Matt Baume On Drag Vs Blackface

RuPaul's Drag Race: Dear Mary Cheney

Mary Cheney: Drag Is Like Blackface

"Why is it socially acceptable - as a form of entertainment - for men to put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.) - but it is not socially acceptable - as a form of entertainment - for a white person to put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans? Shouldn’t both be OK or neither?" - Mary Cheney, writing on her Facebook page after seeing an ad for the upcoming season of RuPaul's Drag Race. (Tipped by JMG reader Scott)

FLORIDA: Pete Coors, Head Of MillerCoors, To Speak At Anti-Gay Catholic Convention

The virulently anti-gay Catholic group Legatus, which counts Brian Brown among its members, will hold its annual convention in Naples, Florida at the end of the month. Among the speakers are Fox News anchor Bret Baier and failed 2004 US Senate candidate Pete Coors, the chairman of brewing giant MillerCoors. Over at Good As You, Jeremy Hooper points us to some of the group's positions on homosexuality. An example:

There are many reasons why people suffer from SSA disorder. Some “discover” this tendency within them. Others grow into it through pursuits of pleasure or experimentation. Some use it to punish themselves or others. Whether the disorder has some deep, unknown roots over which one has virtually no control, or whether it’s a developed disorder resulting from bad choices, it leaves an individual disposed toward activities and a lifestyle that are dangerous — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fortunately there is hope for those who suffer from the disorder. The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality [NARTH] reports that significant numbers of homosexual persons have undergone treatment and had their sexual drives properly ordered. These findings are a beacon of hope to those suffering from SSA, as well as for their family and friends who desire their happiness and good health.

In an update to the above-linked post, Hooper notes that the publicist for actor Gary Sinise has already emailed him with Sinese's statement of withdrawal:

For me, faith has been a catalyst for my mission to honor the men and women who serve in our nation’s military. When I accepted the invitation to speak at the Legatus conference on Veterans issues and share my story, I was unaware of the controversy surrounding some of the participants, and their views on personal matters. I don’t want my mission—which is designed to be unifying—to be disrupted by these, or any controversies, and therefore have decided to withdraw.

As for Pete Coors, some of you will recall that Coors Brewing was the target of a nationwide boycott in the late 70s due to their support of anti-gay groups. In the early 90s Coors Brewing encouraged the formation of an LGBT employees support group and hired Mary Cheney as its liaison to the community, effectively ending the boycott. During his 2004 Senate bid, Pete Coors was attacked by his GOP primary opponent over the company's LGBT-inclusive benefits policy. Coors defended himself by pointing out his support for Colorado's ban on same-sex marriage.

Coors Brewing merged with Miller Brewing in 2008. MillerCoors brands include Molson, Mickey's, Keystone, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Coors, Coors Lite, Grolsch, and Blue Moon.

CORRECTION: An earlier draft of the this post misstated the location of the event. The Indianapolis chapter of Legatus is the host of the event, which will be held at the Naples Ritz Carlton in Florida.

INDIANA: Mary Cheney Speaks Against Proposed Gay Marriage Ban

As advertised, Mary Cheney on Thursday appeared at a Freedom Indiana event to denounce the attempt to write a gay marriage ban into the state constitution. Via Buzzfeed:

Of Freedom Indiana’s campaign against the proposal, which must be passed by the legislature for a second time before being put to the people for a vote, Mary Cheney said, “While certainly a step in the right direction, defeating HJR-6 won’t get us there. Not even close.” Freedom Indiana campaign manager Megan Robertson said in a statement, “We were honored to have Ms. Cheney visit Indiana and voice her opposition to HJR-6, the proposed amendment that would permanently destroy legal protections for so many Hoosier families.”

Hit the link for video of Cheney's remarks.

Cheney Vs Cheney, Part VI

“We were surprised that there was an attack launched against Liz on Facebook, and wished it hadn’t happened. It’s always been dealt with within the context of the family and frankly that’s our preference. That’s as far as I’m going to go on the subject. Don’t waste your time." - Dick Cheney, on Mary's rip on sister Liz.

Quote Of The Day - Les Kinsolving

"There was once a day in this nation when lesbians and others with alternate sexual orientations were comparatively mute. There has developed a militancy that may well know no bounds, and that has torn apart the family of the former vice president of the United States. Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is running for U.S. senator from Wyoming. Liz has stated publicly that she does not believe in same-sex marriage. For that, she has been publicly denounced by her militant lesbian sister, Mary Cheney, and Mary’s similarly militant lesbian mate, Heather Poe. 'Liz’s position is to treat my family as second-class citizens. That’s not a position I can be ‘lovingly tolerant’ toward.' This really begs a question: How would lesbian Mary expect her sister to regard her orientation if she were polyandrous (female polygamy), a pedophile, incestuous or necrophiliac?" - Les Kinsolving, White House press correspondent for World Net Daily.

Maggie: The Cheney Feud Is Staged

"The Cheney family is a very close family, and I don’t believe they would have this spat in public, except for the fact that it’s good for both of the sisters. It gives Mary a chance to air her deeply held, passionate moral convictions and advance the ball for gay marriage. And it helps Liz Cheney get elected senator in the state of Wyoming. Call me a skeptic, but the Cheney family’s been in the public eye a long time, and I don’t doubt that they have the emotions that they’re saying. I’m not saying they’re not telling the truth, but I don’t think the sisters would have done this, except that it’s kind of a win-win for the family as a whole." - Maggie Gallagher, quoted by the Advocate.

INDIANA: Mary Cheney To Host Fundraiser To Fight Proposed Gay Marriage Ban

Mary Cheney will help Freedom Indiana raise money to fight that state's proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. From Cheney's message that accompanies the above image:

"Speaking out against HJR-6 isn’t a matter of politics. It’s about family. It’s about everyone feeling welcome in the state they call home. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my wife Heather and our two children. And then I think about the thousands of same-sex couples and their families in Indiana who would be directly impacted by HJR-6, I’m committed to standing together and working across party lines to keep this amendment out of Indiana’s constitution. Freedom Indiana’s campaign is strong. And as the start of the legislative session quickly approaches, we can make it even stronger by pitching in to support the grassroots work across the state. Join me in Indianapolis on Wednesday, December 11th as we raise crucial funds and resources to protect Indiana’s constitution. Click here to get your ticket now. Thanks for everything you're doing to stop HJR-6. See you soon, Mary Cheney."

Mary Cheney infamously stayed silent in 2004 when the Bush/Cheney administration pushed for the Federal Marriage Amendment. And as Dan Savage eloquently noted last week, "Mary wrote that fucker a check" when Mitt Romney did the same thing last year. Can anybody recall if Mary Cheney has ever previously campaigned for the rights of her people? This might be a first, thanks, no doubt, to her sister Liz. (Tipped by JMG reader Charles)

Bryan Fischer On The Cheney Feud

"The one doing the sniping here is not the heterosexual, happily-married, Christian sister. The one who is lobbing the grenades here is her perpetually aggrieved, sexually-confused, gay-activist sibling. I'm not sure what you call it when one sister is trying to pick a very public fight with the other, and the second sister won't fight back, but instead turns the other cheek, just as Jesus taught. I would call it intolerance and bigotry and a form of bullying. In other words, Liz Cheney is not the intolerant bigot here. Mary Cheney is." - Hate group spokesdouche Bryan Fischer, writing for Renew America.

HomoQuotable - Mary Cheney

"I’m not supporting Liz’s candidacy. By supporting, I mean not working, not contributing, and not voting for (I’m registered in Virginia not Wyoming). I am not saying I hope she loses to Enzi." - Mary Cheney, in an email sent to Politico.  And the family feud rolls on. Enzi, by the way, is destroying Cheney in the polls, so maybe all his "she LOVES gay marriage" lies are working.

S.E. Cupp Vs Ralph Reed

CNN's S.E. Cupp and wingnut freak show Ralph Reed tangled last night in a debate about gay marriage and the feuding Cheney sisters. Evan McMurry has the recap:

“Isn’t it time that your wing of the Republican Party accept and embrace good Republicans like the Log Cabin Republicans, like GOProud, like Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), like Rob Portman (R-OH)?” Cupp asked. “Don’t you think it’s time to recognize that in some ways the tide is turning, that we should be more inclusive of these values, without having to change our personal opinions of them?”

“If the tide had truly turned, then you wouldn’t have thirty-six states and 70% of the American people defining it as a man and a woman, and you wouldn’t need the courts to impose it,” Reed said. “The same Millennials who today are more inclined to support same-sex marriage and are also more pro-life than their parents were. So the country became more pro-choice in the 70s and 80s and in the 90s and the last ten years became more pro-life. Just because something is moving in a particular direction, it’s an analytical error to assume it’s going to continue in that trend.”

Watch Reed spin the lies!

Frank Bruni On Liz Cheney

"If Liz Cheney, whose bid for the Senate has always had a stench of extreme opportunism, wants to discuss traditions and values, I’m all for it. Let’s start here: Isn’t there a tradition of close-knit family members’ taking care not to wound one another? Is there not value in that? [snip] But she plunged forward anyway, disregarding the inevitable discord. As Jonathan Martin reported in The Times, Liz and Mary aren’t speaking to each other now, and there’s a long shadow over the Cheneys’ holiday get-togethers. Is any political office worth that? Would victory redeem the public message that Liz just sent to her niece and nephew? I’m imagining her awkwardness the next time that she goes to hug or kiss them (and I’m assuming that she’s a hugger or kisser, which may be a leap). If there’s not a knot in her stomach, then there’s nothing at all in her heart." - Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.

Dick Cheney On Liz Vs Mary

"This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years, and we are pained to see it become public. Since it has, one this should be clear, Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage. She has always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done. Compassion is called for, even when there is a disagreement about such a fundamental matter and Liz's many kindnesses shouldn't be used to distort her position." - Same-sex marriage supporter Dick Cheney, coming to the rescue of Liz Cheney's Senate aspirations in a statement reported today on CNN.

Mary Cheney & Wife Fire Back At Liz

"I was watching my sister-in-law on Fox News Sunday (yes Liz, in fifteen states and the District of Columbia you are my sister-in-law) and was very disappointed to hear her say 'I do believe in the traditional definition of marriage.' Liz has been a guest in our home, has spent time and shared holidays with our children, and when Mary and I got married in 2012 - she didn't hesitate to tell us how happy she was for us. To have her now say she doesn't support our right to marry is offensive to say the least. I can't help but wonder how Liz would feel if as she moved from state to state, she discovered that her family was protected in one but not the other. I always thought freedom meant freedom for EVERYONE." - Heather Poe, wife of Mary Cheney, writing today on her Facebook page.

"Couldn't have said it better myself.   Liz - this isn't just an issue on which we disagree - you're just wrong - and on the wrong side of history." - Mary Cheney, in an addendum to the above, which she re-posted to her own Facebook page.

Quote Of The Day - Liz Cheney

"I don't believe we ought to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. If people are in a same-sex relationship and they want their partner to be able to have health benefits or be designated as a beneficiary on their life insurance, there's no reason we shouldn't do that. I also doesn't support amending the constitution on this issue. I do believe it's an issue that got to be left up to the states. I do believe in the traditional definition of marriage. Listen,  I love Mary very much. I love her family very much. This is just an issue on which we disagree." - 2014 US Senate candidate Liz Cheney, speaking today on Fox News Sunday.

Cheney Vs Cheney

"For the record, I love my sister, but she is dead wrong on the issue of marriage. Freedom means freedom for everyone. That means that all families — regardless of how they look or how they are made — all families are entitled to the same rights, privileges and protections as every other. It’s not something to be decided by a show of hands. Please like and share if you agree." - Mary Cheney (above right), writing today on her Facebook page. Yesterday Liz Cheney, who is running for the US Senate in Wyoming, announced that she opposes same-sex marriage. Mary married her partner in Washington DC last summer.

Mary Cheney Got Married Today

The right-wing Daily Caller reports:

In a statement provided to TheDC, both the former vice president and his wife, Lynne, said they are “delighted” the couple could have their “relationship recognized.” “Our daughter Mary and her long time partner, Heather Poe, were married today in Washington, DC,” the Cheneys said. Poe and Mary Cheney have two children: Cheney gave birth to a son in 2007, and a daughter in 2009. They live together in Virginia. “Mary and Heather have been in a committed relationship for many years, and we are delighted that they were able to take advantage of the opportunity to have that relationship recognized,” the Cheneys said. “Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness.”

Commenters on the linked site are conflicted about this.

FRC Slams Cheney On Marriage

Right Wing Watch reports that the Family Research Council is furious with Dick Cheney because he supported marriage equality in Maryland.

Consider this thought experiment. Twin brothers announced on a TV talk show that they were gay. Under the laws proposed, can they marry? If not, why not? They’ve certainly had a “committed relationship” since before they were born. What constitutional principle could you invoke to say these twins cannot marry each other? And if these twin brothers may marry, why not a twin brother and sister? Dick Cheney probably never met Mae West. For younger readers unfamiliar with one of Hollywood’s original blond bombshells, I’ll simply say: sailors in World War II called their large life jackets Mae Wests. (This is a family blog, after all.) Mae West famously said: “Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.” How strange that Mae West had a better understanding of civil marriage than a former Vice President of the United States, a man who was twice elected to national office by pro-family voters.

As the kids say: wharrgarble.

Dubya's "Gay" Hypocrisy

In his new memoir, Bush II recounts how Dick Cheney warned him that his daughter Mary was gay, just in case that was a deal-breaker for being chosen as a running mate.

By the time Dick came to the ranch to deliver his final report, I had decided to make another run at him. As he finished his briefing, I said, "Dick, you are the perfect running mate." While I had dropped hints before, he could tell I was serious this time. Finally, he said, "I need to talk to Lynne." I took that as a promising sign. He told me that he had had three heart attacks and that he and Lynne were happy with their life in Dallas. Then he said, "Mary is gay." I could tell what he meant by the way he said it. Dick clearly loved his daughter. I felt he was gauging my tolerance. "If you have a problem with this, I'm not your man," he was essentially saying. I smiled at him and said, "Dick, take your time. Please talk to Lynne. And I could not care less about Mary's orientation."

Justin Elliott notes at Salon: "Bush of course went on to select Cheney as his running mate, and then repeatedly used his opposition to gay rights to galvanize the Republican base." And Mary Cheney, of course, went to become just another super-rich quisling homcon who worked for the elections of numerous other anti-gay candidates.