GOP Leaders Not Defending Cheney Against Charge He Wants Terror Attack
This one’s pretty telling: GOP leaders are not stepping up to defend Dick Cheney against CIA chief Leon Panetta’s explosive charge that the former Veep seems to be hoping for another terrorist attack in order to vindicate his national security policies.
Panetta made big news when it was revealed over the weekend that he’d told The New Yorker that it’s almost as if Cheney is “wishing that this country would be attacked again, in order to make his point.”
Ordinarily Republicans would pounce on such a statement about one of their own and unleash a torrent of demands for an apology. But GOP leaders are unusually quiet, with none that I can find issuing statements or saying anything about it yesterday after the news broke.
That silence is continuing today. Spokespeople for House GOP leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor both confirmed to me that their offices would have no comment on Panetta’s claim. Spokespeople for Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and RNC chair Michael Steele have not responded to requests for comment.
Only Pete Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, has struck back, tweeting that Panetta’s comment was “outrageous.” Otherwise, the silence suggests that GOP leaders want to move the conversation past Cheney and his legacy.
Looks like defending the former Veep on this one will fall, again, to Dick’s chief PR front-woman, Liz Cheney.
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With things happening in Iran I am guessing that the GOP panjandrums have other things on their mind. But, as you say, Liz will be spouting lies all over the place with nary a rejoinder.
Well of course Cheney wants another attack, just like he wanted the first one and we should all be just a little nervous cause he has the wherewithal to make it happen – again.
“We need a Pearl Harbor,” George W Bush
Re: “Otherwise, the silence suggests that GOP leaders want to move the conversation past Cheney and his legacy.”
That, or they share his wish.
“That, or they share his wish.”
You have to watch Greggy; every once in awhile, Muzzy, he’s prone to draw conclusions where there isn’t really enough evidence to come down one way or the other.
You just have to hassle him a little.
Tina/Muzzy: funny.
er, Tena. sorry.
I hope the FISA-happy crowd in the NSA have his phone tapped.
Ron Christie, who I assume is a Republican leader based on the number of times a day he plays one on TV, just freaked out about it on MSNBC.
What are they gonna do? Get into a feud with the CIA. Are they gonna call the CIA director a liar? Wouldn’t that make them in the same boat as they have tried to put Nancy Pelosis in. Wasn’t there some big GOP to-do about Nancy Pelosi calling the CIA liars?
flounder: You want a Republican tool? I’ll give you a Republican tool: Voila: M. Ron Christie.
btw, halperin at the page has a post up that has John McCain asking for Panetta to ” Retract Immediately” and takes a swipe at Panetta’s leadership. Looks like that “rumored” McCain temparment strikes again
Here’s the link: http://thepage.time.com/2009/06/15/mccain-retract-immediately/
“By the way, I hear morale is not at an all-time high over at the CIA under Mr. Panetta’s leadership.”
link:http://thepage.time.com/mccain-quotes-on-panetta-in-fox-news-interview/