Clinton Questions Cheney's Credibility: "I Don't Consider Him A Particularly Reliable Source Of Information" (VIDEO)

Secretary Clinton testified today before Congress about President Obama's anti-terrorism strategy, saying the main goals are to prevent al-Qaida's resurgence in Afghanistan and to limit the progress of Islamic extremists in Pakistan.

The sensitive topic of the release of the torture memos came to the forefront when Republican Rep. Dana Rohrbacker asked Clinton if she agreed with Dick Cheney's request that documents ostensibly showing the efficacy of the torture programs should be declassified. Clinton ultimately replied that she believes "we ought to get to the bottom of this entire matter" and that it "is in the best interest of our country" to do so, but not before she took a shot at Cheney's credibility, saying "I don't consider him to be a particularly reliable source of information."

Cheney has been harshly criticizing the Obama administration for releasing the torture memos, insisting that the CIA's secret interrogation program yielded valuable information, proof of which he claims are in classified documents which he is urging be released.

Republicans have cited a statement by President Obama's intelligence chief Dennis Blair that the harsh interrogations did produce valuable intelligence, however Blair also stated that "there is no way of knowing whether the same information could have been obtained through other means" and that "the bottom line is these techniques have hurt our image around the world, the damage they have done to our interests far outweighed whatever benefit they have us and they are not essential to our national security."

Cheney's attacks on the Obama administration have not been limited to foreign policy. During the second part of his interview with conservative TV host Sean Hannity, Cheney slammed Obama's domestic policies as well.

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Comments

[Sebastian Fort]

I think her statement was answer enough; if the politician had not been a Republican I think he would have appreciated her answer. It was not a direct answer - true - but one that reveals a keen, intelligent mind that will be great in 2016 as Madame PRESIDENT!

[partyofone]

Hillary's response showed even as SoS she a divisive partisan politician who can get out of the with me or my enemy mentality. Our nation needs to find ways to bring people together and build consensus, which won't happen as long as letters continue to attack and distract.

[partyofone]

Oops Let me try that again: Hillary's response showed even as SoS she's a divisive partisan politician who can't get out of the with-me-or­-my-enemy-­mentality. Cheney is an easy target. She's pandering. Our nation needs to find ways to bring people together and build consensus, which won't happen as long as leaders continue to attack and distract.

[Kiabell04]

Awesome response Hillary!!

[partyofone]

Hillary Clitnon sure has the credentials and experience to know when credibility should be questioned! Just think Bill and Bimbos, Backing Bush on Iraq, Bosnia and Bullets, Bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

[fayemac]

So your ditzy response is to bring up primary crap. How credible are you to equate the two? Not very.

[partyofone]

Hillary's lack of integrity has been a consistent issue throughout her public life. During the primary, for sure, when a majority of Americans distrusted her, but long before and long after as well.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041502883.html

[yman4]

CDSers questioning "credibility" ... like Limb@ugh claiming to be a truth detector.

BTW - Would you like quotes from 7 major participants in the NI peace talks that support Clint0n's claim?

[klondiker]

My favorite part of the hearings was actually Hillary's response to Rep. Christopher Smith's question about abortion and reproductive health. She is forceful and passionate and brilliantly rebuts Smith's position.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8rGPDItayI

Watch it! Hillary's response begins around the 2:45 mark.

[Rikudou]

Thank you, Hillary, for spewing an ad-hominem attack instead of actually_a­nswering_t­he_questio­n_given_to­_you.

[roblabrousse]

She did answer the question. That a thorough investigation will take place. The Obama Administration is not obliged to respond to the requests of an ex Vice President. Cheney's political credit card has been cancelled as of November 2008. He is a private citizen now. He's not a member of Congress nor does he holder any office in the government. He's not part of any government department involved in this matter. In fact he may become a defendant. And those memos "prooving" justification could be tainted with the same criminal intent as the torture decisions.

Let that congressman from California put in the request on his own behalf for those memos to be released.

[fayemac]

She did. She said he wasnt credible. Pretty acurate too. Only a person who was guilty of something would think that was an attack.

[Eric-in-the-Red]

This is hypocrisy at it's height. The Republicans choose to criticize the releasing of the memos describing illegal activity, while ignoring the activities themselves.

[LaurieLee]

Cheney is despicable and has no class. He's never been right about anything. He makes my skin crawl and I can't find anything at all redeeming or exceptional about the man.

How can these neocons retain their jobs and status as 'pundits' despite being wrong about everything they've ever said? Everything?

The only explanation I can see is that they sold their souls to Satan. OK, I don't even believe in Satan, but I can't find a better explanation.

[lunchlady]

Thank you thank you thank you. Hillary as Secretary of State getting to say this about Cheney is very satisfying. I predict Cheney and the GOP will try to retaliate by bringing up Monica or Whitewater, since they don't have anything relevant or substantial to say. Or maybe they'll comment on her appearance.

[westreal]

God I love this woman. She's a ball buster and if she wasn't SoS, President Obama could use her to slam some heads together to push his domestic policies through. Because all of the Democratic reps here are lazy and spineless when it comes to doing actual work.

[Faxus]

When will Cheney realize he is no longer in power? Retire already! Aren't you rich enough? With your money I'd be on an island in the Caribbean with a spliff and a Red Stripe.

[Soulsurfer]

Hillary's comments were deeply satisfying to hear on national television.

[buggedabouttheus]

I agree. She is an awesome Secretary of State. She is on her game and that is good for us!

[NJmikeV]

Dana Rohrbacker doesn't get it. Nobody believes Cheney (except for the wingnuts).

[Hatsone]

Republicans will not recover from this disgraceful moment in history.

[bryan43036]

that is the first time I have heard keeping America safe as being disgraceful

[tman418]

Who said Hatsone was referring to "keeping America safe"?

[fayemac]

Oh I see, you are going to throw the "keep America safe card" and to heck with the constitution,civil rights, geneva convention and more importantly the USs integrity around the world. What else are you willing to toss in the air? Our troops and americans abroad are now in danger of being tortured because some pee brained idiot decided to rewrite the book on torture (oh excuse me "enhanced interigations") and told the world how to do it and how great it works. Good job Cheney! Now that its legal, and all bets are off, I wonder if we should use it on him and really see if it works. All in the name of keeping America safe from the Cheneys of this world.

[VMA]

The smack down that Hillary did on Mike Pence when he asked about the Chavez handshake was truly Awesome.

[westreal]

Where can I see that?

[westreal]

Found it here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFrML6s0hw

[fayemac]

Sure was! He looked like he was going to cry after that. Dont worry Obama, Hillarys got your back!

[afgail]

If there was ANY evidence that torture provided intelligence that saved American lives it would have been leaked a long time ago. Once again Cheney is lying to justify his program of torture. Right up there with all his other lies: WMD, nuclear armed Iraq, Iraq/Al Qaeda connection, needed to get rid of Saddam, we would be greeted as liberators, the Iraqi's wanted democracy, the war would be short, the war would be paid for with Iraqi oil revenues, the war would cost only $200 million. Cheney is a congenital liar.

[21234321]

umm actually, B.O.'s own intelligence people just admitted that it did provide good information

[mendelcrosses]

No,they didnt.

Obama nor Clinton ever said such thing. They make the decisions as far as national security goes. But if thats your mantra of evaluation,noticed that,Bush's own national security staffs are now saying they were always against it,but were ignored.

[1differentdrummer]

Yes, and if it did would that justify torture? The part about not knowing if conventional means would have worked as well seems missing from your post. Why sink to the primative, depraved level of the Cheney/Bush administration to jusify those horrific acts?

[Lotus19]

Oh please.

[JiminNC]

Is that your new phone number mr cheeny?