't admire Mary Cheney at all.

She actively campaigned for a man who was actively trying to BAN same-sex marriage and she never said a damn peep in opposition.

She knew damn well that the challenges other lesbians and same-sex couples face would never touch her. No hospital would prevent her from seeing her sick partner. No agency would try to take away her children. She would never face job or housing discrimination. She was Dick Cheney's daughter! She didn't care one whit that her dad's boss wanted to destroy the lives of other gay people. She was insulated from all that by wealth, privilege and power.

She's the selfish apple that didn't fall far from the tree.

[Ms. Toad]

18. All the money in the world can't shield her

from the hatred and violence that is directed at GLBT individuals - the risk of which increases with increased public activity.

The first time I allowed my name to be used nationally, around 1986, I received hate mail from a (then) little known Kansas preacher. He clearly knew my name, and where to find me. As we now know, Fred Phelps is not above traveling to harass people. That is also the emotional cliff I entered when I agreed this past year to participate in a public, continuing, persistent, online, searchable, forum using my real name.

Being Dick Cheney's daughter will not save her from that. Ultimately, it will not protect her from having her father try to take her children, or her wife's family from taking over as next of kin if her wife is dying and banning her from the hospital. And, given the slant of her politics, I would not be surprised if she did not face more job discrimination than similarly situated political children. Yes, having access to the Cheney name and wealth means her life will be easier in all sorts of ways and I don't like that reality of life - but being public about her sexual orientation and now marriage will diminish that somewhat - as it did for example for Richard Grenell.

As for campaigning for her father - the political reality is that I walked door to door for Kerry without mentioning the marriage discrimination amendment which was also on the ballot, because I knew there were potential Kerry voters I might turn away if I suggested voting for Kerry in the same breath I suggested voting against the marriage discrimination amendment. Getting John Kerry elected was more important, overall, than any single issue. (And, of course, the day after the election I got smacked down here for insisting on having my special pony right now and losing the election for Kerry even though I had done just the opposite.)

I voted for President Obama, knowing that at a gut level he fundamentally opposed same gender marriage (a position he has thankfully changed). We all make political compromises - unless we want to throw away our campaign money, energy, and votes on people who have no hope of winning. I don't like Mary Cheney's politics, but I can understand not allowing a single issue to determine who she works for or votes for. And, because I did it myself, I can understand remaining silent on an issue that is central to my life when there are bigger things which I feel are more important (That said - I also support anyone who places a different priority on marriage equality and makes a different choice).

Accepting the risk of being public is an intensely personal decision, and not something it is fair to demand anyone do, regardless of their connections or political views. Her boundaries are her own choice. She could have chosen to remain closeted, but did not. I applaud the public steps any LGBT individual takes, because each step gets us closer to a world in which sexual orientation and gender identity or expression really doesn't matter. I don't have to like her politics to acknowledge that the risk she took merely in being public is one more step toward equality.

[beac]

26. I just don't think we are going to agree on Mary Cheney.

In my opinion, she provided cover for her dad and even Bush by being their "gay friend." "See, I can't be a bigot, I have a gay friend."

And their "gay friend" wasn't speaking out for marriage equality so clearly it was okay for them to try and ban same sex marriage b/c their "gay friend" had no objection to it. (Mary Cheney alleges in her 2006 biography that she told her dad privately she was against the ban, but she said not one public word of dissent at the time and her bio feels like self-serving history-rewriting.)

Mary Cheney only is famous for being Dick Cheney's gay daughter. She doesn't seem to have been focused on any other "more important" issue for her... unless you call protecting her wealth by getting her dad and Bush reelected an "important" issue.

Also, she had been out for years before Cheney slithered out of the background and became a household name. She didn't have much choice about that becoming national news. And remember, the Cheneys put her "off limits" in both campaigns. So, she could be a symbol of their "compassionate conservatism" ("my gay friend&quot but they could claim "family is off limits" when any sticky, uncomfortable gay rights issues came up for discussion.

I do agree with you that every out person helps move the world toward acceptance, but Mary Cheney has done as much to harm that progress as to help it (in my opinion.)



My bad opinion of Mary Cheney aside, I have nothing but admiration for you and your actions and choices. Brava!

[Angry Dragon]

43. +7,761

[coalition_unwilling]

21. Hetero here, but the best boss I ever had was a gay man and

he put all my prior and subsequent hetero bosses to shame with his managerial ability and all-around fundamental decency.

[rppper]

46. Well said!

Thank you for your insight! While I'm no fan of any of the Cheneys, your post was right on the money....

[EFerrari]

56. If your evidence that Cheney changed a long held belief

is that he supports his daughter, I need to point out to you that you are not in Cheney's daughter's class, and that Dick Cheney has never wasted a minute of his time thinking about you (us) and so, you conclusion is based on a misguided assumption.

[Ms. Toad]

57. I said nothing about Cheney changing his beliefs about class.

There are all sorts of people who are extremely class conscious but who are affirming of LGBT individuals and their rights. Although the two are logically connected for me, there are a number of people who (including a few Democrats I know) for whom they are not. All I was suggesting is that he has changed his beliefs on homosexuality and same gender marriage enough to publicly support his daughter, her wife, and their children enough to attend their wedding. That is a change, and one that would likely not have happened but for his daughter (or someone else he loved) taking the risk of being open about who they were.

[EFerrari]

58. You are mistaken. The family statement was one of support for their daughter.

Which he has always done.

As for same gender marriage, this is what he had to say: "The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don't support."

[Ms. Toad]

59. Almost all change starts with knowing and respecting or loving someone who is LGBT

and being unable to resolve the logical disconnect between what you believe about those kind of people and the reality of the person you love. That was pretty much the whole point of my first post.

As I said, that kind of change doesn't happen overnight. I have no expectations that just because he now supports one marriage (or one family without supporting marriage rights for that family - but was able to attend one marriage) that he will instantly be entirely correct on every piece of this question.

Look how long it took Barack Obama to publicly support marriage- and he had every social/political reason to be in the right place years ago - yet he wasn't. It took the parents of his daughter's friends and close regular contact with members of his own staff who are openly LGBT to get to point where he finally supports marriage.

I have siblings-in-law who were able to bring themselves to attend our wedding, but felt they could not sign our marriage certificate (part of every Quaker wedding - it represents a commitment to care for the marriage). That they were there is a step in the right direction. Change is messy, but Cheney has moved in the right direction largely because he loves his daughter who is openly gay.

And, quantity of change aside, my post was addressed to how change happens, and what demands it is reasonable to place on LGBT individuals, who happen to have a different political viewpoint from us and who happen to be related to big name politicians we don't like.

[EFerrari]

66. Exactly. You are describing how change happens.

And I am pointing out that Cheney doesn't have to change anything to go to his daughter's wedding. He doesn't think his daughter and other human beings are in the same category. He has demonstrated that over and over through-out his career.

I hope the couple has a long happy life together but that has nothing to do with Cheney changing or accepting anything except possibly some of the bills for their wedding which he would have paid regardless of whom his daughter married.

For a contrast, remember that Barry Goldwater really did go through the process your describe and late in life and that he became very active in Arizona working for civil rights, in the military, in employment, in marriage.

[Ms. Toad]

67. Just because he has not changed on every aspect of this issue

does not mean he has not changed. Having personally witnessed many changes, large and small, in members of my own family - and more dramatically in my spouses family - I see him following the same pattern and I expect that change will continue over time. Whether on this issue he will ever become a Barry Goldwater on this issue is unknown at this point. But from where I sit, he is moving - however slowly - in that direction.

I am surprised you are so certain that he would always have attended his daughter's wedding to another woman, or that he would always have paid for his daughter's wedding, regardless of who she married. Nothing he said publicly 8+ years ago (the last time he ran for office) suggests to me that either of those were steps he would have been capable of, let alone being capable of giving her the kind of public support he gave her in connection with her marriage.

[Woody Woodpecker]

6. Daily Caller is also co-owned by Fucker Carlson

Never forget.

[IamK]

9. photo below.. no comment

[TriMera]

13. What does the photo have to do with anything in the OP?n/t

[obamanut2012]

27. Why posted with "no comment" about her photo?

[Posteritatis]

28. Probably the standard "let's snark on peoples' appearance" schtick that comes and goes here. (nt)

[obamanut2012]

34. That's what I figure

Or the "Look at the ugly lesbian -- hahahahaha!"

I loathe Mary Cheney's politics, but that doesn't extend to snarking on her appearance.

[bluedeminredstate]

14. The first two comments after the article are priceless

iberalidiocracy
Afterwards Cheney and his new daughter in-law went on a hunting trip.....

Like Reply
8 minutes ago Report Abuse

qqqqqq
This marriage just made my non-gay marriage worthless. I told my wife today that I'm leaving her because marriage is now pointless.

Like Reply
Today 01:02 PM

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/22/4582114/cheney-family-delighted-as-lesbian.html#storylink=cpy

[riderinthestorm]

16. Congrats to Mary and Heather! I love these stories!

Obligatory disclaimer of "fuck Dick Cheney" and on to...

Congrats to the happy couple.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Fuck the Cheneys...

every last rotten, crooked one of them.

[XemaSab]

30. For all of the evil things that Cheney has done

I have to give him props for this one.

Congratulations, Mary and Heather.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Ah, isn't that special?

[russspeakeasy]

35. I hope Heather doesn't end up in a shotgun accident.

[Wolf Frankula]

39. No She Won't

But when a bunch of nutcases called the Concerned Women of America dissed Mary Cheney, Cardiac Dikk had no hard feelings. He invited them to go duck hunting with him.

Wolf

[Beacool]

41. As much as I think that Cheney is evil,

he has been supportive of his daughter's lifestyle for a long time now. He was even more open to gay marriage than many Democrats.

He may be Darth Vader, but it's evident that he loves his daughter and respects her life choices.

Congratulations to Mary and Heather.

[MightyOkie]

45. Very thoughtful post.

Thanks for not getting sucked into the ripping and remembering there is now a spouse in the picture who was not a "Cheney" before her marriage.

[Beacool]

52. You're welcome.

[EFerrari]

55. You lay down with the war criminals, you get up with fleas. n/t

[EFerrari]

54. Yes, he supports his daughter. Our daughters, on the other hand, can go to hell

as far as he's concerned.

Fuck him.

[octothorpe]

64. And even if he came out in 100% of legalizing gay marriage across the board

I suspect it would only be because the issue directly affects him, and if his daughter wasn't gay, then he'd be like every other one. I mean, I suppose I could be wrong, but I highly doubt it. I find conservatives have similar views/feelings toward welfare too. Until they (or their immediate family) is in need of assistance, many seem to believe all assistance should be cut...

[EFerrari]

65. Cf with Barry Goldwater, who really did come to believe

that discriminating against gay folk was unconstitutional.

During the 1990s, Mr. Goldwater spoke out in favor of allowing gays to serve in the military, and he worked in Phoenix to end job discrimination against gays. In 1994, he became honorary chairman of a drive to pass a federal law preventing job discrimination against gays.

"The big thing is to make this country, along with every other country in the world with a few exceptions, quit discriminating against people just because they're gay," he said. "You don't have to agree with it, but they have a constitutional right to be gay. And that's what brings me into it."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/may98/goldwater30.htm

[sendero]

47. Just goes to show you that everyone...

.... has some redeeming qualities.

[just1voice]

51. Now they'll go vote against themselves in Virginia, typical (R) scum

Too bad they won't leave the state and/or country.

[octothorpe]

61. Good for them :)

A search of freerepublic for this story has some screwed up comments. Which actually confuses me, because many republicans/conservatives I know offline and online, don't seem to be totally against gay marriage like 90% of the people post on FR seem to be. I'm guessing because the ones I'm referring to are not as batshit insane religious as the ones on FR... I wonder what percentage of the country are like those over there.

[otherone]

63. good -- love over all