So, in case you missed it, Dick Cheney was asked and then answered at town hall a question about gay marriage. After acknowledging (for the first time in public), that his daughter Mary is gay and working on his campaign - he said this was an issue his family had discussed. Lynn Cheney said before the admendment vote, she thought it was a state issue - not a federal issue. Dick Cheney said yesterday that he, personal, thinks that people should be able to enter into the relationship they feel is right, and it is a issue to decide at the state level. He then took pains to point out, however, that the President makes public policy, so this was only his opinion.
Ed and I had a discussion of why he said this and why now. Here are our best options.
1) For goodness sake, he has a daughter and knows her. Maybe he really believes this (he said the same thing in 2000). SM: I hope this is true - Ed says I am crazy.
2) There is going to be a platform fight about this. Perhaps this allows an official alternate position so they don't look like complete herd of intolerant assholes.
3) This is a great reason for him to step down as VP and allow Bush to nominate Condi. He can step down for personal disagreements on a key policy decision. Bush gets to appeal to the religious conservatives (he kicks off Cheney) AND appeals to minorities (Condi = good).
4) Right after this, the Log Cabin Republicans (not to be confused with "Jews for Hezbollah") said this would allow them to vote for the ticket again. I stated that the votes hardly count as they are concentrated in the Blue states and won't swing voters. This is Ed's pet idea. But today I thought they might swing a lot of money- so Ed has a point.
Upshot, I don't know. But it can't hurt.
PS - We saw Kerry on the "Daily Show" last night. Dullard. Such a politician Ed and I actually discussed the fact that he would be hard to vote for. Thank goodness we are in CA where our vote for President doesn't matter.