# Why are the Cheneys so miffed about Kerry's "lesbian" remarks in D#3? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360 "2004-10-15T12:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/21 "2004-10-15T17:48:40Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > Why are the Cheneys so miffed about Kerry’s “lesbian” remarks in D#3? Because they know that in close states, the depend on the votes of people who will hear this and get the idea that Mary Cheney is scheming to dump fluoride in the drinking water in order to recruit their daughters into the eeeeevil ho-mo-seck-su-ul lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/22 "2004-10-15T18:16:55Z")
It was a good, smart move by Kerry. Very positive. Whenever a Democrat makes a good move, the Karl Roves move in and and immediately declare it a mistake. Nevermind citing anything logical or reasonable. It’s all a spin thing. It’s like Dean’s stirring speech after Iowa. “Hey, that’s not a stirring speech, that’s ranting and raving!” The really sad thing is that the people buy this crap. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/23 "2004-10-15T19:09:38Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Pretty simple, really. \*\*One candidate used the other’s child for political gain. \*\* Regardless of the “label”, it’s taboo. Yeah, I mean, they reamed Edwards, too … oh wait, no they didn’t. Well, they actually beheaded Alan Keyes when he called her a selfish hedonist … I hadn’t heard of a public beheading in politics since Marie Antionette! [/sarcasam] ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/24 "2004-10-15T19:52:13Z")
“_You_ can’t exploit our daughter for political points, only _we’re_ allowed to do that!” :rolleyes: As **Mynn** pointed out, the Cheneys didn’t go ballistic when Alan Keyes called Mary a hedonist in August. And Mrs. Cheney was outright _denying_ that Mary was a lesbian just four years ago. _Conclusion:_ The Cheneys are just pissed at Kerry for smacking Bush around in three debates, and are clutching for whatever excuse they can to cook up a scandal. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/25 "2004-10-15T20:04:51Z")
[QUOTE=TeaElle] My problem with the comment was that it was entirely needless. Who was it for? [list] [li]It wasn’t for the far right wing. They know who Mary Cheney is, and if they’re not going to vote for Bush?cheney because of it, they made that choice long ago.[/li][/QUOTE] Don’t assume that they all did know it. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/26 "2004-10-15T20:14:30Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > And Mrs. Cheney was outright _denying_ that Mary was a lesbian just four years ago. Nope. In 2000, in response to Cokie Roberts’ question about having a daughter who has “declared she’s openly gay,” Lynne responded: “Mary has never declared such a thing.” She wasn’t denying Mary was gay. The key words were “openly” and “declared”. Lynne Cheney was still wrong, however, since Mary had done just that in _Girlfriends_ magazine in 1999. It’s quite possible that Lynne was not aware of the interview. Lynne was (needlessly) trying to protect her daughter’s privacy. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/27 "2004-10-15T20:25:49Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > It’s quite possible that Lynne was not aware of the interview. Lynne was (needlessly) trying to protect her daughter’s privacy. Or it’s quite possible that she didn’t like the idea of a major news outlet digging into something that she was hoping would not be common knowledge in the non-queer community. You calling it protecting the daughter’s privacy; some others might call it protecting her husband’s conservative rep. The fact that they didn’t go ballistic on Keyes when any legitimately proud parents would have is the biggest tell for me on the hypocrisy of the situation (but then again, I would’ve insisted on having her and her partner join me up on stage if I’d been the VP candidate at the RNC. Cheney didn’t do that either). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/28 "2004-10-15T20:35:13Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > The fact that they didn’t go ballistic on Keyes when any legitimately proud parents would have. . . From the _Washington Blade_: > [@](#): > > When CNN anchor Bill Hemmer asked Lynne Cheney, the vice president’s wife, and Liz Cheney, Mary’s sister, for reaction, the latter visibly bristled in response. “I’m surprised, frankly, that you would even repeat the quote, and I’m not going to dignify it with a comment,” Liz Cheney said. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/29 "2004-10-15T21:41:40Z")
I said “they didn’t go ballistic” and your quote backs me up. Q: Why scorch the earth over Kerry’s non-insult when a No Comment is sufficient for such an outrageous slur? A: Hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/30 "2004-10-15T21:55:22Z")
“Won’t dignify that with a reply” is used for the most offensive remarks, e.g., what Alan Keyes said. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/31 "2004-10-15T21:57:31Z")
Oh for god’s sake. Kerry said what he said because he was too polite to say to Bush, “You don’t know if gay people are born gay? Go ask one you know, dumbass!” The Cheneys are feigning this high dudgeon to cover for Bush’s piss-poor performance and the (by one admittedly left-wing commentator’s count) 20+ lies he told. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/32 "2004-10-15T23:24:35Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > “Won’t dignify that with a reply” is used for the most offensive remarks, e.g., what Alan Keyes said. So Kerry makes a _less_ (non-)offensive remark, and gets _more_ flak for it? Great, it’s Afghanistan-Iraq all over again… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/33 "2004-10-15T23:29:17Z")
Alan Keyes got plenty of flak for his remark, from both Democrats and Republicans. Google and learn. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/34 "2004-10-16T00:01:27Z")
Re: Keyes’ comments: > [@](#): > > Christine Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said, “We’re not going to dignify these comments with a response.” > [@](#): > > Dan Allen, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said that sometimes the way candidates present an issue is not reflective of the party’s message. > > “Alan Keyes is going to have to run his own race, and we’re not going to tell him how to do it,” Allen said. “He feels very passionate about certain issues, and whether we agree or disagree is not for us to decide, it’s going to be the voters of Illinois.” > [@](#): > > Since the comments reached wider release, the Bush/Cheney campaign and the head of the Illinois Republican Party, among others, have called Keyes’ remarks “inappropriate.” When CNN anchor Bill Hemmer asked Lynne Cheney, the vice president’s wife, and Liz Cheney, Mary’s sister, for reaction, the latter visibly bristled in response. > > “I’m surprised, frankly, that you would even repeat the quote, and I’m not going to dignify it with a comment,” Liz Cheney said. > [@](#): > > Illinois Republican Party Chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka said the remarks about Cheney’s daughter should not distract from key election issues. > > “It’s a pity that we have gotten away from the substance of the campaign and instead have gotten into personalities and things that are personal and name-calling,” Topinka said. “Since this is amongst Republicans, it really needs to stop and get on course.” > [@](#): > > Rep. Tom Feeney, a conservative from Florida, defended Keyes’ right to say what he believes. > > “We are a party that doesn’t punish people who say things mainstream folks disagree with,” Feeney said. “There is room in this party for all sorts of people.” Wow, that flak is blistering! With the exception of former Ill. Gov Jim Thompson, the deluge of genuine criticism came largely from Democratic circles. As for the “won’t dignify” bit–you can say that about a reporter, or a pundit, or a political nobody. But if a Senatorial candidate from your own political party says that about your own daughter, a rote “won’t dignify” doesn’t cut it. What’s Cheney afraid of–losing Illinois? :rolleyes: OK, maybe he’s not a hypocrite. Maybe he’s just a coward. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/35 "2004-10-16T01:31:36Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > Yes Mary Cheney is involved in the campaign to support her father, but not in a public way. I still don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of her or heard her voice. She’s never said a word publicly about Kerry. Thats the way SHE wanted it and Kerry should have respected that. Is that the way she wants it? Or is that the way dad and his oval office sock puppet want it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/36 "2004-10-16T01:47:06Z")
Moving this from IMHO to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/37 "2004-10-16T01:48:58Z")
:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/38 "2004-10-16T01:50:14Z")
Ah - I meant to ad: There is already a Kerry/Lesbo thread in GD. Maybe this can go into the pit so we can turn up the heat? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/39 "2004-10-16T03:32:25Z")
First Edwards, then Kerry takes this same cheap-shot? Twice is no accident, it’s planned. If these remarks piss off the pubbies and also swing a few homophobe’s votes to the Democratic side, that’s all to the better, is what they’re thinkin’. It’s called politics. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360/40 "2004-10-16T03:39:15Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Nope. In 2000, in response to Cokie Roberts’ question about having a daughter who has “declared she’s openly gay,” Lynne responded: “Mary has never declared such a thing.” She wasn’t denying Mary was gay. The key words were “openly” and “declared”. > > Lynne Cheney was still wrong, however, since Mary had done just that in _Girlfriends_ magazine in 1999. It’s quite possible that Lynne was not aware of the interview. Lynne was (needlessly) trying to protect her daughter’s privacy. Or was lying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-cheneys-so-miffed-about-kerrys-lesbian-remarks-in-d-3/269360.md?page=3)