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"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. Chaney expressed outrage on Senator Kerry’s answer.
Mrs. Chaney 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 Chaney 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.
Chaney 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
F. James
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