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Cheney Cusses Out Senator
The Vice President loses his cool and drops the "F" bomb on Senator Leahy
A spokesman for the Senator confirmed the brief but fierce exchange. "The vice president seemed to be taking personally the criticism that Senator Leahy and others have leveled against Halliburton's sole-source contracts in Iraq," Carle said. Lewis Libby, the Vice President's Chief of Staff, went further. "It was more than that," said Libby. "Leahy got on Dick's last nerve. He's always saying ‘Halliburton this' and ‘Halliburton that.' This is an election year and the less said about Halliburton and the fact that it's making profits hand over fist in Iraq the better." Lynne Cheney, the Vice President's wife, added that "Dick has a deep and profound love of Halliburton and to hear its work slandered on the senate floor has just torn him up. He's often said that Halliburton to him was like the straight daughter he never had."
The incident was captured by the cable network C-SPAN, which was airing the photo shoot live. Under new obscenity rules adopted by the FCC, the cable network could be fined for broadcasting the Vice President's outburst. FCC Chairman Michael Powell commented, however, that he was not sure the Vice President's off color remark was nearly offensive as the Janet Jackson boob incident. "Had he shown his bare breast," said Powell, "I think we'd seriously have to consider taking action." |
Three and one half years ago, President Bush promised to "change the tone in Washington." Last week, Vice President Dick Cheney did exactly that, angrily telling Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to "go f*ck himself" on the floor of the Senate.
The exchange took place as the Senators and Cheney, who as Vice President serves as the President of the Senate, were assembling for a group picture. Senator Leahy, who has been a vocal critic of the work performed by Cheney's former company Halliburton, thanks to a "no bid contract" awarded to it by the Army Corps of Engineers, found himself next to the Vice President. Leahy attempted to be cordial but the Vice President's forehead turned a dark shade of red, small fumes arose from both of his ears and he unloaded on Leahy.
The outburst was an uncharacteristic departure from traditional Senate decorum, where ideological debates typically remain civilized and Senate members remain cordial even when arguing opposing viewpoints.