Somehow the national crisis of Mary Cheney's pregnancy escapes me. The news that Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter is expecting her first child has activists across the political spectrum in a strange dither:

Conservative leaders voiced dismay Wednesday at news that Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Dick Cheney, is pregnant, while a gay-rights group said the vice president faces "a lifetime of sleepless nights" for serving in an administration that has opposed recognition of same-sex couples.

Mary Cheney, 37, and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, 45, are expecting a baby in late spring, said Lea Anne McBride, a spokeswoman for the vice president. ...

Family Pride, which advocates on behalf of gay and lesbian families, noted that Virginia last month became one of 27 states with a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. ... "Unless they move to a handful of less restrictive states, Heather will never be able to have a legal relationship with her child," said Jennifer Chrisler, the group's executive director. "Grandpa Cheney has been part of an administration that has leveled unprecedented attacks [on gays]…. If this doesn't make it real for him, I don't know what will."

Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America described the pregnancy as "unconscionable."

Ugh. I've never heard of a child being described as "unconscionable", which demonstrates the hysteria that accompanies the entire debate over recognition of gay relationships. Children and pregnancies are not unconscionable -- or if they were, then they would present a perfect argument for abortion. Would Crouse prescribe that solution to Mary Cheney?

I understand why people resent the push for legalizing gay marriages through judicial fiat. Recognition of marriage is a public policy, and the people should set that policy through the legislative process. It's the only legitimate means of establishing law in a representative democracy other than a referendum -- and in many states, voters have opposed gay marriage through both processes. I think that it's a misguided policy, as I do not see the state as the protector of sanctity in any case, but at least we live under the rule of law as determined by the people.

What people choose to do privately is something else entirely. Mary Cheney chose to conceive a child, and broke no laws in doing so. She's an adult and can support the child. The baby will have a supportive extended family, including the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, who have five grandchildren already. It's really none of our business whether Mary Cheney wants to bear a child or not, as long as she's not killing the child.

Let's try to keep the hysteria down to a minimum. Calling a child unconscionable or fretting about its ability to bond with a parent outside of government recognition of a relationship is nothing more than cheap exploitation of a person merely for her publicity value. Both sides should be ashamed of themselves.

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» Mary Cheney's Pregnancy from The Political Pit Bull
I've been meaning to get around to this since yesterday, but didn't want rush the post. In case you haven't heard, Mary Cheney, Dick Cheney's daughter who happens to be a lesbian, is pregnant and plans to have a child... [Read More]

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