Fred Phelps isn’t the only one wondering about Mary Cheney‘s whereabouts in son Samuel David Cheney‘s first press photo-op. Family Pride’s executive director, Jennifer Chrisler spilled some ink on that very subject. None of the other Cheney children have had such media welcoming, she writes, and Sammy Dave wouldn’t have had one had it not been for his lesbianic origins. What’s most queer, however, isn’t the fact that journalists have gone ga-ga over the little lad, but that his notable mother has been under lock-and-key since his birth.
By virtue of Mary’s status as the Vice President’s daughter, she and her partner, Heather Poe, continue to be arguably the most prominent Republican lesbian couple in the country. Mary’s pregnancy has been covered by the media since it was first announced. The couple welcomed their first child, Samuel, into the world earlier this week. And yet the mothers are not included in the photo that was sent out to announce the birth of their child.
Mary may have announced that she doesn’t want her child to be a political pawn, but Chrisler rightly points out that allowing the White House to edit her and her lover, Heather Poe, out of the picture may be the most political move of all.
KJ
I’m not sure, but I believe that Heather’s politics are left of center, so it may be entirely possible that she opted out of a White House photo op, and if that was the case, Mary would too, as it would have been even more odd to have just her and her parents pictured. Even more odd would have been no picture at all, so I’m guessing the result was a family compromise.
Anna Rose
Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but when grandson Philip Richard Perry was born to Liz Cheney and Phil Perry in July 2004, the White House issued the same type of photo: The baby with Dick and Lynne Cheney. Maybe they’re just being consistent” http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/images/20040702_vp-grandson-hw9v525-694v.html
nycstudman
I’m not getting this at all. Both grandparents proudly pose for a portrait, and somehhow that’s not good enough? I’m no fan of the Cheneys, but the seem blameless here.
Susan
Dick Cheney – and Bush – are lucky that the Cheney’s already had this policy in place when this child was born: they are reaping whatever benefits being photographed as grandparents will bring them, all the while doing everything they can to sabotage children like him.