May 10, 2009 12:59 PM

Cheney: I Pick Rush Over Colin Powell

By
David Morgan
Topics
In The News
On the heels of an interview with a North Dakota radio station this week in which he advised it would be a mistake for the Republican Party to seek broader appeal by moderating its stance on issues, former vice president Dick Cheney today said there is room in the GOP for moderates.

"I think partly it's a semantic problem," he told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation. "I don't think the party ought to move dramatically to the left, for example, in order to try to redefine its base.

"We are what we are. We're Republicans. We have certain things we believe in. And maintaining our loyalty and commitment to those principles is vital to our success."

When asked by Schieffer how the party could broaden its appeal, Cheney said there have been efforts made.

"Jeb Bush, I know, has been working on it," he said, "Eric Cantor, Mitt Romney, trying to find ways to appeal to a broader range of people. I don't have any problem with that. I think that's a good thing to do. But the suggestion our Democratic friends always make is somehow, you know, if you Republicans were just more like Democrats, you'd win elections. Well, I don't buy that. I think we win elections when we have good solid conservative principles to run upon and base our policies on those principles."

Schieffer brought up recent banter about the Republican Party's future: "Rush Limbaugh said the other day that the party would probably be better off if Colin Powell left and just became a Democrat. Colin Powell said Republicans would be better off if they didn't have Rush Limbaugh out speaking for them. Where do you come down [on this]?"

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
"Well, if I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh, I think," Cheney replied. "I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican."

"So you think that he's not a Republican?"

"I just noted he endorsed the Democratic candidate for president this time, Barack Obama," Cheney said. "I assumed that that is some indication of his loyalty and his interest."

"And you said you would take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell."

"I would, politically."


More from Face The Nation (5.10.09):
  • Cheney: "We Weren't In Torture Business"
  • Schieffer To David Souter: Don't Let The Court House Door Hit You
  • Read The Complete Transcript> (pdf)

    To watch Dick Cheney discuss the current state of the war in Pakistan and the future of the Republican Party click on the video player below.


    • David Morgan

      David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

    Add a Comment See all 775 Comments
    by downsouthburner May 25, 2009 10:36 PM EDT
    Are the republican parties views any different than the radical, extremist that brought our nation to its knees on 9/11? Everyone's views and beliefes are wrong, our way of thinking is right and death to all those who oppose. The Republican Extremist Muslim Party no different.
    Reply to this comment
    by randysanders May 18, 2009 5:42 PM EDT
    Sure Powell switched sides and the Republicans think of him as a traitor, but when Americans change the poltical party they are affiliated with they are called the "swing vote" because collectively each US State has collectively back one party or the other. I guess the Republicans think all who vote Democratically are "traitors". Dick Cheney is only trying to put things into "perspective" when it comes to his political affiliations. He stays with his party through the end and though he's not a sailor, he probably believes that "going down with the ship" is a good idea.
    Reply to this comment
    by tshump84 May 13, 2009 4:19 PM EDT
    After reading the first two pages of the postings for this article with Dick Chenney, it is evident that this country is still very polarized. It's real easy to blame each other (political parties) for all of the things that have happened in this country, but at what point to we stop acting like children and work together to solve the problems we are facing as a nation?

    Historically, this country has had a bad reputation for living up to the words found in our Constitution. There was a time when only white men were given the respect of being treated like humans under this system. So-called minorities, women, the disabled and other disenfranchised groups (the poor) of people were left to fight for the scraps of dignity left behind by the group in power - white men. Now that our President doesn't come from the "dominant" group, his opponents want to call his credibility into question and cause a great deal of unnecessary chaos. I am saying all of this to say that it is just another ploy by the rich to keep those of us that are not rich busy with trivial drama, so that we do not see the rich getting richer while we continue to get poorer. "Powerful people do not apologize to powerless people for the things they do to remain in power."

    I'd like to see some of you that are on here talking about trivial issues, offer solutions that will help the nation - not pull us farther apart. Its easy to accentuate the negative, but do any of you have the ability to identify, recognize and implement positive strategies that will help all Americans?

    P.S. Yes, this country was founded by Christians, but not everyone is Christian. Those same founding fathers thought it important enough to make the point that everyone doesn't have to believe in what they believe, hence the Puritans leaving Europe to practice their beliefs how they saw fit - which led to the founding of this country. Christians, at some point you have to respect the rights of others to believe in whatever they see fit for themselves.
    Reply to this comment
    by LiquidWrench May 13, 2009 10:26 AM EDT
    The fact is that liberals think that they can just spend spend spend and there are no repercussions. As long as we all can get along and everything is ok. It is the liberals who want to burn the constitution in the bonfires of horrid financial and moral policy. Oh I am sorry they have no morals. Obama is a babykiler not to mention couldn't manage money to save our country. He is the savior of the liberal gay party. That is all that he is....no more.
    Posted by LiquidWrench at 7:39 AM : May 12, 2009


    *** did Bush do? Spend, spend, spend, spend, tax cuts for rich, spend, spend, spend, more tax cuts for rich and big corporations, spend. And what did we get? This awful recession. Who pays? The poor, the sick, the elderly. But I am sure LiquidWrench is doing just fine, so all is well in the world. Since the world does revolve around him and all!
    Posted by rmonroe401 at 12:07 PM : May 12, 2009

    No you see I lost my job as a result of this stinking recession too and its not all about me. Its not all about the no morals having liberals either as you obviously think. The fact is that I never stated that Bush did everything right. You just wait though, the time is going to come real soon when you liberals will have to quit blaming all of the problems on someone else and take responsibility for the mistakes that you make. I can stand up and say that I am wrong but I haven't found a liberal yet that can or is willing to admit that.
    No the fact of the matter is that if somebody doesn't think the same way as a moral-less liberal then they will just pass laws to make them do so. One day you will stand up and look around and see the socialist state that your god Obama has built and wonder where your freedoms went.

    So I really don't care if you think I am wrong or not the fact is I am not, simple as that. I still believe in the principles and beliefs that our country was founded on. Apparently I am in the minority now.
    Reply to this comment
    by chadb19 May 12, 2009 3:39 PM EDT
    Where is the WMD? Last throws of Al Queda? Strong ecomony? FEMA help? Evesdropping? ... I kick myself everyday for putting my life on the line for you in 1991 (Desert Storm)...Your a bad man....go away!!
    Reply to this comment
    by chadb19 May 12, 2009 3:33 PM EDT
    Powell would be the best thing to bring back the REP party...the reason that party and the country for that matter is (was) in shambles is because of Cheney and Bush. I wish these would stay away from the airways...its bad enough we have to listen to Rush. Go away Cheney...you have been wrong about EVERYTHING!!!
    Reply to this comment
    by rmonroe401 May 12, 2009 3:07 PM EDT
    The fact is that liberals think that they can just spend spend spend and there are no repercussions. As long as we all can get along and everything is ok. It is the liberals who want to burn the constitution in the bonfires of horrid financial and moral policy. Oh I am sorry they have no morals. Obama is a babykiler not to mention couldn't manage money to save our country. He is the savior of the liberal gay party. That is all that he is....no more.
    Posted by LiquidWrench at 7:39 AM : May 12, 2009


    *** did Bush do? Spend, spend, spend, spend, tax cuts for rich, spend, spend, spend, more tax cuts for rich and big corporations, spend. And what did we get? This awful recession. Who pays? The poor, the sick, the elderly. But I am sure LiquidWrench is doing just fine, so all is well in the world. Since the world does revolve around him and all!
    Reply to this comment
    by steeepe May 12, 2009 11:58 AM EDT
    The fact is that liberals think that they can just spend spend spend and there are no repercussions. As long as we all can get along and everything is ok. It is the liberals who want to burn the constitution in the bonfires of horrid financial and moral policy. Oh I am sorry they have no morals. Obama is a babykiler not to mention couldn't manage money to save our country. He is the savior of the liberal gay party. That is all that he is....no more.
    Posted by LiquidWrench at 7:39 AM : May 12, 2009

    Liberals are anti-Constitution? Obama is a babykiller? Man, you are so delusional that any argument would be wasted on you.
    Reply to this comment
    by LiquidWrench May 12, 2009 10:39 AM EDT
    The fact is that liberals think that they can just spend spend spend and there are no repercussions. As long as we all can get along and everything is ok. It is the liberals who want to burn the constitution in the bonfires of horrid financial and moral policy. Oh I am sorry they have no morals. Obama is a babykiler not to mention couldn't manage money to save our country. He is the savior of the liberal gay party. That is all that he is....no more.
    Reply to this comment
    by ridgesitter May 12, 2009 8:13 AM EDT
    Colin Powell has served this country with distinction, honor, integrity, and honesty. Dick Cheney has served with very questionable attributes. The least of which would be lies, deceit, underhandness, and greed for the wealthy upper class. How anyone can even compare the two in the same conversation is beyond me.
    Reply to this comment
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