Mary Cheney
Ambrose is such an Eastern liberal that he can't even make sense of the Cheneys' parental outrage at Kerry's perfectly innocuous mention of Mary Cheney. What's so outrageous about Kerry citing her as an example of a lesbian who wants to be true to herself? Is it reasonable to be outraged about someone mentioning, in a neutral and non-critical fashion, a well-known attribute of a member of your family? Ambrose is sure that John Edwards's daughter would tell you that she's comfortable with her dark brown hair--it's just how God made her. Ooops! Has Ambrose just said something outrageous?
It's not like Kerry "outed" Mary Cheney: Dick Cheney has brought up her sexuality in the context of political discourse. The lady herself is a "professional lesbian," having worked at Coors Brewery for years in the strange role of director of outreach to the gay and lesbian community (this to help Coors overcome its owners' less than tolerant remarks about homosexuality). Dick Cheney thanked John Edwards for making kind remarks about their family relationship with Mary. She's an official of the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign. She appeared on stage with her partner after the Vice Presidential candidates' debate. She's no spring chicken, either--clearly adult, with her own public life and public role.
So, Lynne and Dick Cheney are suddenly being "protective"? Elizabeth Edwards (whom Ambrose would love to discuss in another post someday--is this not the most courageous and honest spouse of a candidate that we've ever seen?) hit the nail on the head: Lynne Cheney's "outrage," to the extent it is real, can only be understood as a measure of her own feelings of shame about her daughter. And it's sad.
The Cheneys should channel some of that outrage against the people who are actually trying to attack their kid: the authors of the Republican Party platform; the many Republican luminaries who think it's acceptable to openly decry, deride, or dismiss lesbians and gays; the Focus on the Family wackos who equate gay marriage with bestiality; etc., etc. etc. Where's the outrage when their child's freedom to live as a full-fledged citizen is threatened by the President in a State of the Union address?
But the fact is that Lynne and Dick Cheney are not stupid, irrational people. They are cynical, calculating people. They aren't outraged on behalf of Mary; they are afraid on behalf of Bush/Cheney '04. They claim that Kerry was trying to discourage conservative religious Republicans from voting for Bush. Ambrose thinks Lynne Cheney doth protest too much! Kerry isn't exactly campaigning for votes among the Moral Majority crowd; but the Cheneys are trying to appeal to those mythically protective and otherwise solidly Democratic "terror Moms." And they're willing to display shame about their own child as a political prop.
Ambrose is appalled by these people on a daily basis. And Maureen Dowd's a dope to fall for it, too.
It's not like Kerry "outed" Mary Cheney: Dick Cheney has brought up her sexuality in the context of political discourse. The lady herself is a "professional lesbian," having worked at Coors Brewery for years in the strange role of director of outreach to the gay and lesbian community (this to help Coors overcome its owners' less than tolerant remarks about homosexuality). Dick Cheney thanked John Edwards for making kind remarks about their family relationship with Mary. She's an official of the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign. She appeared on stage with her partner after the Vice Presidential candidates' debate. She's no spring chicken, either--clearly adult, with her own public life and public role.
So, Lynne and Dick Cheney are suddenly being "protective"? Elizabeth Edwards (whom Ambrose would love to discuss in another post someday--is this not the most courageous and honest spouse of a candidate that we've ever seen?) hit the nail on the head: Lynne Cheney's "outrage," to the extent it is real, can only be understood as a measure of her own feelings of shame about her daughter. And it's sad.
The Cheneys should channel some of that outrage against the people who are actually trying to attack their kid: the authors of the Republican Party platform; the many Republican luminaries who think it's acceptable to openly decry, deride, or dismiss lesbians and gays; the Focus on the Family wackos who equate gay marriage with bestiality; etc., etc. etc. Where's the outrage when their child's freedom to live as a full-fledged citizen is threatened by the President in a State of the Union address?
But the fact is that Lynne and Dick Cheney are not stupid, irrational people. They are cynical, calculating people. They aren't outraged on behalf of Mary; they are afraid on behalf of Bush/Cheney '04. They claim that Kerry was trying to discourage conservative religious Republicans from voting for Bush. Ambrose thinks Lynne Cheney doth protest too much! Kerry isn't exactly campaigning for votes among the Moral Majority crowd; but the Cheneys are trying to appeal to those mythically protective and otherwise solidly Democratic "terror Moms." And they're willing to display shame about their own child as a political prop.
Ambrose is appalled by these people on a daily basis. And Maureen Dowd's a dope to fall for it, too.
posted by Ambrose at 10:30 AM
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