Mrs. Cheney thinks states should decide marriage issue...

[Josephine96]

Lynne, Dick Cheney Differ on Gay Marriage

58 minutes ago


By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Lynne Cheney, the vice president's wife and mother of a lesbian, said Sunday that states should have the final say over the legal status of personal relationships.


AP Photo



That stand puts her at odds with the vice president on the need for the constitutional amendment now under debate in the Senate that effectively would ban gay marriage.

"I think that the constitutional amendment discussion will give us an opportunity to look for ways to discuss ways in which we can keep the authority of the states intact," Cheney told CNN's "Late Edition."

The Senate began debate Friday on an amendment that defines marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.

Supporters acknowledge the proposal is endorsed by only about half the Senate, well short of the two-thirds needed to approve a change in the Constitution. Still, a vote would put lawmakers on the spot in an election year as they seek to balance backing traditional marriage and gay rights.

Cheney has two daughters, both of whom are working in his campaign. The Cheney's gay daughter, Mary, is director of vice presidential operations for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. She held a public role as her father's assistant in the 2000 campaign and helped the GOP recruit gay voters during the 2002 midterm elections.

She has been less visible this year while traveling with the vice president or working at campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va. As the election nears, she will play a more public role, campaign aides say.

President Bush (news - web sites) said in his weekly radio address Saturday that legalizing gay marriage would redefine the most fundamental institution of civilization. A constitutional amendment is needed to protect marriage, he said.

During the 2000 campaign, vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney (news - web sites) took the position states should decide legal issues about personal relationships and that people should be free to enter relationships of their choosing.

When Massachusetts' high court ruled last year that gay couples are entitled to wed, the issue became a very hot political topic. Republicans hope it will take votes away from the Democratic presidential ticket.

Both Bush and Cheney have voiced their support this year for the proposed constitutional amendment. Their Democratic rivals, Sens. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts and John Edwards (news - web sites) of North Carolina, oppose the amendment.

The Democrats also oppose gay marriage, but defend a gay couple's rights to the same legal protections as those conferred in marriage.

Asked Sunday about her husband's stand on gay marriage in 2004, Lynne Cheney said, "I thought that the formulation he used in 2000 was very good.

"First of all, to be clear that people should be free to enter into their relationships that they choose. And, secondly, to recognize what's historically been the situation, that when it comes to conferring legal status on relationships, that is a matter left to the states," she said.

Lynne Cheney said the situation in 2004 is somewhat different from the one four years ago because of the Massachusetts court ruling and its effect on states.

Asked again about the difference between the Democrats and the Bush administration on the amendment, Cheney reaffirmed her preference for local solutions.

The vice president's press office had no immediate comment Sunday.


Source:www.yahoo.com

[GalvestonDuck]

Amazing...two posts on the topic, and yet, I still don't get to tickle anyone.

[wx247]

LOL... that is an interesting article. I can just hear the discussions tonight with the VP and his wife.

[stormchazer]

I agree...but judges think they get to decide.

[Aslkahuna]

Ultimately, the issue will reach the Supreme Court which will make the final decision. But I don't think that this is an issue to amend the Constitution for.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Now this is a tough issue and I voted FOR/yes on the other similar topic you had posted gay people should not "marry"... I am str8 but respect others preference-and if someone wants to be together as a lawful couple and have the same rights as any married couple, Im all for that regardless of their orientation... But it shouldnt be called a marriage... To me, a marriage is man and woman--but gay couples who want to unify should not be discriminated against as far as insurance, assistance, etc.