by Stuart F. James
posted October 17, 2004
"Lynn and I have a gay daughter so it's an issue our family is very familiar with. With respect to the question of relationships my general view is freedom means freedom for everyone." With these words, Vice President Cheney diplomatically addressed the issue of his daughter’s homosexuality. The Vice President showed courage.
"For all God's children, and I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's been who she was, she's been who she was born as, I think if you talk to anybody, it's not a choice." Like Vice President Cheney, John Kerry took an emotional issue and diplomatically answered the question “Is homosexuality a choice?” Senator Kerry showed courage.
After John Kerry’s answer to the question “Is homosexuality a choice?” Mr. and Mrs. Cheney expressed outrage on Senator Kerry’s answer. Mrs. Cheney had this to say about Senator Kerry’s remarks, "This is not a good man. Of course I'm speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What cheap and tawdry political trick."
The President made homosexuality a central issue of the campaign by supporting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Homosexuality is now an issue. It is an issue that divides people. It is an issue which was a subject of the presidential and vice presidential debates. Therefore, the question of whether homosexuality is a choice is a legitimate question deserving a legitimate answer.
Both Vice President Cheney and Senator Kerry are dealing with the “gay marriage” issue diplomatically. Both made statements showing an understanding of the issue. It is President Bush who is guilty of a cheap, tawdry political trick—the President is supporting a ban on gay marriage, knowing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage will not pass. He supports the amendment to gain a political high road with the Christian right. The President further fans the flames by avoiding the answer to the question “Is homosexuality a choice?” All the president said in response is he didn't know if it [homosexuality] was choice are not.
Mrs. Cheney needs to direct her anger at a President who lacks courage to answer the question—does he believe homosexuality is a choice?
Both Mr. Cheney and Mr. Kerry showed courage. Perhaps the issue is best summed up by what Mr. Kerry said in response to Mrs. Cheney's accusation "they love their daughter. I was trying to say something positive about the way strong families deal with the issue." Perhaps Mrs. Chaney misinterpreted what Mr. Kerry was attempting to do—put a human face on an issue the Republicans are using to get a vote.
If the President, during the debate, displayed the courage to answer the question the way John Kerry did, then the President would have legitimized his position on the issue.
After all, as the Vice President said “Freedom means freedom for everyone.”
Stuart James
sfjgcj@comcast.net
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