Cheney's pregnancy dismays some conservatives

[Charlie Brown]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/06/cheney.daughters.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Conservative leaders voiced dismay Wednesday at news that Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Dick Cheney, is pregnant, while a gay-rights group said the vice president faces "a lifetime of sleepless nights" for serving in an administration that has opposed recognition of same-sex couples.

"Unless they move to a handful of less restrictive states, Heather will never be able to have a legal relationship with her child," said Family Pride executive director Jennifer Chrisler.

The couple "will quickly face the reality that no matter how loved their child will be. ... he or she will never have the same protections that other children born to heterosexual couples enjoy," Chrisler said. "Grandfather Cheney will no doubt face a lifetime of sleepless nights as he reflects on the irreparable harm he and his administration have done to the millions of American gay and lesbian parents and their children."

For years, Mary Cheney's openness about her sexual orientation had posed a dilemma for conservative activists who admire Dick Cheney's stance on many issues but consider homosexuality a sin.

Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America described the pregnancy as "unconscionable."

Carrie Gordon Earll, a policy analyst for the conservative Christian ministry Focus on the Family, expressed empathy for the Cheney family but depicted the pregnancy as unwise.

"Just because you can conceive a child outside a one-woman, one-man marriage doesn't mean it's a good idea," Earll said. "Love can't replace a mother and a father."

[Ishoutandscream2]

1. "Love can't replace a mother and father"?

Help me out here, especially those (like me) who were raised by loving grandparents.

[otohara]

2. Who is Heather?

"Unless they move to a handful of less restrictive states, Heather will never be able to have a legal relationship with her child," said Family Pride executive director Jennifer Chrisler.

[deadparrot]

3. Heather Poe, Mary's SO. nt

[SallyMander]

4. Mary Cheney's partner

of 15 years, i think

[karlrschneider]

17. "Heather?, I don't believe I've ever heard that name before"

:evilgrin:

[muntrv]

5. Well Crouse and Earll, who should get the kid? Britney and K-Fed?

[Johnyawl]

8. Great reply, muntrv!

If I had to chose between leaving my children to be raised by; A)some of my gay friends who are in long term, loving relationships, or B) a pair of heterosexual, self centered, spoiled assholes like Britney & K-Fed, it would be A) in a heart beat.

[The Sushi Bandit]

6. Simple: It's a Virgin Birth!!

She is the Virgin Mary!!!!

[donheld]

24. Maybe it will be the Antichrist

It fits.

[silverweb]

7. As a single parent...

...who successfully raised two upstanding, intelligent, kind-hearted, generous, loving, remarkable human beings (a son and a daughter), I deeply resent every word conservatives have to say on this subject.

They have no right to speak to me about the superiority of having a "mother and a father" because I've been both and, I dare say, I've been far better at it than many, including plenty of their Xtian conservatives.

Yes, love can replace a mother and a father -- especially when the mother and father are fundamentalist, hyper-authoritarian, paternalistic sociopaths.

:grr:

[wellstone dem]

11. AMEN AMEN AMEN

I am a single adoptive parent. And each time the conservatives rage against gay people having children or adopting children, I know that they are raging against me. And I was the best mom for my daughter. I adopted her at age 9 after she had spent half her life in foster care. Tonight, she is at class in college 1200 miles away. Today she told me I was amazing because of some volunteer work I did. She was abused by her two heterosexual parents. She is where she is today because of two people, #1 herself--she is the amazing one. #2 Her single parent mom. DAMN those who believe that the best parents are always two heterosexual people. Why do they hate children??

[silverweb]

15. They hate everyone who's not exactly like them.

That's the long and the short of it. They fear and hate anyone who's different in any way -- especially religion or sexuality.

I walked away from two different husbands and raised my kids without child support or input from either one of those abusive bums. (Yes, I had shitty judgement when it came to men.) My goal was a peaceful and loving home, and that's what we had. And my children reflect it.

High 5's to you, too, for your loving single parenting and a daughter who reflects the values you gave her!

:toast:

[Doctor_J]

21. Ah, the paradox of being a lib/Dem

All the tenderhearted DUers rushing to Mary's defense, while the right wing studiously avoids any mention of this event, which would be getting 24/7 virulent hatred if it were Al Gore's daughter instead of Dead-eye's.

We're not partisan enough or determined enough to ever get our country back from the Cons

[Demeter]

25. We're Far More Likely To Get the Country Back From the Cons

if we show the world how REAL Christians, moral and ethical, pro-life people are supposed to act. In any event, we will get their abused children, who will be legion!

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Somehow, I can't imagine Darth Cheney losing sleep

over any guilt-related issue. Psychopaths just aren't wired that way. If he had a drop of compassion or conscience, he would already be a total insomniac over the Iraqis who died as a result of his lies and to the Americans he sent to the Middle East to have their lives ended or destroyed.

[boobooday]

10. But I thought they were the culture of life?

How disappointing.

[BadgerKid]

12. My take on mother & father only

Having grown up under a single parent, I'd say growing up under two parents who have a healthy relationship with each other is fine. Any loving family, period.

Insisting on one female mother and one male father just strikes me as trying to perpetuate gender roles. I guess some might see that as some kind of preservation of species, but we humans are pretty adapatable even though it might take a bit of time to get the masses on board.

[Lexingtonian]

13. maybe she should have an abortion?

:sarcasm:

I think we should James Dobson whether she should do that.

Or may the kid merely has to shower with a father figure a couple of times :crazy: :puke:

Hey, Mary, come over to the Side of the Light!

[DuaneBidoux]

14. I hope so.

[JohnnyLib2]

16. Call me pollyannish,

but I think this will ultimately help in the equality battle. Attitudes tend to change more out of necessity than anything else. Baby Cheney will
be a focal point, poor child.

[Rose Siding]

18. Um, Janice? What if it's a "snowflake" baby?

That sure would stand their reasoning (*word used loosely) on its head. Is there ANYTHING about these bigots that ISN'T hypocritical?

Oh, well. I was looking forward to the conservative fireworks :popcorn:

[w4rma]

19. Can love replace a father and/or a mother killed in Iraq? They don't really care about families.

They care about wedge issues to use against the non-preditor classes.

[ritziecracker]

20. Pregnancy is a matter of national security!!!

Yes it's a matter of National Security Mary's pregnancy is so that the baby can be used for replacement parts for Dickvader. May the turkey baster be with you!!!

[no_hypocrisy]

22. In these people's minds, if Mary Cheney were pregnant as a result of

being a 14 year old girl, raped by her father, it would all right. It's the gayness that bothers them.

[JudyM]

23. Great point, no_hypocrisy. What a convoluted set of values they try to foist on us. nt

[Skittles]

26. HEY BIGOTS: Ms. Cheney's pregnancy is NONE OF YOUR F'N BUSINESS

f*** your bigotry

[Anakin Skywalker]

27. Will Lil' Dick (Cheney) Lose His Rightwing Pals?

[Anakin Skywalker]

28. K-Fed and Britney Made a Better Couple, Huh?

Just because they are straight and got "officially" married, isn't that right, wingnuts?