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VP Cheney Apologizes for West Virginia Incest Joke
June 03, 2008 10:27 AM
"The Vice President's offhand comment was not meant to hurt anyone," Lee Anne McBride, the spokeswoman for Vice President Dick Cheney, told the Washington Post. "On reflection, he concluded that it was an inappropriate attempt at humor that he should not have made. The Vice President apologizes to the people of West Virginia for the inappropriate remark."
McBride was referring to a joke the Vice President made yesterday at a public forum, when he mentioned how he and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, were distant cousins. The Second Lady, Lynne Cheney, found the connection through Cheney's maternal grandmother who also had a Cheney in her ancestry.
“So we had Cheneys on both sides of the family — and we don’t even live in West Virginia,” the vice president said to laughter. “You can say these things when you’re not running for re-election.”
The fall out:
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV: "This is exactly the type of stereotyping that we don't need from our elected officials. It's disrespectful, and it's certainly not funny. The Vice President should know better than to make a remark like this one. We all work hard to further West Virginia's good name, only to have comments like this tarnish it. As a proud state, I can say we are disappointed."
Gov. Joe Manchin, D-WV: "I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state for that matter. West Virginia is home to some of the most patriotic people in the nation and our sons and daughters have answered the call to duty every time a president has needed their service. They deserve better from the vice president, and so I would simply ask for his apology."
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV: "That a man who has ascended to the seat of vice president of the United States would openly display such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen is an insult to all Americans. Now that he or the administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia."
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV: "West Virginians are the hardest working, most decent people I know. Anyone who spends time with them gets it. The Vice President should be more careful about cheap shots aimed at the very people who elected him."
- jpt
June 3, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (30)
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I am from Wyoming and I feel so sad that Mr. Cheney behaved this way. I am so sorry for all of you that have been marginalized, stereotyped and esssentialized with his remarks. It was uncalled for-very sad that we think we can dehumanize people to boost our ego! This is why I am voting for Obama. That old school of politics in the Dem/Republic arena have always been mean and nasty with their politics. (BUSH AND CLINTONS) TIME FOR CHANGE-GRACE INTEGRITY-DIGNITY-AND HOPE GO OBAMA 2008
Posted by: Sophia Beck | Jun 3, 2008 11:14:23 AM
What do you expect from guy that took 5 deferments to stay out of the war, yet wants out young men to die for a war that shouldn't have been started? 7 months of this idiot left to go....
Posted by: pt | Jun 3, 2008 11:13:22 AM
But it is so True about W. VA
Posted by: jake | Jun 3, 2008 11:11:33 AM
Cheney has a history of deferring.
Posted by: newz4i | Jun 3, 2008 11:05:12 AM
His spokeswoman apologized. Cheney doesn't apologize.
W. Virginia has some p.r. work to do.
Posted by: Ryan | Jun 3, 2008 11:02:03 AM
Mr Cheney should have made that apology himself. To go through a "spokesperson" was less than gracious.
Posted by: Katherine | Jun 3, 2008 11:01:02 AM
Breaking news: Obama cousin Cheney insulting West Virginia!!! Isn't enough proof Obama is elitist and arrogant?
Posted by: David | Jun 3, 2008 11:00:25 AM
Typical of the Bush/Cheney/Republican era.
They brought us lies about Iraq and cost over 4000 American lives.
Even McCain claimed troop levels were below the surge levels. When he was told he was wrong, he ridiculed the person. When more people pointed out McCain was wrong, the Republican response was to say it's a technicality and that if we wait another 4 months, McCain will be correct.
Bush and Cheney will make sure the troop levels are down prior to the election. Just like Bush/Cheney had Iraq military leaders say things were going well back in 2004 (summer before the election).
Posted by: Debbie | Jun 3, 2008 11:00:15 AM
It is unacceptable that he would make such a comment publically, yet apologize through his spokesperson....COWARD!
Posted by: Randy Morgan | Jun 3, 2008 10:59:14 AM
Why would he care now he is on his way out. why would he care about what the american people want. they dont even care about the popular vote. it has always been about which politician had the most money to buy them selves an elcetion
Posted by: maryjanehell | Jun 3, 2008 10:48:36 AM
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