(CNN) – White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs took a slap at Dick Cheney Monday, likening the former vice president to controversial talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh.
The comments came at the White House daily briefing, during which Gibbs dismissed Cheney's statement Sunday on CNN that several of President Obama's policies had left the country less safe.
"Well, I guess Rush Limbaugh was busy, so they trotted out the next most popular member of the Republican cabal," he said. "I would say that the president has made quite clear that keeping the American people safe and secure is the job - is the most serious job that he has each and every day.”
On CNN's State of The Union with John King Sunday, Cheney defended the Bush administration's policies on the handling of enemy combatants.
"I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoy, of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11," he said. "I think it's a great success story. It was done legally, it was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles…"
Gibbs later dialed back his comments, after being asked by a reporter if the sarcasm was the official White House "sanctioned tone" toward the vice president.
Watch: Cheney questions Obama's policies
"Some times I ask forgiveness, rather than for permission," he said. "I hope my sarcasm didn't mask the seriousness of the answer…that for seven plus years the very perpetrators that the vice president says he's concerned about weren't brought to justice."
From CNN Politics
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You dems are more worried about the three high ranking Al-Qaeda leaders who were water boarded because it could cause long term depression and anxiety. And the government listening to phone calls of suspected terrorist. Probably afraid they will catch you dealing drugs!
Funny Obama had to keep a REPUBLICAN to be Sec of Defense because no Dems have the balls to handle it!
I honsetly wonder if, cheney has ever been in school before!!!
Cheney thinks by greating wars that shall definitely keeping the American people safe!!! I'm glad that the 8 years are gone bye bye cheney go screw up some where else!!
It is hard to believe that Dick Cheney and company is still in denial.
Just ignore him guys – He is no longer relevant.
chenney and bush were thee wrst thing that ever happend to the USA ever .. they ruined the constitution . and of course nothing has ever happened after 911 becaquse there was never anything before 911 also. they caused 911 and wat they did on that day and leading up to that day was wat caused it as our own government caused pearl harbor olso sinking of the lusitanna and also the starting of the viet nam war .. him and bisch are the true terrorist .. noone else ..pretty funny how we can find anything we want but we cant find who caused 911.lol its because they caused it and made it happen pretty sad wake up america.. pay attention to wats going on in the world and see wen it started and who started it ..
I'm stunned to see that there are defenders of Cheney still out there... mental disease abounds in this country if a single citizen lends any credence to the ludicrous, un-Christian and anti-American views Cheney and Bush spewed for 8 years. Pull your head out of your a$$.
Plan! Plus All Negatives. What a Plan. A Differerent Planet sounds more like it..
Can someone put a muzzle on Cheney? I mean, this man is nothing but the DEVIL. He blames everyone else while the blood of over 500+ soldiers are on his hands and he knows it!!
The fact that he threw a huge tantrum when Bush told him he wasn't going to pardon Scooter Libby, PROVED Cheney is the true DEVIL. He knows good and well Libby was doing his devilish deeds, that's why he's so pissed off at George W. Bush for not pardoning him. Cheney PROMISED Libby he would get a pardon and he DID NOT deliver on that promise, so Cheney is worried that Libby may turn on him if the situation becomes "beneficial" for him to do so.
Guys like Scooter Libby will sing like a canary when the price is right, and the money is going to get "right" very soon.
If you give folks enough rope they usually HANG themselves by their own admission. Dick Cheney has proven that he operated like a "dictator" while Vice President. He brought SHAME and DISGRACE to the White House and he's NEVER going to recover. Americans will NEVER let him forget the BLOOD STAINS ON HIS HANDS and SOUL.
GOD knows what Dick Cheney did and he's going to shine his judgement on it. You just wait and see.
I am a conservitive. I have had inough of this liberal sociealist administration. We needs reel leeders in this country. We needs Limbaugh and Palin in the whyte house. And Joe the plumber as secretary of Educateon.
"Take it from someone who had to draw food stamps under Jimmy Carter's reign just to feed my family when I was a soldier out their fighting for YOU!!!"
Josh
Josh, I hate to break it to you, but nothing changed under Bush/Cheney.
For the lady that has to switch channels when Gibbs comes on tv, well for 8 years I switched channels every time Bush, Chaney and every other Repug came on the tv. I had dead batteries every two weeks, but it was worth it.
Carol Oh.
Gibbs hasn't got a clue. Like most informed Americans I agree with Mr. Cheney. It's those who have never served in the armed forces or continued to be blinded by the Obama glitz that don't want to see reality. We are showing our weakness to the enemy.
I wish Dick would just go away. We have had enough of his type of politics! I guess fear is what this old man is now promoting. PLEASE Dick, we have had enough of you! You are a very angry man!
John Rochester---- There was no intelligence in the Clinton administration. Especially when it came to foreign policy.
This argument will only be settled over time. Bush / Cheney went to great lengths (some questionable) to protect us against Terror-Lamist that target mothers and their six year old daughters on flights from Boston to Disneyland. If Obama can keep us safe with less evasive measures, then a big congrats to him....and shame on Bush & Cheney. Time will tell which was the correct approach.
It kind of strikes me that Cheney is kind of sour grapes now that he had to leave Washington for the private sector and his party lost in November. He just always has this angry look about him.
Mr. Gibbs,
Please, the previous administration did many to justice....they killed them. I would much rather kill them overseas, than in you or my back yard. You should be grateful that your kids are safe.
Someone has to say the Truth.. Thanks go to Mr Cheney for his candid and honest comments… Wish there were more like him…
BTW, where would Mr obama be without his teleprompter and the fawning media? …Obama would be no more than an unknown extreme left wing agitator.
Look....the white house trying to divert attention again to private citizens. Can anyone tell me when this administration is actually going to get some work done?
I like GIbbs. His honesty and sarcasm is a breath of fresh air, especially after that lying, lowdown perino person. Gibbs is showing her how it should be done. Good job, Gibbs!
EVERYBODY, especially Democrats and members of the Obama administration need to STOP mentioning Rush Limbaugh NOW! Drop it. Stop giving that clown free advertising. He's in it for the money.
My God, I always thought Dee Dee Myers was the stupidest press secretary I've ever seen, but Robert Gibbs is an absolute fricking, giggling moron. Actually being the face of this Clueless Administration is quite appropriate.
Dick Cheney should be incarcerated down in Gitmo until we find out where he hid all the money he diverted from our National Treasury. His fat buddy Rush can be his cell mate until he's off drugs and learns to tell the truth (a very long time I'm sure).
brack obama is just b.o. March 16th, 2009 5:30 pm ET
just another article that shows that obama and his henchmen will not put up with dissenting views. If you don't agree, you are either partisan, stupid or follow Limbaugh.
I guess the dimocrats forgot what made this country strong.
No it's not handouts, high taxes, high spending, forcing jobs overseas, rewarding laziness. John Kennedy did not say, "ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you", and striving for tha american dream is not being supported by the government, and having opposing views is unamerican.
Sorry dimocrats. Those ideals are wrong. Obama is wrong.
Handouts....what do you call "no-Bid contracts", rewarding laziness...um hello, Mike Brown of FEMA and all the other cronies Bush appointed to the most important offices in the land. And as I recall the last administration was the one that loved to go out and question peoples patriotism. Typical Republican, it's ok for our party to do it.
We needs real leeders to leed this grate country. Limbaugh and Palin 2012. Joe the plumber for secratery of educateion. Let us conservitives take care of this nation.