You know it's bad when the President is publicly to the right of Darth Cheney on marriage

"Something we've lived with for a long time"

He says this after acknowledging that one of his daughters is gay.

Makes being gay sound like cancer or something.

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by: fq5757 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:06:19 PM CDT

A blight perhaps.

A plague survivor. An untouchable.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:08:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cheney

still beats our fierce protector.

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by: TrumpetDC @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:12:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Or AIDS?

As unapologetic as I am for having repeatedly called bull on Big O-2's running away, errors, and misses, I see no reason to assert that Cheney's position is ANY better.

He only "supports" freedom to marry up to the point that some state takes it away. Then he'd draw his shotgun and defend the state against his own daughter, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild.

But, then, of course, RICH WHITE lesbians with the Secret Service on speed dial have little to worry about.

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by: Michael Bedwell @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:24:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

who are you telling?

"But, then, of course, RICH WHITE lesbians with the Secret Service on speed dial have little to worry about."

Of course no one would stop her and her partner from making medical decisions for one another or anything like that.

Money is power.
Damn I wish I was a rich white...witch.

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by: PurpleLove08 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:50:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Freedom for everyone my ass

Good for you, Dickie, for still dragging your corrupt and murderous ass around for the cameras.  

I just can't get over the irony of our first African American President continuing his bear hug with segregation (aka states' rights).  

And it just gets sweeter with the words from Dick Vader's mouth making Obamas equivocation even more absurd, vapid and cowardly.  

Imagine this scenario 50 years ago:  A black president in support of a separate but equal public accommodation policy.  

Do you have any integrity, Obama?  Do you really believe the words you said in your speeches about abortion (at Notre Dame) and race (during the campaign) or is it all just political calculation?  

I want June 2009 to be the loudest most in your face pride month of the past 40 years.  

What more would it take for this pot to boil over?

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by: Patrick @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:17:58 PM CDT

If Obama had seriously meant his message of "change,"

it's wildly unlikely the Democratic Party would have given him the nomination.  He, like they, has no intention of doing anything to alter the status quo in any substantial way, except to shift it toward the right.  This has been clear to anyone who bothered to look at it since the time he declared his candidacy.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 09:40:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gotcha Politics

Sorry Barack, but Dick gotcha.

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by: dstavro @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:31:18 PM CDT

Ewwwwww....

I kind of agree with him.  Although I think Federal action is necessary; if nothing else, a court case challenging DOMA as unconstitutional.  

He is right about marriage traditionally being a state matter: look at states with varying marriage age laws. It might actually help a number of states to take another positive look at same-sex marriage, because they won't be shielded by DOMA, anymore.

Hate stops a beating heart.

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by: KarenS @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:33:24 PM CDT

I've been saying this for a few weeks now

Dick Cheney likes us better than Obama does.
Does life get any weirder than this?

Does give us a political option though, the LGBT movement can threaten to support a Cheney candidacy so that perhaps, just perhaps, the Dems will put up or shut up on our rights

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:50:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Of course

We are not as inconvenient to Dick Cheney as we are to the present President.  He doesn't have to kiss evangelical butt anymore.

Urgle.

Hate stops a beating heart.

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by: KarenS @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 22:36:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And Cheney was always

part of the unadulterated Gilded-Age plutocrats of the GOP rather than one of the theocrats (though he was certainly willing to sell out anyone but the rich to the howling Dominionist mobs).  His attitude to rights would be expected to range from hostility for the middle-income and lower up to polite indifference for rich LGBT folks.

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by: M @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 01:54:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

LawDork2.0

had a pretty good analysis of Cheney's statement.

http://lawdork.wordpress.com/2...

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by: JimWatson @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:48:02 PM CDT

If marriage is a state issue

Why is DOMA on the books?

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by: PurpleLove08 @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 21:51:09 PM CDT

very good point

That's the rub. Even if Prop. 8 had been overturned, the marriages would have been valid only if the couples stayed in states that recognized them. DOMA means that a CA married (or legally partnered) couple stop being that if they drive east of Truckee or, say, walk across the lobby of the Cal-Neva hotel. The marriages in ME, NH, MA, VT, CT are valid only through NY, thanks to DOMA.

If Obama can't bring himself to repeal DOMA, then Cheney has another point: federalism should be allowed to work its process, and DOMA is begging for a privileges-and-immunities lawsuit.

BTW, in CA my partner/spouse and I have to file four tax returns: two 1040s, one joint state income tax return, and, since the CA state return is geared to the federal one, a ghost joint 1040 to give to the state. The difference in Federal tax, BTW, is substantial. That's our DOMA surtax.

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by: coram nobis @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 22:33:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

DOMA is a clear vilation of the tenth amendment,

which reserves for the states all powers not specifically granted to the federal government.  And nowhere does the constitution give the feds any authority over marriage.  If DOMA is struck down by a court ruling rather than as a result of action by the Democratic congress (and don't hold your breath for that), that will most likely be the basis.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 09:47:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

DOMA is a clear violation of the tenth amendment,

which reserves for the states all powers not specifically granted to the federal government.  And nowhere does the constitution give the feds authority over marriage.  If DOMA is struck down as a result of a court ruling rather than as a result of action by the Democratic congress (and don't hold your breath for that), that will likely be the basis.

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 09:51:40 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oops!

Cynic, n.  A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.  
-Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 13:30:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Cheney never said marriage; he said union.

Do you really think Cheney supports marriage equality?
He say any couple should be about to make a union.  He never said marriage.  Although because of his daughter, he IS more with the program than the prez.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 22:45:10 PM CDT

union or marriage

Either way, let's see DOMA repeal and an environment where a state's marriage OR civil union is valid anywhere else. We've already had one nasty case in Ft. Lauderdale where a domestic partner from Washington state -- AND her children -- were barred from the partner's deathbed even when the medical power-of-attorney and DP paperwork was faxed to the hospital.

DOMA repeal would make this kind of cruelty a lot more actionable, at least, and maybe a lot less likely.

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by: coram nobis @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 22:52:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This case

was at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a county hospital in Miami (Miami-Dade County), not Fort Lauderdale (Broward County).

Since the '90's Broward County has enacted gay rights legislation and laws extending benefits to domestic partners. Most (if not all) of Broward's hospitals recognize domestic partners, including the Catholic hospital in Fort Lauderdale. My partner and I have had no issues when either of us have been admitted to any hospital or had a visit to an emergency room. Our relationship is treated with respect, the same as opposite sex couples. In fact, when my partner's mother has been with us the staff discusses her status primarily with me.

You can lead a fool to knowledge, but you can't make him think.  

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by: Dianne @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 23:49:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

right

I sort of assumed Ft. Lauderdale because of some of the cruise-ship traffic in and out of there. Still, the surviving partner had ample grounds to sue, at least on traditional common-law torts grounds, intentional infliction of emotional distress, &c.

Most couples probably don't (thank God) have this kind of experience, but it's at the grace-and-favor of whomever is at the reception desk. This should not be subject to someone's grace-and-favor, but a basic rule.

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by: coram nobis @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 01:20:07 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Big talk from an evil man who never did anything for gay rights when he was in office.

I'm not impressed.

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by: night owl @ Mon Jun 01, 2009 at 23:32:06 PM CDT

Right

I swear it's as if he is deliberately baiting the current administration on a daily basis to suit his own weird agenda.

What next? Cheney denouncing Rick Warren?

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 00:13:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sure, why not

I also hope Cheney shoots Maggie Gallagher in the face...accidentally, of course.

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by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 00:21:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

She reaps what she sews and all that....

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by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 00:22:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm just saying...

I'm not encouraging violence against anyone.  Absolutely not.  Cheney did shoot someone though...people get shot all the time...I'm not telling anyone to actually do it...well, I'm telling Dick Cheney to do it.  

If Dick Cheney shoots Maggie Gallagher in the face I will feel bad that she might not have had a chance to make things right with Satan before she died.  

I promise.

jeez

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by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 00:25:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Are these the kinds of jokes you want to make?

Especially right after Dr. Tiller.  We've even been showing outrage in other parts of this site.

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by: TrumpetDC @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 00:33:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

um, no

We need some rule of law. Have needed, since the end of the last century.

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by: coram nobis @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 01:23:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

ANYONE...

that thinks that Cheney is to the left of the President on this issue is sadly deluded.

Cheney was VP for EIGHT YEARS and did/said nothing supportive. Now that he has an approval rating in the teens and does not have to run for anything.

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by: SciFi Geek @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 08:33:38 AM CDT

Regardless of where Cheney is

we should continue to work on Obama. I have written a letter to the Bigot in Chief (http://rainbowrascal.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/letter-to-bigot-in-chief/). I encourage everyone to write to all of your elected officials and put them on notice that NOW is the time.

No Delays! No Excuses! Full Civil Rights NOW!

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by: JimWatson @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 09:49:25 AM CDT

I'll take it!

It's a headline being seen by many American's today. As more and more high profile people start making statements supporting gay marriage, it only helps our cause. Maybe Cheney's daughter and partner will jump on board with McCain's daughter and help offset the Maggie Gallager followers. It should send a signal to the White House..it's OK to support the gays.

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton

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by: T2inDC @ Tue Jun 02, 2009 at 15:03:51 PM CDT