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Snow: Bush not shifting views on gay parenting

WASHINGTON ? Although he recently expressed confidence that Mary Cheney will make a loving parent, President Bush continues to believe it is best that a child is raised by a man and woman married to each other, the president's spokesman said Friday.

The pregnancy of Vice President Dick Cheney's younger daughter, a lesbian, has reignited public discussion about gays becoming parents.

Some social conservatives, who strongly support Bush and the vice president on most issues, greeted the news of Mary Cheney's pregnancy with dismay, arguing that it undermined efforts to emphasize the primacy of the traditional family unit.

Commenting on the controversy, Bush last week told People magazine that Mary Cheney would be "a loving soul to her child. And I'm happy for her."

Pressed on whether his remark contradicted views he previously expressed that being raised by gays falls short of an ideal situation for a child, he avoided a direct response.

"Mary Cheney is going to make a fine mom, and she's going to love this child a lot," he said.

In 2005, Bush said in an interview that he thought it best for children to be raised by married men and women. He does not favor same-sex marriage.

"I believe children can receive love from gay couples, but the ideal is ? and studies have shown that the ideal is ? where a child is raised in a married family with a man and a woman," he told the New York Times.

On Friday, White House press secretary Tony Snow was asked whether the president stood by this belief.

"Yes, he does," Snow replied. "But he also believes that every human life is sacred and that every child who comes into this world deserves love.

"And he believes that Mary Cheney's child will in fact have loving parents."

Snow said Bush had not addressed whether he thought children raised by gays were at a disadvantage.

In the People interview, Bush said he found out about the pregnancy when the vice president "took me aside and gave me the good news."

Bush added that the vice president and his wife, Lynne, "are very happy for Mary."

The president did not mention Cheney's partner of 15 years, Heather Poe.

By JAMES GERSTENZANG
Los Angeles Times

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