April 23rd, 2010
02:41 PM ET
13 years ago

Cheney reflects on 'f**k' yourself comment

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/22/art.cheneycpac0222.gi.jpg caption="Former Vice President Dick Cheney told Dennis Miller Thursday that telling Sen. Patrick Leahy to ‘f**k’ himself was ‘sort of the best thing I ever did.’"](CNN) – Democrats were gleeful in 2004 when former Vice President Dick Cheney on the Senate floor told a senior lawmaker to "f**k" himself – a gesture, they thought, that was emblematic of Cheney's hard-heartedness.

Six years later, Cheney is looking back on that moment with pride.

"You'd be surprised how many people liked that," Cheney told conservative comedian and radio host Dennis Miller Thursday. "That's sort of the best thing I ever did."

Audio of the comments were posted on the liberal Web site Think Progress.

Cheney aimed the choice words at Sen. Patrick Leahy, now the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in June 2004. Cheney was upset with Leahy's criticism of Iraq contracting deals that the Bush administration had awarded to Halliburton, the company Cheney used to head.

Senate rules prohibit senators from using "unbecoming" language on the Senate floor when the body is in session, but makes no mention of whether the vice president is permitted to make foul remarks.


Filed under: Dick Cheney • Patrick Leahy
soundoff (251 Responses)
  1. Rickster

    i would pay good money if cheney went back to that undisclosed location of his and just shut up. i'd pay even more if he took that daughter of his with him.

    April 23, 2010 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |
  2. d

    Probably is the best thing he's ever done, but that's not saying much.

    (Note: I don't care what kind of language our elected officials use. They're adults, and it's just a word.)

    April 23, 2010 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |
  3. victim of democrat hypocrisy

    Why are democrats hypocrites? Because they think it was wrong for the last VP to use the F-word, but OK for the current one to use it.

    April 23, 2010 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |
  4. E-Socrates

    Dick Cheney... he will be remembered as the one that sent 4,600 young soldiers to die meanwhile Halliburton was making huge profits at the expense of those young soldiers.. So that is the best thing he did.. What an arrogant parasite this man is.. He reminds me of Hitler.. and when die dies.. I hope even the worms are going to despise him,... typical arrogant, self righteous conservative hypocrite and I bet he claims that he believes in God... And at this moment I am sure he is enjoying the bonuses Halliburton is depositing in his account meanwhile 36,000 young soldiers are emotionally and physically suffering.. Ohh how I despise this evil man.... and if I would see him face to face.. I wouldn't give him to "f... himself.." I would tell him that humanity is embarrassed to have him as a human being...

    April 23, 2010 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |
  5. alicia

    Who cares? Why is this news?

    Biden is no better at using the same language, get over it!

    April 23, 2010 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |
  6. Bob Archer

    Attaboy, Dick. You're as classy as ever. Way to bring dignity and strong moral values to the VP's chair. Too bad you don't see the irony in your statement "that's sort of the best thing I ever did." Couldn't have said it better myself.

    And how about that Dennis Miller? The most unfunny person ever on SNL (even worse than Victoria Jackson, his soul mate), he wallows in the paranoia and delusional thinking so characteristic of the fringe far-right. That poor sad sack's head exploded on 9/11 and he still hasn't recovered his bearings.

    April 23, 2010 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |
  7. Marla Heller

    I also can't think of anything better he has done. Cheney set the bar VERY low.

    April 23, 2010 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |
  8. keeth in California

    "That's sort of the best thing I ever did."

    I agree, cuz you sure left this country in a mess after leaving office.

    April 23, 2010 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  9. exrepublican

    If you have a twisted sick mind like Cheney then yes obsene speech would seem great. I thank God the man is gone.

    April 23, 2010 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  10. Patriot

    Darth Cheney....pure statesman....

    April 23, 2010 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  11. mach4

    Dick is like a bad rash that just wont't go away.
    He looks evil, thinks evil, breathes evil, walks and talks evil.

    April 23, 2010 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  12. Bob

    I'm not surprised Cheney doesn't regret using fthe "f" word on the floor of the senate. He has no regard for the rules of public discourse just as he has no regard for the consttution.

    April 23, 2010 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |
  13. craig

    I have little use for Dick Cheney, but in this case he just might be right. However, it's a bit sad if, after serving as Vice President for 8 years, that's the best thing you did. Hey, he said it, I'm just agreeing with him. That might be a first.

    April 23, 2010 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |
  14. McCluhan

    Why is Cheney defending South Park? Didn't we go to war to defend our freedoms? I wanna here what Dick has to say about letting the terrorists win!

    April 23, 2010 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |
  15. Darlene

    He is right .....out of the eight years he was in office "That's sort of the best thing he did...CAUSE THE REST SUCKED!!!!

    April 23, 2010 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |
  16. Gil

    Only an ignornat, militarist, right wing nut case could be proud of his lack of intelligence. Bimbo time. Little wonder he supports palin the Pathetic!

    April 23, 2010 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |
  17. Annetmay

    I really think Cheney has lost it. I don't think he has heart problems. I think he has mental problems.

    April 23, 2010 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |
  18. John

    Of course its the best thing, bc you're an idiot and people know how retarded you are.

    April 23, 2010 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |
  19. portland or

    cheney is nothing but a filthy sociopath. it's really cute that cnn is even giving air time to this war profiteer and criminal.

    April 23, 2010 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |
  20. Carol

    It amazes me that Cheney is so proud of that moment. "That's sort of the best thing I ever did." If you could only be remembered for one thing as vice-prez would you really want that to be the thing you were remembered for? I think he really lowered the bar for respectful discussion and dignity in discourse in Washington D.C. The thinking became it was okay v.p. Cheney said that so now anything goes. so very sad, what we have lowered ourselves to and have become. simple civility, gone, gone, gone.

    April 23, 2010 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |
  21. VegasRouleur

    What a class guy.

    April 23, 2010 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |
  22. Michael

    Says a lot about you Mr. Cheney if that is "...the best thing I ever did." It is simply unbelievable that you are not in jail right now.

    April 23, 2010 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
  23. gino

    Nobody's perfect but Cheney comes very close to being a complete jerk.

    April 23, 2010 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
  24. ed

    He was always was a class act. Who really cares what he has to say anymore. Thank god he is no longer in power.

    April 23, 2010 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
  25. cheney=jerk

    Cheney is a complete jerk, why are people still giving this idiot any air time. He should just go find some WMDs!

    April 23, 2010 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |
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