Cheney Dismisses Critic With Obscenity
QUOTE
Clash With Leahy About Halliburton
By Helen Dewar and Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 25, 2004; Page A04
A brief argument between Vice President Cheney and a senior Democratic senator led Cheney to utter a big-time obscenity on the Senate floor this week.
....
On Tuesday, Cheney, serving in his ceremonial role as president of the Senate, appeared in the chamber for a photo session. A chance meeting with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, became an argument about Cheney's ties to Halliburton Co., an international energy services corporation, and President Bush's judicial nominees. The exchange ended when Cheney offered some crass advice.
\"f**k yourself,\" said the man who is a heartbeat from the presidency.
....
As it happens, the exchange occurred on the same day the Senate passed legislation described as the \"Defense of Decency Act\" by 99 to 1. [The sole vote in opposition was by Louisiana's John Breaux.]
....
This was not the first foray into French by Cheney and his boss. During the 2000 campaign, Bush pointed out a New York Times reporter to Cheney and said, without knowing the microphone was picking it up, \"major-league [expletive].\" Cheney's response -- \"Big Time\" -- has become his official presidential nickname.
Then there was that famous Talk magazine interview of Bush by Tucker Carlson in 1999, in which the future president repeatedly used the F-word.
....
The Democratic National Committee has declared this to be \"Halliburton Week\" to portray administration ties to the controversial company. \"Sounds like it's making somebody a little testy,\" Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton said.
....
By Helen Dewar and Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 25, 2004; Page A04
A brief argument between Vice President Cheney and a senior Democratic senator led Cheney to utter a big-time obscenity on the Senate floor this week.
....
On Tuesday, Cheney, serving in his ceremonial role as president of the Senate, appeared in the chamber for a photo session. A chance meeting with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, became an argument about Cheney's ties to Halliburton Co., an international energy services corporation, and President Bush's judicial nominees. The exchange ended when Cheney offered some crass advice.
\"f**k yourself,\" said the man who is a heartbeat from the presidency.
....
As it happens, the exchange occurred on the same day the Senate passed legislation described as the \"Defense of Decency Act\" by 99 to 1. [The sole vote in opposition was by Louisiana's John Breaux.]
....
This was not the first foray into French by Cheney and his boss. During the 2000 campaign, Bush pointed out a New York Times reporter to Cheney and said, without knowing the microphone was picking it up, \"major-league [expletive].\" Cheney's response -- \"Big Time\" -- has become his official presidential nickname.
Then there was that famous Talk magazine interview of Bush by Tucker Carlson in 1999, in which the future president repeatedly used the F-word.
....
The Democratic National Committee has declared this to be \"Halliburton Week\" to portray administration ties to the controversial company. \"Sounds like it's making somebody a little testy,\" Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton said.
....
