Comments on: Writing on the Internets Is Tough: Cheney & Marriage, Take 2

By: Bill Clinton at Netroots Nation. Watch it.

Bill Clinton at Netroots Nation. Watch it. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:52:00 +0000

[...] equality beyond Dick Cheney’s “[d]ifferent states will make different decisions” statement is notable. This was the netroots, this was the online progressive base of the Democratic [...]

By: Cheney On Marriage Equality :: Scoop44

Cheney On Marriage Equality :: Scoop44 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:55:23 +0000

[...] Obama looking like he is more to the right than the former top dog of the Bush years. There is some confusion on what Cheney actually meant, but he certainly comes off as being sympathetic to the cause: [...]

By: Sully Confusion « Law Dork, 2.0

Sully Confusion « Law Dork, 2.0 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:48:18 +0000

[...] a comment » I was not the only one thrown into confusing fits over the whole Cheney-marriage [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:50:45 +0000

Yeah, it might be a little inconsistent. But a Democratic president opposing equality in words, I think, often is more powerful than a Democratic president supporting other, lesser equality measures. The burden of being a Democrat, I suppose.

And I think the people on the right — from Miss California to Elisabeth Hasselbeck — tend to prove me out on that.

By: PG

PG — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:44:08 +0000

It seems a little internally inconsistent to say Obama’s words are empty when they’re pro-gay, but are powerful when they oppose full equality. He hasn’t taken action on either side, so words are all we have thus far. I find it implausible that someone who stated opposition to Prop. 8, which actually would have restored a status quo that might seem to fit Obama’s preference — CA domestic partnerships provide marriage in almost everything but name — and has said nothing in opposition to various court decisions and legislative moves to legalize SSM among the states, will at any point take action against legal recognition for SSM.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:09:24 +0000

President Obama, though, of all people, knows that words matter. And he, through the power and position of the White House and its spokesman as recently as last week, has repeatedly said that he opposes allowing lesbians and gay men to marry.

If I saw action behind his other statements (i.e., DOMA repeal or supporting d.p. or civil unions efforts elsewhere), then I might be more charitable in my view. Empty words of support for less-than-marriage measures, though, are not nearly as powerful as are the President’s words opposing equality.

I do agree with you that it would be helpful to know, though, where Cheney stands on repeal of Sec. 3 of DOMA.

By: PG

PG — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:48:29 +0000

I wouldn't feel badly about falling for what the HuffPost wanted to set up as today's Cheney story -- as you said, a lot of other people (including half my Facebook list) made the same interpretation of the most widely circulated version of Cheney's remarks, which had the ellipsis in it. I've just become so used to Stupid Litigator Tricks that an ellipsis in what seems like a surprising statement immediately sets off my radar to search for the complete quote. However, I'm less sure than GayPatriot that Cheney really is more liberal on same-sex relationship rights than Obama is. After all, Obama opposed Prop. 8 (though not putting as much into it as some wished, he certainly did more than Cheney); favors repeal of DOMA (again, haven't seen Cheney say anything negative specifically about DOMA); and supports having all states grant civil unions that are marriage equivalent and that are recognized under federal law (Cheney's merely OK with states coming up with different decisions on the matter). The only measure by which I could consider Cheney more liberal than Obama, is that Cheney hasn't said he personally believes marriage is only between one man and one woman.