Cheney: Obama Using Economy For Massive Government Expansion

Speaking truth to power, former Vice-President Dick Cheney indicated on CNN's State of the Union with host John King, that President Obama is using current economic conditions as a way to justify the largest expansion of federal authority in the history of the Republic. I worry very much that what is being done here is saying, 'We've got an economic crisis, therefore, we're justified in fundamentally remaking the health program in America, I don't think that's right., Mr. Cheney said. Mr. Chenney's remarks were carried by Politico.



Responding to Barack Obama's familiar story line that the Bush Administration was responsible for the current economic mess, the former Veep pushed back; I think there’s no question but what the economic circumstances that he inherited are difficult ones, We said that before we left. I don’t think you can blame the Bush administration for the creation of those circumstances. It’s a global financial problem.

We had, in fact, tried to deal with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac some years before, with major reforms that were blocked by Democrats on the Hill – [House Financial Services Chairman] Barney Frank and [Senate Banking Chairman] Chris Dodd. So I think the notion that you can just sort of throw it off on the prior administration – that’s interesting rhetoric, but I don’t think anybody really cares a lot about that. What they care about is what’s going to work, and how we’re going to get out of these difficulties.

Speaking of those Democrats on the Hill, here's Bill O'Reilly in a less civil exchange, screaming at Barney Frank for his role in the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac mortgage mess.