Lynne Cheney Not Impressed With Kerry's Performance

The Washington Post reports that Lynne Cheney, wife of the Vice President and mother of Mary Cheney, whom John Kerry mentioned by name when asked if homosexuality was a choice, took Kerry to task about his politicking the personal lives of the Cheney family.

Mary Cheney, one of the vice president's two daughters and an official of the Bush-Cheney campaign, has been open about her lesbian status. The candidates were asked if they believe homosexuality is a choice, and President Bush did not mention Mary Cheney. Then Kerry said, "If you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as."

Lynne Cheney issued her post-debate rebuke to a cheering crowd outside Pittsburgh. "The only thing I can conclude is he is not a good man. I'm speaking as a mom," she said. "What a cheap and tawdry political trick."

This was obviously a way to try and embarrass Bush and Cheney with the religious right wing. I think it has another affect. It shows a family that have their ideals and struggles just like every other family in America and personalizes them to America. It also shows that Kerry isn't above using the families of his opponents to get what he wants.