Speaking at the National Press Club this afternoon, former Vice President Dick Cheney, the Darth Vader of presidential politics, offered a qualified endorsement for same-sex marriage, reports Politico.
"I think that freedom means freedom for everyone. As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay, and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this ... don't support."
These comemnts echo similar statements made by Cheney in 2000 and 2004 when he (in)famously out-flanked George W. Bush to the left on LGBT rights. Cheney also offered this tepid explanation for why the Bush Administration pursued a federal marriage amendment: "I think his perception was that the courts, in effect, were beginning to change, without allowing the people to be involved. The courts were making the judgment for the entire country
AFTER THE JUMP, via Queerty and Joe.My.God, watch the former vice-president who approved torture, waterboarding and warrantless surveillance "endorse" same-sex marriage. There is also a transcript via Politico. Cheney says nothing about DOMA so perhaps his neo-conservative largesse only extends to marriage and civil unions at the state level.
CHENEY: "I think that freedom means freedom for everyone. As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay, and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don't support. I do believe that ... historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. ... But I don't have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that."
Oh how noble. NOW Cheney supports marriage and gay rights. But of course he is not running for office.
Posted by: Dalton | 01 June 2009 at 20:03
"Watch the former vice-president who approved torture, waterboarding and warrantless surveillance "endorse" same-sex marriage. Cheney says nothing about DOMA so perhaps his neo-conservative largesse only extends to marriage and civil unions at the state level"
Work it Rod. Werk!
Cheney isn't fooling anyone. A coincidence he comes out with this on June 1 the same day our president will issue his statements on gay pride? I think not!
Posted by: Tandio | 01 June 2009 at 20:11
I thought he came out for 'states rights' more than gay marriage as he knows good and well that most states in this backwards country would vote no on the issue if on the ballot, which is why no one's civil rights should be put up for the vote.
GOP+states rights=hate enshrined in the law.
And why is he saying this now?
Posted by: Luther | 01 June 2009 at 20:23
I guess he does common sense after all...
Posted by: thegaytekeeper | 01 June 2009 at 23:52
And he says this now .... why?
But what a pickle that Darth Vader is now more progressive on marriage than many Democrats and the president. Not very good.
Posted by: Talarico | 02 June 2009 at 00:05
"Something we've lived with for a long time"
Big Dick Cheney says this after acknowledging one of his daughters is gay. Like it's a disease or something.
Bite me MFer!
Posted by: Esq | 02 June 2009 at 01:25
Do you really think Darth Cheney supports marriage equality?
He says any couple should be about to 'make a union.' He never said 'marriage' so i don't know how Mary Cheney feels about that, tho I doubt any hospital would stop her from making a decision for her partner. But of course Dick and W are no longer in office ruining teh country, bashing gays and kissing evangelical azz.
Oh yeah and good deal putting "endorse" in quotes. Yeah Dick, whatever, thanks!
Posted by: Former COGIC | 02 June 2009 at 01:38
What a shame that when he was in power and really had the chance to do something admirable in support of gay marriage, he chose not too. That must make his daughter feel really loved and valued. Shame on him and shame on his daughter for not been much more vociferous when her father was VP. All that's left is to hope that he can begin to persuade his fellow bigoted politicians to see sense and come out in supporting of gay marriage.
Posted by: ChazSD | 02 June 2009 at 02:15
No Thank You Dick Cheney!
Posted by: CHOCOLATEBEAR | 02 June 2009 at 04:13
only because his own lesbian daughter and her wife have melted his icy hatreds with a new grandbaby...
funny how gaybashers change when they actually know gay kin
too much
too little
too late
ab
Posted by: alicia banks | 02 June 2009 at 09:54
Don't give him too much credit.
Him and Carl Rowe made sure there were gay ballots on every state in the midwest to make sure Bush won aganist Kerry in 2004 election.
he is too little too late
Posted by: Kmark | 02 June 2009 at 10:45
*gay marriage ballots
Posted by: Kmark | 02 June 2009 at 12:36