Obama: Cheney was 'wrong'

[kpete]

Source: Politico

NPR News has released a transcript of its Michele Norris and Steve Inskeep's interview with President Obama.
what does Obama think of former VP Cheney's publicity tour? (7:51 p.m.)



MS. NORRIS: Mr. President, you have talked about creating a new path forward on Guantanamo, on the relationship that the U.S. has with countries in the Muslim world on several fronts. But, at the same time, the former vice president has been out talking about the policies in the former administration. He’s forceful, he’s unapologetic and he doesn’t seem willing to scale back his rhetoric. How much does that undermine or complicate your effort to extend a hand to explain the Obama doctrine and draw a line of demarcation between that administration and yours?

PRES. OBAMA: Well, he also happens to be wrong. (Chuckles.) Right? And last time, immediately after his speech, I think there was a fact-check on his speech that didn’t get a very good grade. Does it make it more complicated? No, because I think these are complicated issues and there is a legitimate debate to be had about national security. And I don’t doubt the sincerity of the former vice president or the previous administration in wanting to protect the American people. And these are very difficult decisions.

You know, if you’ve got a – as I said in my speech, if you’ve got an organization that is out to kill Americans and is not bound by any rules then that puts an enormous strain on not only our intelligence operations, our national security operations, but also our legal system. The one thing that I’m absolutely persuaded by, though, is that if we are true to our ideals and our values, if these decisions aren’t made unilaterally by the executive branch, but, rather, in consultation and in open fashion and in democratic debate, that the Muslim world and the world, generally, will see that we have upheld our values, been true to our ideals. And that ultimately will make us safer.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/politico44/

[babylonsister]

1. Class again outshines darth. Very gracious, while telling

darth he just doesn't matter!

[Captain Hilts]

2. Good. Nice and clear. "WRONG." nt

[Bluebear]

3. Was he talking about Cheney supporting gay marriage?

KIDDING! KIDDING!

[underpants]

4. Nothing new here

Cheney has been wrong about everything

[DCKit]

5. Yeah, but the more Obama points it out, the more people might "get it".

The fact that he relies on deliberate, logical and rational argument as his preferred method of discourse puts him in a class the RW talking heads, or anyone else still defending the previous malAdministration, can only dream about.

President Obama isn't doing everything I wanted him to, and moving a little too deliberately for my taste on other issues, but it sure is nice to have an adult (one with a sense of morality with which I can identify) in the WH again.

[underpants]

6. It is nice when "our guy" has the biggest megaphone

Has Cheney got a book deal yet or are we going to have to keep hearing his mouth in public?

[DCKit]

9. Even the rich wingers with publishing contacts can't pretend it would be viable.

They wasted a ton of money buying warehouses full of Coulter's (and other's) books. Perhaps they finally realized they're not fooling anyone by gaming the statistics.

Besides, with a newly empowered EPA, any book by Cheney would probably be deemed to be toxic waste and immediately entombed at Yucca Mountain or thrown into a volcano - as it should be.

[riverdeep]

7. I just wonder if he really believes that Cheney has the best interests

of the country at heart, or just said it because saying "he's a lying mutated monster who's only out talking to keep himself from being investigated" sounds too harsh? I hope it's the latter, because if he really believes it, he's going to get blindsided.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I agree. n/t

[No Elephants]

10. Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. President., Stop the cover up. Stop protecting them and

prosecute.


Until you do, this is nothing but sound and fury, signifying nothing.