Dick Cheney: Hillary Clinton Should Run For President In 2012

Dick Cheney would like to see Hillary Clinton run for president against Barack Obama. "So far she hasn't said she would, but I think it's not a bad idea," the former vice president told ABC News' Jonathan Karl in an interview Wednesday.

"Hillary Clinton is a pretty formidable individual," Cheney said. "I think she’s probably the most competent person they’ve got in their cabinet. And, frankly, I thought she was gonna win the nomination last time around."

"Maybe if the Obama record is bad enough -- and these days it's not very good, given the shape of the economy -- maybe there will be enough ferment in the Democratic Party so that there will be a primary on their side."

That doesn't mean Cheney would be voting for Clinton, however. A Democratic primary "might even help the Republicans a little bit," Cheney told Karl with a smile.

Cheney's comments come after an interview on "Fox News Sunday" in which he said it would be "interesting to speculate" about a Hillary Clinton presidency.

"I certainly wouldn't want to discourage a good primary contest on their side, but I don't want to be in the position of endorsing Hillary Clinton," Cheney told host Chris Wallace. "That might be the kiss of death for her."

"The fact is I'll be supporting the Republican nominee, and I think we got good candidates that are going to mount an effective campaign against the Obama administration," Cheney said.

WATCH Cheney's comments to ABC News:

Comments

[Darlene Brown]

12:56 PM on 10/14/2011

Seeing past Cheney's obvious ploy to create dissension within the Democratic party isn't difficult to see through. However the American people seem to have a more difficulty seeing other realities. Stop pretending that 40% of this country doesn't support the president because he is black. We're not even close to stamping out racism and our current political woes confirm it. Stop acting like Medicare and Social Security hasn't been on the road to collapse for the last 10 years. Stop acting like any one person can fix this and start doing something to help. Dial back your thermostats, stop buying cheap foreign made goods, turn off reality TV and read a book, make your kids do the same. Most of all realize that the state of our union has been 40 years in the making. If we're lucky improve it in half that time but we need prepare ourselves for long hard lean times ahead where we ALL work together not rely on the Obama administration or any other administration to wave a magic wand and fix it. We need to step up and make sure that our politicians follow OUR lead .

[Rez Resendez]

11:52 AM on 09/19/2011

Super Dick—Bravo!
“So who’s the right person to be our next POTUS? Hillary is the “only person” that can get America back to prosperity! Why, the list is too long; however, key aspect of this extensive list is Hillary has one asset that no other American-Born candidate has to offer, and that's a “Proven Ex-POTUS as a Partner-Spouse.”
My sense is Barack and Bill made an agreement in 2008 where Obama would get Bill’s endorsement with the stipulation Obama would NOT seek reelection IF he could not be effective. That said, now that Cheney (someone credible) is jumping on the Hillary for President Bandwagon, Obama will do what Johnson did in 1968 where Johnson announced “he would not seek nor accept the nomination for POTUS.” Therefore, expect our POTUS to look for a graceful dismount and back away from something he was clearly not prepared to handle.
Right-Wrong-or-Indifferent—Love ‘em or Hate ‘em … “Hillary and Bill” is what America needs. Trust the Clintons still pride their “Two for the Price of One” creed and trust Hillary will consider stepping up to this CALLING and do something she should have done when they left the Whitehouse. America just need only ask one simple question, “Am I better off today than I was during the eight years Bill and Hillary were in the Whitehouse?” Bottom Line: The Time is RIGHT…The Time is NOW…Hillary for President in 2012!

[Pastori Balele]

01:23 PM on 09/14/2011

Thank God, Americans are now politically mature - do not see color of person as issue. And thank God Obama is both white and black. But Dick Cheney is a racist-cannot stomach discussing serious issues seriously with African American. That is why Cheney likes Hillary Clinton. Cheney could not discuss foreign policy with Candy Rice because he saw Rice as former slave. That is what Republicans and racists are now enduring. I remember the following wept for weeks after Obama was sworn in as President: O'rielly, Sean Hannity, Cheney, Beck, Malkin, Crowley, Megan, Allen Keyes, Varney, Rush and FoxNews CEOs. These were raised to regard Blacks as deserving affirmative action positions. In fact TEA Party was coined to answer why we had Black/White President. They lied were against too much taxes. Luckily they made big mistake by endorsing radical GOP governors now abusing fellow. White workers are now crying: "We did not know Republicans was that bad". But I warned them before 2010 election not to vote republican. They did not listen to me. American people are now awake. Whites, Blacks, women and racial minorities have vowed to get rid of all TEA Party endorsed Republicans. I am warning Cheney to stop such language – he may have another heart attack. Maybe that’s what he wants – die for hatred of his Commander-in-Chief being Black/White. America, please join me in re-electing President Obama in November 2012.

[ta2t2o]

02:55 PM on 09/11/2011

This is Cheney saying - the best chance to beat Obama is to have another Dem. Run against him. God knows they'd stand a better chance than this group of Repubs.

[PostModernGuy]

08:41 AM on 09/10/2011

Cheny knows that the only way a Republican will get elected (given the current crowd, as well as the 'prospects') is for the Democrats to have a split ticket.

[blaquemark]

11:59 PM on 09/09/2011

I got a suggestion....why dosen't he run with her?

[2Bfair]

09:07 AM on 09/10/2011

peas in a pod?

[Rogo99]

12:46 PM on 09/18/2011

He should run far, far away.

[Counterglow]

08:19 PM on 09/09/2011

It says a lot about the American right that they're willing to accept a war criminal who debased the reputation of the United States internationally back to their bosoms. It's truly a shame Obama has refused to have the Justice Department go after this man and Halliburton. This man has the blood of soldiers on his hands.

[SparkyDash]

08:04 PM on 09/09/2011

Good grief...Cheney's turned Firebagger...LOL!

[Marisa Stein]

10:48 AM on 09/09/2011

OMG no, I've had enough of the clintons to last me a lifetime

[Counterglow]

08:20 PM on 09/09/2011

Have you had enough of the Cheneys, too?

[2Bfair]

09:10 AM on 09/10/2011

they are a nuisance, not a plague.

[party-of-one]

09:52 AM on 09/09/2011

I'm sure Cheney and every good Republican wants Hillary to run so she can help deplete Democratic campaign funding for the general election, make a Republican case for warmongering, and inflict deep divides among progressives. Thanks for the sage advice, Dick, but no thanks.

[Rogo99]

12:47 PM on 09/18/2011

He's just trying to stir things up and put doubt in the Democratic supporter's minds. Typical Rovian/Republican mind tricks.

[BassguyGG]

09:39 AM on 09/09/2011

Partisan to the end, it is convenient for Cheney to praise Hillary and advocate that she engage the President in a primary fight that will further weaken his chances for reelection. As disappointed as we all are in President Obama I still think he has a good chance of beating anyone in the "clown car" of candidates the GOP is running. Those candidates will have take positions that placate the Teabaggers to win the nomination. Some of these positions will be vastly unpopular and indefensible in the genral election.

[bdcelina777]

08:52 AM on 09/09/2011

Hey Cheney its 2011 and you are not VP anymore.Give it up.

[mps3280]

08:43 AM on 09/09/2011

Personally, I'd like to see Hillary run. She's a most competent individual, quite formidable. I don't always like her politics but I like her a great deal.

[Viper1st]

09:45 AM on 09/09/2011

Smart, plus experienced ~ comes with a proven team

[party-of-one]

09:55 AM on 09/09/2011

Personally, I think that would be a disaster. The only thing different for the nation if Hillary was president now, is that we would likely be at war with Iran, too, and the Clinton "marriage" would be in headlines every day. We don't need any of that.

[kelsye2000]

08:37 AM on 09/09/2011

Love Hillary :))

[fineartgalaxy]

08:27 AM on 09/09/2011

Frankly, I am getting a bit fed up with party loyalty. Obama is not doing much and he proved it again last night. Medicare needs to be cut but not the three wars. Enough is enough when it comes to party loyalty. I certainly wish there were many other Democrats running for the WH. He is confident that nobody with common sense will vote Republican. And he is right. But in the meantime we are doom if we get four more years of nothing and folding to the GOP.