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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
4

Cheney, Obama Telling Same Lie About Bush: Brooks

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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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4 comments
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Derni
May 22, 09 8:38 AM CDT
And so the truth be spoken-and still people will believe what they want-sad Reply
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Reader79578566
May 22, 09 11:30 AM CDT
Charles Krauthammer says it best: The Obama three-step: (a) excoriate the Bush policy, (b) ostentatiously unveil cosmetic changes, (c) adopt the Bush policy. Reply
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-2
TerrifiedCitizen
May 22, 09 1:11 PM CDT
It's all so contorted and vague... just the way government likes it. You two (Obama-Cheney) can assert ot defend any way you want; just get it cleaned up and install checks and balances (apparently stronger than the constitution) that ensure a better tomorrow. Reply
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+3
SPH
May 22, 09 7:18 PM CDT
If you can not see the difference between the Chaney administration and the Obama administration, you are truly blind..... Reply
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