Common Sense from the Right
Andrew Sullivan has this to say about the gay daughter flap:The Cheneys didn't respond to Jim DeMint's gay-baiting in South Carolina, or Alan Keyes' direct insult of their own daughter in Illinois. They have not voiced objections tio a single right-wing piece of homophobia in this campaign or the anti-gay RNC flier in Arkansas and West Virginia. But they are outraged that Kerry mentioned the simple fact of their daughter's openly gay identity. What complete b.s. In the short run, this hurts Kerry. Prevailing disapproval of homosexuality means that most people regard mentioning anybody's lesbianism as an insult and inappropriate. But long-term, the Republican bluff has been called. The GOP is run, in part, by gay men and women, its families are full of gay people, and yet it is institutionally opposed to even the most basic protections for gay couples. You can keep up a policy based on rank hypocrisy for only so long. And then it tumbles like a house of cards. Kerry just pulled one card from out of the bottom of the heap. Watch the edifice of double standards slowly implode. Gay people and their supporters will no longer acquiesce in this charade. Why on earth should we?And this from a man who was vehemently opposed to liberals, but who is desperately searching for a reason to vote for Bush.
posted by Nathanael @ 12:41 PM
2 Comments:
A lot of liberals have a problem with how Kerry and Edwards have brought up Cheney's daughter, and while I feel bad for her getting dragged into this, it has proved to be an effective tactic. Especially in the debate when Bush was so wishy-washy about homosexuality being a choice and Kerry was essentially pointing out "You KNOW gay people. We know you do. So now what do you have to say?"
-brdgt
I don' think that we should fault Edwards. The question to Cheney made specific reference to his family: "... you used your family's experience as a context for your remarks."
Yeah, Kerry's reference was gauche, but it was in line with a debate tactic he has used for some time. He finds someone in the opposition who agrees with his policies in one way or other.
M. Cheney would fit that role as a Republican whose political identity deals with advancing gays and lesbians within the Republican Party. This is her life's work, and she confronts the contradictions of the party on a daily basis. However, Kerry should have recognized that she is only a quasi-public figure.
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