May 24, 2007

It's A Boy Cheney!

The littlest member of the vice president's clan was born yesterday in Washington, D.C. At eight pounds, six ounces, Samuel David Cheney enters the world as a somewhat controversial figure -- the son of a high-profile lesbian who worked as her father's aide in 2004, advocating his re-election as the leader of a party that opposes same-sex marriage and other gay rights.

Some gay advocates have criticized Mary Cheney and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, for not stepping into the fray and trying to change the GOP from within.

Cheney's response? At a forum in New York City this January, she demurred -- "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue. It is my child" -- but then backpedaled a bit, saying research has demonstrated "no difference between children who are raised by same-sex parents and children raised by opposite-sex parents."

The Chicago Tribune's blog recaps some recent questions that Dick Cheney has faced about the baby's birth, as well as a play-by-play of the now-infamous exchange with John Edwards during an October 2004 debate.

"I obviously think it's important for us as a society to be tolerant and respectful of whatever arrangements people enter into," Cheney told ABC's Ann Compton last month. During that interview, he shunted aside the question of equal partner benefits as an issue for the states rather than the federal government -- and professed his affection for his daughter and excitement about the birth of his sixth grandchild.

Photo: David Bohrer/White House

Posted at 3:08 PM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Dick Cheney
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