I was raised in a home where, no matter what, you showed respect to the person who holds the title “President of the United States.” You might not like that person, or agree with him, but you showed respect to him and to the office. Period.

I have not always followed that rule with the current President, but I do think he deserves credit for what he said to People magazine about Mary Cheney.

Responding to a question about his 2005 comment that “a child is raised in a married family with a man and a woman”, the President said that the Vice President’s openly gay daughter is going to be “a loving soul to her child”.

“The Vice President took me aside and gave me the good news. He and his wife, Lynne, are very happy for Mary,â€? Bush said. “I think Mary is going to be a loving soul to her child. And I’m happy for her.â€?

So give him credit, but at the same time, expect/hope/demand that he extend the same civility to other openly gay individuals and couples, whether he likes their chosen lifestyle or not.

Yes, Presidents deserve our demonstrated respect … when they, in turn, demonstrate respect to all of their constituents.