(Thumbnail image: The White House)
For Vice President Joe Biden and his predecessor Dick Cheney--it was a war of words about the war on terror. On separate Sunday talk shows, the pair challenged each other on policies to combat terrorism, and many in the media are taking sides.
We’re looking at NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and FOX News.
First, let's see what all the fuss is about. Mr. Biden appeared on both NBC and CBS, and Mr. Cheney on ABC's This Week.
BIDEN: “We’re pursuing that war with a vigor like it’s never been seen before. … We’ve sent them underground. They are in fact not able to do anything remotely like they were in the past.”
CHENEY: “If you’re really serious and you believe this is a war and you believe the greatest threat is a 9/11 with nukes, or a 9/11 with a biological agent of some kind-- Then you have to consider it as a war.”
CNN’s Ed Henry says the White House welcomes the debate because the Obama administration is confident in its strategy.
“Certainly Joe Biden made his point. And I think that the White House believes that it’s sort of a caricature Dick Cheney is laying out there about being weak on national security. They look at the offensive going on in southern Afghanistan, for example, right now- and they believe this president is taking the fight directly to terrorists.”
On MSNBC, Richard Wolffe suggests the White House should be confident for another reason: Mr. Cheney’s outspoken criticisms have made him a fringe voice.
“They’re very happy. They’re very happy with his contrast. Otherwise they wouldn’t have put Joe Biden up there in the first place because the White House feels that anytime they are in a debate with one of the least popular men in politics they come out looking better.”
FOX News’ Joe Trippi adds-- although it took a while, the White House has figured out how to handle the former Vice President.
FOX News: “It didn’t work to ignore him. It didn’t work to have the president slap him down. It sort of lowered the president. I think Biden really put him in his place today. Frankly, I think he got the better of Dick Cheney.”
But a commentator on ABC says it’s Cheney that’s winning.
ABC News: “That’s because Dick Cheney is winning the argument. His critiques, if you listen over the last year, on this administration, on Guantanamo, on civilian trials, on interrogations they’re prevailing.”
So, who do you think is winning this battle? Is Cheney right or wrong to criticize the current administration?
Writer: Chelsea Donohoe
Producer: Adam Falk
