Cheney echoes Bob Dole: McClellan a “miserable creature”

Vice President Dick Cheney criticized the press at the National Press Club when referring to the Pulitzer Prize won by the New York Times for a piece that divulged information pertaining to US security, an action that he deemed was “less than honorable.” When asked, Cheney said that the most difficult part of his jobs involves the press since his role as an adviser necessitates an ability to keep important information secret.

Cheney said that the surge of forces in Iraq has been “enormously successful” and added that no terror attack on the United States in seven years can be attributed to the United States’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vice president stated that a successful president must make unpopular decisions, comparing President George W. Bush’s actions to the difficult choices made by President Lincoln during the Civil War. Cheney said that invading Iraq and Afghanistan will be viewed positively in ten to fifteen years and that the suggestion that the Bush administration acted rashly is false.

Cheney said that oil prices would be a factor in the upcoming presidential elections. He said that the “era of oil” is not ending and that the United States needs to do more to increase domestic production of petroleum. Cheney criticized those who try to limit domestic production and added that a repeal of federal gas taxes would do little to alleviate high prices if supply is not increased. Cheney added that Senators John McCain and Barack Obama will make strategic decisions when choosing a running mate, ignoring the status of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

When prompted to comment on the release of a book by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, the vice president laughed quietly and said that former Sen. Bob Dole’s (R-Kan.) condemnation of McClellan as a “miserable creature” was accurate. In addition, Cheney revealed that he is an eighth cousin Barack Obama and said he would not be opposed to a family reunion. When discussing his family’s history, Vice President Cheney said that he is descended from two different Cheney families and emphasized that his family was never from West Virginia, a comment that surprised the audience.

Bob Dole searches for facts on health care for wounded veterans

Former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) addressed the National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon Program on changes being made to improve care for wounded veterans. He said he is now involved in Honor Flights, a program to show World War II veterans the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors. He said President Bush accepted some of the blame for the young men and women coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq with serious injuries, and told the commission to do “whatever it takes” to make veteran health care better.

Dole said the commission had one purpose: to address the real problems for care for wounded veterans. He said the commission went all over the country, visiting hospitals and looking for facts. Some of the recommendations he said the commission made were for care coordinators to follow patients all the way through their care, and adding quality-of-life and transition payments in addition to loss of wages payments. He said the additional payments are getting resistance from veteran organizations, and that if they won’t sign off on it, it won’t go anywhere.

Dole said a new National Center of Excellence for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury has been earmarked in Congress. He said this program will cost a couple of billion dollars, but that amount is “cheap compared to the cost in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Dole also commented on the upcoming election. He said it is very important for candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to release his medical records, and that it is too early for him to pick a running mate. He suggests picking a vice president who is outside politics, understands government, and has a good reputation. He joked that if McCain is worried about the age issue, he’ll serve with him.