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Cheney, Obama Telling Same Lie About Bush: Brooks

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 22, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Barack Obama and Dick Cheney conspired to perpetuate the same myth yesterday, writes David Brooks of the New York Times. In their telling, we have seen a sharp break between Bush-Cheney terror policies and Obama-Biden ones. “This is a completely bogus distortion of history.” In reality, the policies Cheney’s defending were in place for maybe three years after 9/11. After that, over Cheney's objections, Bush cleaned up his act.

Obama didn’t stop waterboarding, the CIA did, starting in March 2003. Bush was taking the same steps to close Guantanamo that Obama is. “When Cheney lambastes the change in security policy, he’s not really attacking the Obama administration,” Brooks argues. “He’s attacking the Bush administration.” Obama, meanwhile, realizes that public perception matters. He’s lightly reformed Bush’s final, moderate policies, and made them look presentable. That's made us more secure, not less.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, Thursday, May 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
A wax figure of President Barack Obama is transported to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf after arriving by the USS Potomac in San Francisco, May 21, 2009.
A wax figure of President Barack Obama is transported to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf after arriving by the USS Potomac in San Francisco, May 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
President Barack Obama delivers an address on national security, terrorism, and the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison, May 21, 2009, at the National Archives in Washington.
President Barack Obama delivers an address on national security, terrorism, and the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison, May 21, 2009, at the National Archives in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Shots from Obama's and Cheney's speeches yesterday are seen in this combo image.
Shots from Obama's and Cheney's speeches yesterday are seen in this combo image.   (AP Photos/FILE)
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The inauguration of Barack Obama has simply not marked a dramatic shift in the substance of American anti-terror policy. It has marked a shift in the public credibility of that policy. - David Brooks

Obama admitted that some problems are tough and allow no easy solution. He treated Americans as adults, and will have won their respect. - David Brooks

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Derni
May 22, 2009 1:38 AM CDT
And so the truth be spoken-and still people will believe what they want-sad

Cheney and Obama agree on one thing
Boston Globe

Nothing new in Obama speech
Politico

 
Bush administration • Barack Obama • Dick Cheney • torture • Guantanamo Bay • waterboarding • David Brooks • Obama administration • enhanced interrogation techniques

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