Cheney’s wife slams Kerry’s ‘cheap trick’

LYNNE Cheney, the US Vice President’s wife, accused John Kerry of pulling a “cheap and tawdry political trick” after he discussed her daughter’s sexuality in his TV debate with George W Bush.

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, John Edwards suggested Mrs Cheney might feel “a certain degree of shame” because her daughter is a lesbian.

Vice President Dick Cheney has spoken at length about his daughter Mary’s sexuality and his view of gay relationships, even disagreeing with the president about the need for a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriages.

Asked last night by debate moderator Bob Schieffer whether homosexuality is a choice, Mr Kerry said: “We’re all God’s children, Bob, and I think 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. I think if you talk to anybody, it’s not a choice.”

When Mrs Cheney introduced her husband to a crowd of 800 after a debate-watching party in Pittsburgh, she made clear she thought Mr Kerry had crossed a line into family privacy. “I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick.”

Mrs Cheney was not specific, and the vice president did not raise the matter.

Elizabeth Edwards said: “She’s overreacted to this and treated it as if it’s shameful to have this discussion... I think that it indicates a certain degree of shame with respect to her daughter’s sexual preferences... It makes me really sad that that’s Lynne’s response.”

The vice president expressed no objection when Mr Edwards brought up Mary Cheney during their debate. Mr Edwards expressed “respect for the fact that they’re willing to talk about the fact that they have a gay daughter, the fact that they embrace her. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Mr Cheney thanked his opponent for the “kind words he said about my family and our daughter.”