Cheney Apologizes For Joke On W. Virginia

Lawmakers From Both Parties Rip Vice President For "Inappropriate Attempt At Humor"

(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.

[watcher269-2009]

Bushit and Cheney HATE America and even more than that - Americans!

[watcher269-2009]

"That a man who has ascended to the seat of Vice President of the United States would openly display such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen is 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. With his trademark arrogance, the Vice President even added ''You can say those things when you''re not running for re-election.''"


"This pitiful comment is not entirely surprising when you consider the source. Vice President Cheney''s words reflect the attitude of an administration and a party that says what they must to get elected and then turns their backs on those they promised to represent."

[leftyintexas]

What do you really expect from Cheney?

Posted by Policrypt at 03:28 PM : Jun 03, 2008

A face full of buckshot?

[aldon61]

Just remember everyone, Cheney has been a strong player in the Bush administration. These people have been arrogant to the point of intolerance. McCain WILL represent a third term for these morons. Think about that come November.

[parrot123-2009]

"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.

OMG...we have become so overly friggin PC that anything said in jest is taken so seriously that everyone cries like a baby...get the fu(k over it!
Posted by sbbm at 12:05 PM : Jun 03, 2008

**** You could have read the entire news article firstly instead of sounding like a big fool. --

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.

[aaabee-2009]

Richard Cheney quotes

9) "I had other priorities in the sixties than military service."on his five draft deferments, April 5, 1989

8) "There are a lot of lessons we want to learn out of this process in terms of what works. I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise." --Sept. 10, 2005

7) "Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy."April 30, 2001

6) "My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." --March 16, 2003

5) "We know he''''s been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons." --March 16, 2003

4) "In Iraq, a ruthless dictator cultivated weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. He gave support to terrorists, had an established relationship with al Qaeda, and his regime is no more."Nov. 7, 2003

3) "I think they''''re in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." -- on the Iraq insurgency, June 20, 2005

2) "Oh, yeah. He is. Big time.-agreeing with then-candidate George W. Bush, who was overheard at a campaign rally saying, "There''''''''s Adam Clymer, major league a**hole from The New York Times," Sept. 4, 2000

1) "Go f*ck yourself." --to Sen. Patrick Leahy, during an angry exchange on the Senate floor about profiteering by Halliburton, June 25, 2004

Posted by red164 at 11:06 AM : Jun 03, 2008

[aaabee-2009]

I can...liberal democrats. Like the ones who post here; constantly putting down the south and southerners, who are no somehow ''''ofended'''' at Chaney''''s lame joke.
Posted by LibH8er at 12:44 PM : Jun 03, 2008

Here is a guy who spreads the manure of particanship across Every Single Article with the same sentence over and over. I Hate Libs I Hate Libs I Hate Libs I Hate Libs I Hate Libs I Hate Libs I Hate Libs ad nauseum.

We got your message 4 years ago.

Why don''t you find a new fresh generic group of non-existent stereotypes to hate now. Or are you in a hate-rut?

Even Cheney updates his retoric every once in a while. WV is new.

You''ve gotten boring :) yawn.....

[Latrocinor]

I think the majority of Americans Have known how
he feel about America,.. His actions the last 8 years show how he feels about America,..the man is Obviously, arrogant,.. and condesending,.. cares very little,.. about humanity in general....Now this public statement,..sure
he may have been kidding,.. but coming from the second highest office in the land,..it shows POOR JUDGEMENT,.. but thats nuthin'''' new either,..

Posted by dodaz
.. .. ..
I doubt ANY politician really truly cares about their constituents. Especially after ready the hate and slander mind vomit on these newsgroups.

I think politicians of both parties love the concept of what the USA could be and that''s what keeps them going.

The majority of these politicians could be making more money and have better good times fun elsewhere.

[dodaz-2009]

I think the majority of Americans Have known how
he feel about America,.. His actions the last 8 years show how he feels about America,..the man is Obviously, arrogant,.. and condesending,.. cares very little,.. about humanity in general....Now this public statement,..sure
he may have been kidding,.. but coming from the second highest office in the land,..it shows POOR JUDGEMENT,.. but thats nuthin'' new either,..

[backtowv]

VP Cheney is anal retrentive.