Mary Cheney Makes Big Donation to No on Prop. 8

Mary Cheney, the gay daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has declared that she is a Republican against California's Proposition 8 by donating $3,000 to oppose the November ballot measure, which if it passes would rescind marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Following Mary Cheney's donation, in an unrelated interview with The Daily Show, mother Lynne would not confirm whether or not she supports marriage equality.

Republicans Against 8, the organization to which Cheney donated, is a campaign committee of California Republicans who believe in limited government, personal responsibility, the maintenance of constitutionally protected rights and freedoms, and in protecting California's business climate, according to RepublicansAgainst8.com.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, comedian Dennis Miller, and former University of California board of regents member Ward Connelly are among the Republicans opposing the ballot measure.

Mary Cheney served as a top aide to her father during the 2004 Buch-Cheney re-election campaign, and while Dick Cheney was long silent about gay rights, he butted heads with President Bush in coming out against the Federal Marriage Amendment. At a 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign rally in Mississippi, Cheney told the crowd, "Freedom means freedom for everyone," when asked about his stand on gay marriage, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this week, Lynne Cheney would not specify whether or not she supported marriage equality, but instead pointed to her husband's speech, saying, "I would wish my daughter to have happiness and the freedom to make her own choices."

Republicans Against 8 was formed by the Log Cabin Republicans fighting for the "principle that all Californians' right to marry should be treated fairly and equally under the law," according to the website. (Kandice Day, The Advocate)