Cheney Hits Obama Hard, Tradition Be Damned

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics

(AP)

As the New York Times noted this morning, former Vice President Dick Cheney has been a vocal and consistent critic of President Obama since leaving office. That's something of a break from the past: Traditionally, presidents and vice presidents have stayed relatively quiet about the activities of their successors.

Even President Bush – who was often the target of criticism from Mr. Obama during the campaign – has said the new president "deserves my silence." But Cheney, who has been front and center in the debate over the release of the Bush-era interrogation memos and potential prosecutions for devising the interrogation techniques, clearly disagrees. He has gone so far as to suggest that there is a "high probability" of a terrorist attack under the new administration.

"This is an unusual political event," said CBS News Senior Political Correspondent Jeff Greenfield. "Generally, departing presidents leave the field to the new president, and generally, vice-presidents just don't have that much to say that would be of interest to the press and public."

"But Cheney (a) had more power than any other vice-president and (b) he was by all the accounts the leading voice for a response to September 11th that accepted virtually no limits either to executive power or to the tactics that might be needed to confront America's enemies," Greenfield continued.

"So Cheney's criticism needs to be seen in that light," he added. "It's his legacy, even more than Bush's, I think, that's involved with the tactics at issue here."

Noted CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller: "It's Dick Cheney's nature to speak his mind." Knoller points out that Cheney was urging Mr. Obama not to stop CIA interrogations of "terrorist prisoners" even before he left office.

"He doesn't lunge for the spotlight, but he's willing to spend time in it on his terms," Knoller said.

Liz Cheney, the former vice president's daughter, suggested in the Times story that her father feels he cannot worry about decorum when the country's safety is at risk.

"When he sees the current administration making decisions that he believes are making the nation less safe, he does not believe there is any obligation under those circumstances to be silent," she said.

Cheney is not a popular figure; Democrats have cited him with glee and even some Republicans have said they wish he would leave the spotlight. But Knoller said a little perspective is in order; the former vice president is not, he points out, simply toting the party line.

"While Cheney is critical of the new president's policies, he wasn't shy about criticizing George W. Bush either for refusing to grant a presidential pardon to 'Scooter' Libby, Cheney's one-time chief of staff, convicted in the CIA leak probe," said Knoller.

"And while Cheney made news in recent interviews with FOX and CNN, he's selective about who he'll talk to and turns down more interviews than he does," he added.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

226 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 226 Comments


by dencal26 April 27, 2009 8:10 PM EDT: Obama is a War Criminal. He has been attacking Pakistan in violation of International Law and destabilizing Pakistan allowing Taliban to move closer to the capital.; Reply to this comment


by dencal26 April 27, 2009 8:09 PM EDT: Hakori.
I had no idea the article claimed some traditional time limit. When you disagree with an issue you should speak out. I guess Gore didn't disagree with Bush until 2003,; Reply to this comment


by dencal26 April 27, 2009 8:01 PM EDT: hakori
Of course Obama has made us less safe. He doesn't even think terrorism or 911 was a serious issue. Look at how insensitive he was today flying Jets in Manhattan scaring the daylights out of everyone. Terrorists don't disgust him . He befriended one.; Reply to this comment


by dencal26 April 27, 2009 7:58 PM EDT: Carter and Gore haven't shut up since election 2000. Cheney is mild compare to some of Gore attacks on Bush. Play with fire prepared to get burned.; Reply to this comment


by jntlw April 27, 2009 6:37 PM EDT: Cheney is a sick and evil man - those who follow his agenda are the same. He is a traitor to his country - enough of him. Stop reporting what the lunatic says.; Reply to this comment


by hzeunert April 27, 2009 4:15 PM EDT: Mariannpetit, my heart goes out to you. I know the pain. But all Obama says is let's have a look at what defines a government. Each government sets its own standards what is right and what is legal. The president sets the standards. But suddenly the world is waking up and becomes aware what we do to each other. We are one Family. But there should be no persecution or prosecution of anyone or anything as we forgive. We bury the past. We can only look forward and see a future in which all wounds are healed. We cannot expect this to happen as long as we fight our past.

Hans Zeunert; Reply to this comment


by johndevinejr April 27, 2009 11:13 AM EDT: They looted the treasury, leaving us broke and vunerable. STILL, a small percentage of uneducated lemmings follow them. Posted by iam4honesty
________________________________________

You mean like Obama? Looting the Treasury for $2 Trillion in his first year?!!!!.....and an uneducated fool like you following him?
Posted by azulene at 4:55 PM : Apr 26, 2009

Bush and the republicans threw billions down a rathole in Iraq in a war based on lies. KBR and Halliburton stole everything in site.
republicans never said a word.

Now Obama is spending American money in America on Americans.

Why are republicans so opposed to this?

Seems antiAmerican to me.; Reply to this comment


by johndevinejr April 27, 2009 11:02 AM EDT: Cheney is an inveterate liar. His purpose for speaking has nothing whatsoever to do with the safety of this country.

He is totally concerned about his own skin. He is now and always has been advocating torture. If he believes these actions were legal and effective, why did'nt he support the soldiers in Abu Garaib?

Where was Cheney then?

Cheney is a liar, a coward and an admitted criminal. He is working to gin up fear in an attempt to stay out of a Federal Penitentiary

.; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 April 27, 2009 10:01 AM EDT: This all could have been prevented if the public had not voted Bush in office the first time.
Posted by mariannpepit at 6:19 AM : Apr 27, 2009

It's the SCOTUS which voted for Bush, not the people.; Reply to this comment


by mariannpepit April 27, 2009 9:19 AM EDT: Bush will go down in history as the worst president and Cheney the worst VP. I believe Cheney was running the country not Bush. Invading Iraq upon the advice of nitwit Cheney who don't have the brains to think. Iraq is a country that is now torn upside down and a total disaster. Over 4200 young men never to see daylight again. This all could have been prevented if the public had not voted Bush in office the first time. He is not his father who didn't want to go after Saddam. This country now has the biggest problem with terrorists with the hatred of Bush and Cheney. Leahy is right, we should investigate who ordered the waterboarding. Let the memo's be known.; Reply to this comment