(Weekly Column)
After all these years, Mary Cheney finally realized that Liz, her big sister, is a snake. Liz came out against marriage equality during her quixotic race to be Wyoming’s next United States Senator, even though she had previously supported her sister’s marriage to Heather Poe. In doing so, Liz picked ambition over blood and proved that she is a lousy sister and a rotten human being.
This is not only treachery, but it’s hypocrisy of the highest order. The New York Times reported Mary said Liz “was always v
ery supportive” of her relationship. In an angry Facebook post, Mary’s wife, Heather Poe, wrote of their disappointment.
“Liz has been a guest in our home, has spent time and shared holidays with our children, and when Mary and I got married in 2012 — she didn’t hesitate to tell us how happy she was for us. To have her say she doesn’t support our right to marry is offensive to say the least.”
We are used to the Cheney family starting wars – but not with each other! Interestingly, Liz defended her position by pointing out that Mary had long been the family doormat. This led her to wrongly assume that Mary, once again, would allow bigoted Republican politics to trump her personal life. According to the New York Times:
People who have spoken to Liz Cheney say she is irritated that her sister is making their dispute public and believes it is hypocritical for Mary Cheney to take such a hard line now, given that she worked for the re-election of President Bush, an opponent of same-sex marriage.
Liz does have a point. Mary seemed inured to insult and injury while serving as Team Cheney’s head cheerleader. She merrily shook her pompoms and cheered, even as the GOP jeered her family and passed statewide constitutional amendments banning marriage equality.
It seems that motherhood may have changed the equation. With two children to support, Mary and Heather appear to fully understand that their family is vulnerable in a nation with a patchwork of inadequate laws to protect same-sex couples. On Poe’s Facebook page she wrote:
“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.”
Ironically, Liz is running as a socially conservative Tea Party candidate who supports family values, even as she throws her own family under a Wyoming covered wagon. Instead of showing leadership, she is shipping her own sister down the river, lest she upset gay-hating members of the cantankerous Tea Party.
Dick and Lynne Cheney responded to the family fracas with a public statement:
“This is an issue we have dealt with privately for many years, and we are pained to see it become public. Since it has, one thing should be clear. Liz has always believed in the traditional definition of marriage. She has also always treated her sister and her sister’s family with love and respect, exactly as she should have done.”
Mary’s Facebook message directed at Liz, could also apply to her parents: “Liz – this isn’t just an issue on which we disagree – you’re just wrong – and on the wrong side of history.”
She and Heather are spot on by implying that one cannot compartmentalize this as merely an “issue” when the results have profound implications on the families of real people. It is beyond incongruent to claim support for a gay person privately, while publicly working to undermine basic protections for their family. Liz’s actions are as sinister as they are selfish, and she should be ashamed of herself. (I am aware that shame is likely not embedded in the family’s genetic code)
It is refreshing to see Mary find her voice. She hasn’t come out this loud and proud since she was a spokesperson, along with Mr. Leather, peddling Coors beer to the LGBT community.
Speaking of booze, it seems the Cheney sisters won’t be sharing eggnog this holiday season. When asked whether the once close sisters will celebrate Christmas together in Jackson Hole, Mary replied, “I will not be seeing her.”
It seems that Mary is fed up of impassively grinning while receiving a lump of coal in her stocking. For the goodness sake of her loved ones, she is finally ready to be naughty instead of nice to those who tread on her family.
