Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on May 23, 2009

By Vicki McClure Davidson * Frugal Café Blog Zone

From Politico:

Politico | Dick Cheney and Hill Democrats put Barack Obama on the defensive on torture
By Ben Smith & Jonathan Martin
May 22, 2009

For the first time in his presidency, Americans are getting a glimpse of Barack Obama on defense.

Over the past few weeks, Obama has been back on his heels over torture and terror, issues on which he surely thought he had the upper hand.

And he spent Thursday battling charges from a man he surely thought he had vanquished in November, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

It took some worried calls from Capitol Hill Democrats, congressional aides said, to convince him otherwise – that he needed to give a speech defending his plan for closing the terror prison at Guantanamo Bay, and rebutting Republican claims that the move would endanger Americans where they live.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others made clear “that we’re going to need a lot more cover if we’re going to be able to deal with this issue,” said one Democratic leadership aide.

So on a day when Obama would have rather been anywhere else – remaking the auto industry or cheerleading an economic recovery – he was sharing TV screens with Cheney, the two men equals, at least for one hour.

National polls are showing that droves of Americans support Cheney significantly more than Obama on his understanding of the many intricacies of securing America from future attacks from al-Quaeda and other terrorists. Obama is still using campaign slogans and rhetoric and vague bashing statements; Cheney explains and firmly supports the legality and appropriateness of interrogation methods employed during the Bush administration. He criticizes the New York Times for splashing national security secrets on their front page, thus helping al-Quaeda more effectively target America (thank you for reminding us of that, Mr. Cheney).

Cheney is amazing in his strength, conviction, and passion to keep America safe. Obama… not so amazing.

Cheney quote: “In the fight against terrorism, there is no middle ground.”

Politico video links below.

Speech Highlights: Obama on National Security

Speech Highlights: Cheney on National Security

Worthwhile reading:
NBC Washington News: Cheney: Leader of the Opposition
Legal Insurrection: Speech, Counter-Speech
Pundit & Pundette: Cheney’s KO of Obama
Jane Q. Republican: Popularity Contest: The Good News And The Bad News
Hot Air: Cheney: “In the fight against terrorism, there is no middle ground” and Video: Obama takes swipe at Iraq war — at Naval Academy commencement and Liz Cheney to Obama: Stop letting the polls shape your policy on terror
A Conservative Edge: Two Good Men, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney
Caffeinated Thoughts: Cheney vs. Obama: Dueling Speeches on National Security
Michelle Malkin: Most transparent administration ever adopts Bush visitor log policy and The jihadi virus in our jails and Sharia Watch: Facebook = haram! and Obama channels John Kerry and Supermax: No, we’re not ready, President Obama
Pirates! Man Your Women!: One of the Reasons That I Want Gitmo To Stay Open
NewsBusters: Olbermann Calls Dick Cheney ‘As Insane As Any Terrorist’
NewsBusters: Cheney More Popular Than Pelosi! Will Media Notice?
The Tygrrrr Express: Vice President Cheney Educates Young President Obama
Fire Andrea Mitchell!: Obama: Bush was wrong in seeking to prevent terrorist attacks – One of 28 “BLAME BUSH” remarks and How stupid or arrogant is Obama in regards to Gitmo detainees? “Supermax” Prisons can’t even handle them and Most transparent administration ever: Pentagon holding back report showing 1 in 7 freed Gitmo detainees returned to terrorism and Lets close gitmo! Only 61 of the previously held returned to terrorism!
GayPatriot: Does Dick Cheney Owe it All to Lynne?
The Lonely Conservative: Obama’s Ugly on Defense and Michael Steele: We Will Take on Obama
Cold Fury: President Recruiting O’Tool, Doing Bin Laden’s Job for Him
BeldarBlog: Supermax prisons’ no-escape record doesn’t answer concerns about moving Gitmo terrorists onto U.S. soil
Urbin Report: Barry gets it wrong again
Vocal Minority: DoD Report: More Released G’tmo Detainees Returning to Terrorism
Girl on the Right: What Is Torture?
Jim Blazsik: Actually, Mancow proves that waterboarding ISN’T torture
Peace and Freedom Promises: Obama: Get Used to The Truth, You Were Wrong On Biden, Gitmo, What Else? and White House: “It Was a Mistake” To Set Up Gitmo. Really?
Caffeinated Thoughts: Cheney vs. Obama: Dueling Speeches on National Security
Denver Post: Supermax too full for Guantanamo detainees
Neoavatrara: Terrorist Recividism

Categories: Freedom of Speech, Government, International Relations, National Security, Social and Political Climate, Videos, Audio Files
Tags: 9/11, al Qaeda, Al Qaida, al-Quaeda, Barack Obama, Bush administration, Cheney, CIA, debate, detainees, Dick Cheney, Gitmo, Guantanamo Bay, Harry Reid, New York City, New York Times, Obama, president, prison, speech, terrorism, terrorist, terrorists, torture, video, waterboarding