Boehner, McConnell Cheer Cheney's Public Role

On Sunday, the top Republicans in both the House and the Senate affirmed that they were pleased with former Vice President Dick Cheney for taking an active and combative public role just months after stepping down from office.

John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, the House and Senate minority leaders, both expressed support for Cheney's attacks on President Obama during their respective Sunday show appearances. Boehner went so far as to say that the former VP's broadsides against the current White House "helps" the Republican Party.

"Dick Cheney is a private citizen and is entitled to his views," Boehner told CNN's State of the Union.

As for the possibility that Cheney was drowning out the younger and/or more moderate Republicans, Boehner replied that "having a chorus of voices out there" was better than none. "It doesn't hurt us," he said, "it helps us."

On Fox News Sunday, Mitch McConnell did not offer a similarly specific endorsement of Cheney's recent rhetoric. He did, however, say the former VP had been vindicated in his remarks, as evidenced by Obama's change in policy on matters from releasing torture photos to military tribunals.

"These are serious issues and I think it's noteworthy that in the last week the President himself has been adjusting his positions," he said. "He's no longer decided to release additional photos from Abu Ghraib. He has revisited the issue of whether or not the military commissions that we passed a couple of years ago are an appropriate way to try terrorists. We know he changed his mind in Iraq and decided to follow the advice of the military generals, and we also know that he's now ordered a surge in Afghanistan just like the one that was successful in Iraq. So I think the administration has responded to the critique of the vice president and others that it might... be drifting off in the wrong direction on national security issues."

A recent survey of GOP strategists and advisers found that 57 percent believe Cheney has hurt the Republican Party since the election, versus 33 percent who think he is helping.

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Comments

[StillAmused]

When a ps ycho is willing to repeatedly free-fall from tall buildings to the street below in defense of your mindless support for war crimes, of COURSE you cheer him.

Just behold the clueless, dull-normal countenance of McConnell in the photo... sometimes, The Big Guy gives you a face that accurately reflects your inner clown.

[mjtaylor22]

republicans are born to follow, because whenever they lead, the lead us all into annihilation
just look at these last 8 yrs
and look at all of their efforts to fix their mess...
ooh they have not tried to fix anything, the rnc has just opposed to fixing anything
you are on your own if a repugnant has to do something for you

[mjtaylor22]

the republican party
AMERICA'S CHAMPIONS FOR TORTURE AT ANY COST.
even if it is the integrity of all our future generations.
cheney mortgage it, and they want to sell it permanently to the devil

[mjtaylor22]

dang they love to twist the ttuth to fit their needs don't they

i ma glad cheney is speakignout as well, let the investigation begin,
right after we pass healthcare reform and shore up education..

that way we can fight without distraction

[millertime]

Leave it to these geniuses to have the only politician that is less popular than George Bush represent them. It was only a few short years ago that they were very critical of Gore for speaking against anything that the Bush administration did.....but, now its ok, since its them doing the talking.

[ReedYoung]

This is the "bipartisanship" that GOP Congressional Representatives and Senators want? Caving on accountability for torture? Why is it more important for Republicans to help Cheney cover up the past than it is for them to contribute to policies in the present and future? Don't they want to look forward, not back, with the rest of us?

[PuzzledinPeoria]

Somebody should tell Boehner to lay off the baby carrots. They're turning him orange.

[greatlardini]

I thought that was caused by "Harvey Wallbangers".

[littlepuffycloud]

insane in the membrane.

[scjk67]

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path

---Brain Damage....Pink Floyd// Dark Side of the Moon

[kelvinstinks]

Republicans need to get a life.....

[LiberTLover]

Cheer on the guy who has an even lower approval rating than Bush across the country? Thank you and keep up the good work, we Dems appreciate your help. You are just too kind!! Lol!

[wakeup804]

I am waiting for the day they travel abroad and get arrested for war crimes. Somebody has to do it, and since we look like hypocrits (we were quick to help put the noose around Sadaam's neck), the rest of the world will have to do, what we won't do. Right is right and wrong is wrong, whether it is your family, your actions or your country. You can't pick and choose when it suits you. It this was Dick Cheney from Afghanistan, he would have been a resident at Gitmo years ago, or Cheney from Iraq, would have been the opening act before Saddam date with the noose. "Kept us safe", where? Over 3,000 killed on 9/11, almost 5,000 soldiers killed, we still don't know the number of people killed in Iraq, no they didn't keep us safe, they got us killed.

[Michigan-Woman]

What he/she said.

Spot on!

Re last sentence: Untold number of innocent Iraqi families killed--Mothers, Fathers, Children, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. Just like us.

All killed in the name of what?......OIL & Profit

[Suzanne525]

Don't forget the personal revenge motive Lil Bush had against Sadaam.

[javagirl322]

What Cheney and the rest of the Bush administration did to this country will NEVER be forgotten. So....Cheney, no matter how hard you try to distract and re-write it, your role in it IS part of history!!!

[ObamAtomic]

I am glad very glad that Boehner is asking Ms Pelosi apologies,he himself declared that the CIA are misleading,he was misled,,,,,,,,how he can reconcile his arguments.

[ObamAtomic]

There you go is better late than never,Boehner, McConnell Cheering Cheney.
Nice way to rebuild the party,,,to extinction.
Agreeing with a self declared torturer,lashing to the Speaker Pelosi.