Posted on 06/27/2004 9:44:32 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Majority Leader Bill Frist refused on Sunday to criticize Vice President Dick Cheney for cursing on the floor of the Senate in a confrontation with a Democratic senator.The Tennessee Republican indicated that Cheney's outburst at Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., can be attributed to political passions aroused by the election year. As vice president, Cheney acts as president of the Senate, although the majority leader has more authority over the body's operations.
On Tuesday, as Cheney and the senators gathered in the chamber for a photograph, Leahy struck up a conversation. Cheney challenged the senator about his frequent criticism of Halliburton Co., which Cheney formerly headed. In response, Leahy attacked the White House for not interceding when Leahy and other Democrats were portrayed as prejudiced against Roman Catholics for opposing one of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Cheney shot back an obscenity. He later confirmed to Fox News his use of the obscenity and said he felt better after saying it.
"It's a political season right now, where partisan feelings and emotions have come to the surface itself," Frist said when asked on CNN's "Late Edition" about the comment.
Despite that, he said, the Senate is doing its work well, avoiding gridlock that could result from a lineup of 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats and an independent. "We're delivering for the American people," Frist said.
"With regard to the vice president's comments, I did not hear the comments, did not witness the comments, but clearly they reflect a lot of that emotion," he said. "Without taking one side or the other, a lot of personal feelings are being expressed, and that emotion came out by the vice president, and I'll let the American people judge as to whether or not it was warranted."
Pressed whether he condones the use of such language in the Senate, Frist pointed out that the chamber was not in session at the time, "so I am not going to condone, I am not going to overly criticize the language that people in the -- the language that people use to express themselves."
On Saturday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush had no problem with his vice president's language. "It's not an issue with the president," McClellan said.
However, this was not said out in public, nor in a session of congress where C-Span would have covered it. In fact, none of us would have even heard about it if it wasn't for the whiny democRATs and their accomplices in the media.
Kerry, on the other hand said on a forum that was public. No problem, as far as the media is concerned. He's one of their own.
They were not in session. It was not recorded or on the public address system. So how are "the children" know the word. Besides, Clinton made the expression Oral Sex a daily expression. Get real.
Cheney could have expressed himself differently, but would Leahy have understood? At the very least, we know that Laehy understood the language Cheney used. Whether or not Leahy took the advice we can only guess.
The Senate was NOT in session. Cheney did NOT speak publicly or for public attribution. He was overheard and the Democrats passed on their whining complaints to the press.
Basically, Leahy has been speaking in public forums, as a Senator, and accusing Cheney publicly of treason and corruption. Then after unleashing more of these false and slanderous charges just the day before, he came over smiling to Cheney expecting him to smile back and ignore the insults as if they had never been spoken.
Cheney admittedly lost it, but who wouldn't in such circumstances? A guy accuses you loudly to the entire world of everything but murdering your wife, and then he comes over and expects a smile and a handshake. The man is a swine.
In contrast, Kerry DID use the F word publicly, in his role as a campaigner for the presidency, in a widely circulated magazine interview. He did so deliberately, not because he was angry but because he needed to adjust his political image in his race against Howard Dean.
Let's also step back a bit and ask, who has gone over the line of acceptable behavior and lied publicly and angrily about their opponents, the Democrats or the Republicans? The answer is obvious. The Democrats have done it on an almost daily basis, the Republicans only seldom, and then under pressure of intolerable insults.
As far as I have heard, he gave Leahy some specific direction and included in that direction was the expletive. The direction he gave Leahy is (typically) anatomically impossible.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Isn't Cheney allowed to voice his opinion and offer advice to others, even if the others don't want to take that advice or might be offended by it?
I will contribute another $500 to the Bush and Cheney
re-election campaign everytime an administration members drops the F-Bomb on another Dem! Promise!
Are you directing those comments to me?
I hope not. I have no problem with what Cheney did. And, I am gutterally offended with even the inference that I am somehow parroting a demoSCUM talking point.
For all those clowns in the press, I have a nice cup of haterade for them. "Now drink this and shut the f**k up."
If I'm not mistaken Leaky got his name because he announced to Bin Landen by way of the media, that our intell services could track bin laden and other AQ figures. Needless to say AQ changed their methods soon after that.
Kinda like Diane Feinsteins announcement that we know what kind of shoes the hillside strangler was wearing. Ramirez got rid of his old shoes and got some new ones.
Ya gotta love democrats.
Just read the other replies.
And the problem is??
In the 1800's, One senator nearly canned another to death on the senate floor.
Alexander Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr in a duel.
The f word is chump change to what he deserves.
With no NFL on yet, Some of us have entirely too much time on our hands. (Speaking for myself of course.)
I have things to do, I just don't wanna do them :)
Leahy, is a cuss word, even if it isn't a four letter word. His phonieness is only exceed by his pretentiousness. F--k you Leahy!!
I envy Cheney having the opportunity to tell him that nose to nose.
I mowed my grass today, nothin left to do but wait for the race this afternoon.
What Cheney did was understandable, but it wasn't right.
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