Posted on 10/05/2004 6:53:04 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
CLEVELAND (AP) -- In a debate at close quarters, Democratic Sen. John Edwards bluntly accused Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday night of "not being straight with the American people" when it comes to Iraq.
"I'm confident that in fact we'll get the job done," insisted the vice president, who said reconstruction efforts are continuing and elections are scheduled for January. He said it is essential to view the war in Iraq as part of a global war on terror.
The 90-minute debate format encouraged give-and-take, and both men went at it eagerly.
Cheney noted that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry had opposed the first Persian Gulf War, and said it was "part of a consistent pattern over time of always being on the wrong side of the fence."
Edwards said Cheney had previously suggested ties between the terrorists responsible for the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"You've gone around the country suggesting that there is some connection. There is not," he said.
Cheney, 63, and Edwards, 51, sat a few feet apart around a semicircular table on a stage at Case Western Reserve University. Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator for the evening, faced them.
It was the only debate of the campaign for Cheney and his Democratic opponent.
Kerry and Bush debated for 90 minutes last week in an encounter widely viewed as a victory for the Democratic challenger. The four-term Massachusetts senator has gained ground in the polls in the days since, narrowing the gap with the president in some nationwide surveys and moving into a statistical tie in others.
Bush and Kerry will debate twice more, on Friday in St. Louis and Oct. 13 in Arizona.
In a reprise of comments Kerry made in last week's debate, Edwards said the United States has paid 90 percent of the costs and suffered 90 percent of the casualties in the war in Iraq.
The figure is "dead wrong," Cheney replied, adding that the Iraqi security forces have suffered almost 50 percent of the casualties. "Your facts are just wrong," he said - again, for emphasis.
Edwards also accused the Bush administration of the "height of hypocrisy," saying it had sent troops into war without sufficient body armor and by lobbying to cut their pay.
"It's hard to know where to start, there's so many inaccuracies there," Cheney said.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
So much for the AP. The debate is still in progress and they are reporting like it's over.
Cheney made Edwards go out to the peach tree and pick out the switch Cheney's beating him with now....
Edwards' mic is a lot higher up on his tie, above his jacket. They put Cheney's mic in a place where it keeps getting muffled by his jacket.
Even dragged Mandela into it...
I wish Cheney would take off the damn gloves. IMO he's performing slightly better than Dubya did the other night.
And I'm listenting to VP Cheney take the Silky Pony to the Glue Factory.
Look how far down the story it took for them to qoute Cheney... Bias???
This little Edwards boy LITERALLY talks out of the side of his mouth.
AND...this is like watching a bad boy talking back to his teacher...looks as foolish as he is.
This little Edwards boy LITERALLY talks out of the side of his mouth.
AND...this is like watching a bad boy talking back to his teacher...looks as foolish as he is.
Seems like Edwards is allowed to run on and on forever, but they tried to hold Cheney to 30 second responses.
If I hear Edwards say "john Kerry and I have a plan..." one more time, I will scream!!
Ha...the little lawyer-bully says that there ARE too many lawyer-bullies, and he and kerry have a plan to take care of them.
snicker...snicker...snicker...
Dick is so kicking the silky boys butt.
It's Gandolf vs. Robin
Dick is so kicking the silky boys butt.
It's Gandolf vs. Robin
Why are they reporting in the past tense, the blasted debate is still in process.
Edwards is a Wus Jr. He's supposed to be this brillian attorney who made bundles of money as a trial lawyer, he has no creativity whatsoever, he isn't bringing anything new to the table. He's simply repeating what Kerry said in the Presidential debate.
Cheney with his laid back demeanor is doing extremely well.
I think the VEEP is doing a great job. Much better that just "slightly" better that The Prez did Thursday night. I'm sure that President Bush and his handlers are taking notes tonight knowing that these same subjects will come up Friday night and they can be adequately prepared.
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