Dick Cheney said today he'd support a gay marriage ban, which surprises exactly no one, including his gay daughter--although it is a little surprising he'd put her in the position of having to react to an actual announcement, since she works on his campaign. She took it in stride, whatever her actual feelings.
It made me wonder what other Republicans might make announcements that would dismay their relatives. Please suggest others I might have overlooked! (What follows is plagiarized from my own blog, FWIW.)
Well, Dick Cheney has announced that he is
in favor of a ban on gay marriage. His gay daughter Mary says she doesn't mind. Given the remarkable ethical consistency of this administration, look for the following stories to come out soon:
President Bush today signed legislation that criminalizes solicitation of prostitution by Americans traveling abroad, with the explicit inclusion of sex with prostitutes purchased by third parties. Neil Bush expressed appreciation for his brother's actions.
Michigan Congressional candidate Brad Smith, who is running on an anti-corruption platform, announced today that, if elected, his first act would be to introduced a bill which would require federal officials who are offered bribes to report the incidents to the Department of Justice and the FBI within 24 hours. His father, Congressman Nick Smith (R-MI), and unnamed members of the House leadership called the proposal an important step towards restoring Americans' faith in government.
Calling substance abuse "a national health crisis the likes of which this country has never before seen," President Bush today signed an executive order placing state liquor control and drug interdiction agencies under federal control. The order will give authorities greatly expanded powers to police establishments ranging from nightclubs and bars to pharmacies in an effort to prevent the actual commission of drug- and alcohol-related crimes. Bush's daughters, Jenna and Barbara, and his niece Noelle publicly thanked him for his attention to the issue.
Federal appeals judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr., has upheld a decision authored by his son, Missouri Supreme Court justice Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. The case in question dealt with the extent to which it is possible for a public figure to employ assertions of selective prosecution as a shield against criminal culpability. Writing for the 2-1 majority, Limbaugh Sr. said that "while politics has no place in the decision to pursue a criminal investigation, the mere perception on the part of a person of interest to an investigation that a political differential exists between himself and an investigator is not in itself sufficient to warrant a de facto grant of blanket immunity. Similarly, it is not evidence of selective prosecution to bring seldom-used charges against a defendant, particularly if the alleged crime is of an unusual nature." Popular conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh called the decision "that rarest of gems--a decision from the federal bench that takes a no-nonsense, common sense approach to the law."
A spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced that the group was "deeply honored and gratified" that Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney had agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs of MADD's "Family Education Program." The program encourages mothers to talk with their spouses and children about the consequences of drunk driving. In a joint statement, President Bush and Vice-President Cheney applauded their wives for their commitment to "this most worthy and important project."