The personal is political. This maxim, which originated with the feminist movement in the 1970s, proves true today in one of the most prominent American families, and in a most dramatic way. It involves Liz and Mary Cheney, daughters of the once-powerful Vice President Dick Cheney. If the architect of the Iraq War has earned any respect at all from leftists and liberals, it’s certainly due to the fact that this conservative Republican supports the rights of his lesbian daughter, Mary.
When Mary Cheney married her life partner Heather Poe in 2012, her family stood by her and was happy for them and for their two children. The family celebrated holidays and vacations together. That was then. Today, the sisters are bitter enemies, their parents torn between them and half the nation talking about the divide.
Why? Because of Liz Cheney’s political ambitions. She has set her sights on dethroning Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi. Since July, she has been on the campaign trail with her father’s support.
But rather than just ignore the subject of gay marriage, Liz decided in August to come out against it and the reason is simple: Liz wants to line up conservatives and tea party members on her side against Enzi.
“On the Wrong Side of History”
Last Sunday, Liz Cheney added more fuel to the fire on the conservative Fox News Channel where she said same sex marriage was a subject on which she and her sister only disagreed. That was too much for Mary Cheney who replied to her publicly on Facebook saying that they had more than a difference of opinion and stating that her sister was “on the wrong side of history.”
Mary’s wife went even further: “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,” and adding that in 15 states plus the District of Columbia she and Liz were sisters-in-law.
That hit home because Cheney’s opponent in Wyoming characterize her as someone with no other connection to Wyoming other than an opportunity to get ahead politically, someone who moves from state to state for political reasons.
Promoting her Candidacy
The see-saw battle continues. Liz claims she has always been compassionate to her sister and her sister’s partner. Mary and her partner felt even more insulted, and rightly so. Those who reject same-sex marriage reject homosexuals as well, rejecting them for being themselves. And those who sympathize with them, Liz says, are sick. Liz Cheney may have advanced her candidacy while destroying her family ties. The debate over equality for homosexual couples, on the other hand, only seems to have profited from it.
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