Cheney Apologizes For W. Virginia Incest Joke (What A Surprise)

Ok. Cheney going off with an off-color joke about incest in West Virginia isn't really news. I mean after all this is the guy who shot someone in the face on one of those fake hunting trips where you step out of the comfort of your mini-bared SUV and pop off a few rounds in a private hunting preserve where the game is "conditioned" for partially liquored up blowhards. I just love the "values" party, don't you? Anyway, Cheney's remark isn't what should be news. The news should be West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's (D) indignant response:

"I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state for that matter," Manchin said in a statement. "West Virginia is home to some of the most patriotic people in the nation and our sons and daughters have answered the call to duty every time a president has needed their service. They deserve better from the vice president, and so I would simply ask for his apology."

Do tell Governor. Your indignation is duly noted, as it should be. I just want to make sure I understand the good Democratic Gov. Manchin of the Mountain State which serves as the buckle of the bible belt. It seems their population has bought in to the GOP frame for Democratic Presidential candidates who supposedly represent atheist gays who want to take your guns away.

First off, as the very proud son of a late WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veteran and brother of a Desert Shield veteran I'm bothered by someone's service to their country getting special claim to the recognition of rights and respect. It is an insult to those that fought in defense of our country making sure everyone gets that same claim and recognition. Let's forget for a moment his remark seemingly endorsing that very fact as he evoked the state's "sons and daughters" answering the call to serve in the military which gives them that special status. But let's forget all of that for the moment. If what you evoked in the name of all those "sons and daughters" stands, then what about the gays and lesbians in our country that have answered that same call. In 33 states it is still legal to fire someone over their sexual orientation, even with a chest full of medals from their military service.

This is more than annoying and irritating, it buys into the GOP "values" frame about lesbians and gays being somewhat less than human, unless of course you happen to be the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. So, Gov. Joe Manchin, this is a plea to stop buying into that frame. My father and my brother fought to make sure we all have the same respect, recognition and rights without special exceptions.