Networks Offer Scant Coverage of Dick Cheney 'Blasting' Obama on Iraq

Former Vice President Dick Cheney co-authored a blistering op-ed, deriding Barack Obama's handling of Iraq. But you wouldn't know it from the network coverage. ABC's Good Morning America completely ignored Cheney speaking out. Yet, the program devoted three minutes to the deeply irrelevant story of jump suits and fanny packs making a comeback.

On NBC's Today, Savannah Guthrie managed a scant 13 seconds as she introduced a separate story. The co-host chided, "Well, as President Obama weighs his decision here, Dick and Liz Cheney are out with a new op-ed this morning blasting the Obama administration's positions during wartime." She noted that Cheney and daughter Liz slammed, "Rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many." CBS This Morning offered the most coverage fo the op-ed, 48 seconds. [See video below. MP3 audio here.]

Co-host Charlie Rose explained, "Former Vice President Dick Cheney says the new violence in Iraq threatens American security. He blames President Obama for abandoning Iraq." 

He then turned to former CIA director and Obama appointee Mike Morell for reaction. Morell equivocated, "But both administrations, the Bush administration and the Obama administration, I believe, made mistakes in Iraq. So there is plenty of blame to go around."

Yet, CBS This Morning didn't feel the need for balance when the show's hosts were blurbing Hillary Clinton's new book. On June 6, an excited Rose touted, "It is a portrait of doggedness." 

Transcripts from both shows can be found below: 

Today

7:09 AM  

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, as President Obama weighs his decision here, Dick and Liz Cheney are out with a new op-ed this morning blasting the Obama administration's positions during wartime, saying, quote, "Rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many."

 

CBS This Morning 

8:02AM 

CHARLIE ROSE: Former Vice President Dick Cheney says the new violence in Iraq threatens American security. He blames President Obama for abandoning Iraq. In an op-ed article with his daughter Liz, Cheney writes, quote, "Rarely has a U.S. president been wrong about so much at the expense of so many." We asked former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell for his reaction this morning. 

MIKE MORELL (CBS Senior Security Contributor): So, I read the op-ed this morning and I had two reactions. One reaction was the Vice President is absolutely right that our national security is at risk. But both administrations, the Bush administration and the Obama administration, I believe, made mistakes in Iraq. So there is plenty of blame to go around. 

ROSE: Cheney was vice president when the United States invaded Iraq 11 years ago.