No good answer to gay question for the vice president
Published October 21, 2004
Why the Republican fuss over John Kerry's comments on Mary Cheney? He says her lesbianism is a given, not a choice, but Bush's right-wing evangelical supporters are sure she can be "cured" by Jim Dobson's re-education camps.
Either the Cheneys are contributing to their daughter's eternal doom by not insisting she change or they really agree with Kerry that it's not a choice. If it's a choice, they're bad parents; if its a given, the whole gay wedge issue is shown for the bigotry it is.
-- Roger Miller, St. Petersburg
Senator showed his true colors
When John Kerry used Vice President Cheney's daughter as a political ploy in the last debate, it proved to the American people and to me that he truly does not care about others. He simply cares about himself and the power he can gain in becoming president. He has the money (from his wife), now he wants power. He thinks he can somehow fool the American people by being a smooth talker.
When I look and listen to President Bush, I truly see and hear someone who cares for the people. Bush is seeking the wisdom of God. Bush wants the people to understand he is doing the right thing even though it seems hard. When I look into Kerry's eyes and listen to him, I see only manipulation and deception. May God work as only He can to put the right man into leadership of our country, especially during these crucial times.
-- Michele Fleming, Redington Shores
Down and dirty politics
I was disgusted with John Edwards and John Kerry for their remarks about Dick Cheney's daughter being gay. Why did they both have to try to embarrass and humiliate Dick Cheney's family?
I was really proud of the way Dick Cheney handled John Edwards' remarks by thanking Edwards for the kind remarks that he made about his family. Cheney and his wife have never tried to hide the fact that their daughter is gay, and she is an important part of his campaign. This is nothing more than down and dirty politics, and I hope it backfires on Kerry and Edwards.
-- Betty Dobson, Brooksville
Kerry didn't do anything wrong
Re: Attack on Cheney daughter tawdry trick, by William Safire, Oct. 19.
I'm not sure what Safire thinks anyone should be apologizing for. The facts are pretty obvious. Mary Cheney has been an openly gay person since at least 1999. She is a public figure in her own right who was a gay and lesbian outreach coordinator for Coors Brewing Co. She served on the board of the Republican Unity Coalition (RUC), a pro-gay group aimed at creating a gay-straight alliance with the Republican Party. She helped the RUC raise close to $1-million to support Republican candidates for Congress. She currently is a paid staffer for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. Her own father spoke of her sexual orientation at a campaign stop in August of 2004. These are all easily verifiable facts.
The debate question was "Do you think that gays and lesbians choose that lifestyle or are they born that way?" Science has shown that they are born that way, regardless of any religious wish to state otherwise.
Kerry very politely asked the Republicans to ask one of their own, one whose viewpoint they might respect. People can't change their sexual orientation any more than they can change whether they are left-handed or right-handed (although the Catholic Church used to try to change that too, with miserable results).
Discrimination is wrong, whether it is about race, religion, or sexual orientation. Those who push an agenda of discrimination do a disservice to our community and our nation and should not be rewarded with stewardship. No apologies needed!
-- Tom Williamson, Palm Harbor
Issues of mass distraction
What is it with the media today? Does it really matter if Sinclair Broadcast Group wants to air an anti-Kerry film? Would it matter if George Soros bought two hours of prime time and showed Fahrenheit 9/11? Why are we not talking about the economy, the environment, health care and education? Why are you always promoting the least common denominator? The Vietnam War was over 30 years ago. Get over it. Lesbians and gays, and the subject of abortion, have nothing - nothing - to do with the everyday concerns of Americans.
-- Tony Witts, St. Petersburg
A free speech double standard
I read with interest the letter from the reader complaining his Bush/Cheney campaign sign was defaced. I believe everyone has a right to display signs as they wish without repercussions, but I find it interesting that the letter writer is so reactive with regards to his freedom of speech, when his candidates are working so hard to suppress the same rights of those who disagree with them. Are not rights equal for all Americans, whatever their party or beliefs?
-- David J. Porch, St. Petersburg
Don't give in to peer pressure
Recently, I was approached by an elderly friend who was obviously upset. She informed me that neighbors in her retirement community had chastised her for displaying a John Kerry sign in her window. They questioned her patriotism. I reassured her, saying that it was her love for America that inspired her strong desire to change the direction in which we are headed.
It made me wonder how many citizens feel that we must blindly follow the policies of the current president, whoever he may be. We in a democratic society must exercise our rights to choose our best options for leaders. Submitting to peer pressure to maintain the status quo is not patriotism. It is relinquishing our obligation to be conscientious voters.
-- Pete Ferrero, Clearwater
Angry about flu shot shortage
Re: Don't fret over flu shot, official says, Oct. 19.
On Page 3 of Section B, I read that Tommy Thompson says to "just relax" and "don't wait in line and don't get upset." I'm not only upset, I'm also angry that I may not be able to secure a flu shot for my wife and myself (we are both over 75). Is there someone in this administration who is responsible for the failure to obtain sufficient vaccine to protect the American people? Or shall we simply blame a manufacturing defect and let it go at that? I heard that Great Britain has five sources for flu vaccine for their people but we have only two. I heard that U.S. drug companies do not want to produce flu vaccine because it is not profitable and carries with it risks of lawsuits.
If it looks like I am trying to find someone to pin the blame on, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. Too many important things have been happening in this country for which nobody is to blame. The buck doesn't stop anywhere anymore.
-- Carl Bertolino, Palm Harbor
Why aren't vaccines made here?
It's nice to know President Bush said he is not going to get a flu shot. Maybe one of us will get his! Sick, old people are standing in line to get one, because our doctors don't have any. Why aren't they made in the United States? Bush said vaccine manufactures are worried about getting sued and therefore they have backed off from providing this kind of vaccine. Am I in the right country? It seems as though everything we need is made everywhere but here. What's wrong?
-- Sally Bauer, Largo
A threat we saw coming
Re: The flu.
Do you feel safer now than before 9/11? Here we have a virus that we all knew was coming, that kills 36,000 people a year and our government was terribly unprepared. How are they going to protect us from a bioterrorist threat that takes us by surprise?
Do you feel safer?
-- David Rodman, Dunedin
What's right with our country
Re: Migrants master wineries from the ground up, Oct. 18.
Finally, a front-page story to remind us of what is "good" about our country! I was beginning to wonder if we had lost this - the very core of our beginnings and why so many flowed onto our shores with dreams such as the Cejas'.
We need more stories like this. I know they are out there. Perhaps then we can begin again to build on what is "right" about our country and not what is "wrong." Dreams, hard work and family, along with stories of others and their successes motivate others to do the same. Let's see more of stories such as the Cejas' in our media.
-- Lynn Jackson, St. Pete Beach
[Last modified October 21, 2004, 00:33:24]
