Cheney Apologizes For Joke On W. Virginia

(CBS/ AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney threw a verbal insult at West Virginians on Monday, but quickly apologized.

Talking about his family roots and how he's distantly related to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, the vice president noted that he had Cheneys on both sides of his family.

"And we don't even live in West Virginia," Cheney quipped.

"You can say those things when you're not running for re-election."

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, quickly asked Cheney to apologize.

"I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state for that matter," he said.

On Capitol Hill, Cheney's comment was denounced by both Democrats and Republicans.

"This is exactly the type of stereotyping that we don't need from our elected officials," said Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. "It's disrespectful, and it's certainly not funny. ... As a proud state, I can say we are disappointed."

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., blasted Cheney, saying that for a vice president to openly display "such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen" was an insult to all Americans.

"Now that he or the administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia," Byrd said.

Byrd, a Senate fixture at the age of 90, was hospitalized later Monday at his doctor's urging after suffering from lethargy and sluggishness at the Capitol and, later, at his home, a spokesman for the 90-year-old Democrat said.

"The vice president's offhand comment was not meant to hurt anyone," Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said later Monday. "On reflection, he concluded that it was an inappropriate attempt at humor that he should not have made. The vice president apologizes to the people of West Virginia for the inappropriate remark."

West Virginia, a 2-1 Democratic state, voted for President Bush in 2000 and 2004.

In a question-and-answer session after giving a speech at the National Press Club, Cheney said also joked that he wouldn't object to a family reunion with Obama, but said he didn't think the candidate would be up for one - "at least not before November."

"He'd probably be fearful I might whisper in his ear and change his whole view of the Middle East," Cheney said.

He said that when his wife, Lynne, was doing research on a book, she discovered that his grandmother was descended from a man named Richard Cheney. "So I had Cheneys on both sides of the family," he said.

[watcher269-2009]

The Ultimate Oxymoron - Cheney Sincerely Apologizing!

The Ultimate Moron - Cheney!

Okay - it''s a tie - Bushit too!

[watcher269-2009]

Rules this Republican Administration plays by - taken right from one of WWII''s most notorious Generals - probably Cheney''s cousin or something.

''If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.''

Joseph Goebbels

[lambor59]

re:had we impeached this sob and W when we should have we wouldn''''t have to be listening to this junk, and our country would be in a lot better shape. Fellow Americans, WE are the one that blew it by ignoring the crimes of this administration.

Thanks for the nice comment. We all are sick of this Ted bundy''s regime, they''ve looted our nation treasures.

[deacon20081]

Makes you wonder what Nancy Pelosi is afraid of when she said "Impeachment" was off the table.

[deacon20081]

Mr Torture himself...talking about chain-ees.....go figure

[starleo146]

Darth Vader Cheney asked his wife, "what do you think of the people calling me Darth vader," and Lynn said," I think it makes you human."

[imprisonbush]

It''s really not that surprising that Cheney has Cheneys on both sides. That''s only because *** Cheney''s mother was raised on a desolate farm. Yeah, also, unfortunately for the country, as she got older she really blossomed, became very cute, but was unable to outrun her brothers.

[impeach_w]

He should appologize for the real Joke on our Nation- Our Administration!

[Stratmaster7]

had we impeached this sob and W when we should have we wouldn''t have to be listening to this junk, and our country would be in a lot better shape. Fellow Americans, WE are the one that blew it by ignoring the crimes of this administration.

[vincan-2009]

I don''t know why he would want to make fun of West Virginia when they are all republicans who love Cheney and Bush. I was sad to hear that many are racist and full of hate for some reason. I have sent money to help these people and now find out they are republicans who will never vote for a wonderful Democrat who will change everything for the better, including W. Virginia. I hope they will reconsider for the country and for themselves.