Think Progress

O’Reilly: Cheney Was ‘A Wise Guy’ And ‘Dismissed The Folks’ With His ‘So’ Remark

On March 19, the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, Vice President Cheney flatly told ABC News that he doesn’t care about the American public’s views on the war:

RADDATZ: Two-third of Americans say it’s not worth fighting.

CHENEY: So?

RADDATZ So? You don’t care what the American people think?

CHENEY: No. I think you cannot be blown off course by the fluctuations in the public opinion polls.

Last night on Fox News’s The O’Reilly Factor, former White House adviser Karl Rove defended Cheney’s comments. “The question was put to him, basically the implication, the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?” claimed Rove.

O’Reilly, however, disagreed with his fellow Fox News employee, calling Cheney’s response “a bad answer.” “I think Dick Cheney dismissed the folks with the ’so’ remark,” said O’Reilly. “You know, he was a wise guy, was he not?” Watch it:

[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2008/04/roveorechso4.320.240.flv]

Eighty-one percent of the American public believes that when making an “important decision,” government leaders “should pay attention to public opinion polls because this will help them get a sense of the public’s views.” (Although it’s unlikely Cheney or Rove would care about this finding either.)

Once again, Fox News never identified Rove as an adviser to the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Transcript:

O’REILLY: When that question was put to Dick Cheney a couple weeks ago by an ABC News correspondent, he said so? Wasn’t that a bad answer?

ROVE: No, I think it was a different question that was put to him. The question was put to him, basically the implication, the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?

O’REILLY: No, no, no. The question, Mr. Rove, with all due respect to you, was here’s the polls. 66 percent don’t like Iraq. What do you think and he went so. Look, I don’t want to debate the issue about that. I’m saying that was bad PR by Dick Cheney.

ROVE: Well, there may have been a better answer to it. But the fundamental implication to the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on the latest poll run by our news organization.

O’REILLY: No, I would say no.

ROVE: Yes.

O’REILLY: But I think you can’t just dismiss the folks.

ROVE: Oh, no. And that’s right. Abraham Lincoln said, you know.

O’REILLY: I think Dick Cheney dismissed the folks with the “so” remark. You know, he was a wise guy, was he not?

ROVE: Well, I think he was not dismissing the folks. What I think he was dismissing was the direct implication. I question what that — you ought to be making decisions based on –

O’REILLY: All right.

ROVE: My news organization’s poll, which is –

O’REILLY: We see that a bit differently.

ROVE: Yes, sir.



Featured Comment: misshusseinmolly Says: "Whoever thought I would agree with O’Reilly? He was correct in calling Rove on the “should leaders ever pay attention to the American people?” bit, but didn’t go far enough. Far from being a “wise guy”, Cheney was spinning to defend his treasonous actions by suggesting there were “fluctuations” in the polls and that Americans’ opinions should not factor into any decisions — when what he really meant was “I’m gonna use my power to do what I want, regardless of how it affects this country and the rest of the world.” And Rove was spinning to defend his old boss.

What O’Reilly should have done (but this would be expecting too much) was to ask Rove how Cheney could call opinions “fluctuating” when an overwhelming majority of Americans have said we are on the wrong track with Iraq for quite some time now. No fluctuation there."

60 Responses to “O’Reilly: Cheney Was ‘A Wise Guy’ And ‘Dismissed The Folks’ With His ‘So’ Remark”

  1. robertoroberto says:

    “never identified Rove as an adviser”

    To be fair, Fox News couldn’t indentify a circle in a room of squares.


  2. DieNowForPeace says:

    Parse as you may O’lielly, but the quote stands:

    RADDATZ So? You don’t care what the American people think?

    CHENEY: No.


  3. Zimzone says:

  4. MCMetal says:

    Last night on Fox News’s The O’Reilly Factor, former White House adviser Karl Rove defended Cheney’s comments. “The question was put to him, basically the implication, the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?” claimed Rove.

    Yeah Turd Blossom

    Because if anyone knows more than 2/3’s of the American people about the continuation of a misguided and illegal invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation , it has got to be a 5 deferrment chickenshit chickenhawk……………


  5. PatrioticLiberalChristian says:

    O’Reilly indicated that Cheney’s answer was a bad PR response and this implies that he believes the American people should not be dismissed because they might dismiss back through their vote. O’Reilly is suggesting he’s better at sleazy policy making and selling than Rove.

    Two half wits do not make a whole wit.


  6. pete says:

    Hi gang. Just a word of caution. The trolls seem to be raising the stakes and have been posting links to porn sites, and lord knows what. I urge you all to be careful about clicking suspicious links.

    Fight the good fight and have a great day.


  7. Uncle Ho says:

    81% of the American public believes that when making an “important decision”, government leaders should pay attention to public opinion polls…

    Cheney: So?

    that says it all-arrogance at a level never seen before. Utter contempt of the American people, its laws, institutions, courts, and human rights.


  8. Bluestocking says:

    *GASP*…what’s this?? Perhaps I need to make an appointment with either an eye doctor or a psychologist — because what I’ve just read can’t possibly be right. You mean that O’Reilly actually criticized a member of the Bush administration — and on the Fox News channel yet?? Did Hell freeze over or something when I wasn’t looking?

    Better watch your step there, Bill-O — Fox News doesn’t usually appear to have a great deal of tolerance for people who question, let alone criticize, the Bush administration…


  9. And Yet... says:

    These interchanges between Billo & Rove are pre-arranged & rehearsed.

    Joe & Jane Fixed News Viewer NEED this kind of interpretation of how they should understand what Cheney said, so they don’t think about it on their own too much.

    Now that Orally & KKKarl have hashed it out, it’s over, been dealt & passed.


  10. misshusseinmolly says:

    Whoever thought I would agree with O’Reilly? He was correct in calling Rove on the “should leaders ever pay attention to the American people?” bit, but didn’t go far enough. Far from being a “wise guy”, Cheney was spinning to defend his treasonous actions by suggesting there were “fluctuations” in the polls and that Americans’ opinions should not factor into any decisions — when what he really meant was “I’m gonna use my power to do what I want, regardless of how it affects this country and the rest of the world.” And Rove was spinning to defend his old boss.

    What O’Reilly should have done (but this would be expecting too much) was to ask Rove how Cheney could call opinions “fluctuating” when an overwhelming majority of Americans have said we are on the wrong track with Iraq for quite some time now. No fluctuation there.


  11. MCMetal says:

    Last night on Fox News’s The O’Reilly Factor, former White House adviser Karl Rove defended Cheney’s comments. “The question was put to him, basically the implication, the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?” claimed Rove.

    Yeah , you big turd ; because the Chimpy presidency has been nothing but a litany of stunning success after stunning success , right suckhole ?

    It’s not bad enough that you losers hired incompetent cronies who supported your idiotic positions/views ; you need ignore the will of the American people , and in a disrespectful , flippant manner ?

    Secret Service protection doesn’t last for infinity ……….


  12. EvilPoet says:

    …if you’re true to democracy, you’ll listen to the people, not to your own desires. If you’re true to democracy, you’ll do what the people want you to do. That’s the difference between democracy and a tyrant. -President Bush, Nov. 12, 2004


  13. robertoroberto says:

    i did a special comment on “so?” for SoulTv.net you can check it out there. My point on Fox News is that they’ve gone so far beyond satire, that they are satire of themselves. I implore all of you, as hard as it may be, to watch Megyn Kelly in the mornings with Bell Hemmer. It is comedic GENIUS!


  14. katy says:

    actually, i tend to think cheney’s remark has been misconstrued…
    by his tone and inflection, it sounds to me like there is a COMMA (pause) after the “no”, not a period… he is saying, “no, that’s not what i mean… what i mean is…” to raddatz’s question: “So? You don’t care what the American people think?” … he was trying for a cya…

    doesn’t matter though, as the “SO.” pretty much sums up the whole of bushco…
    that “so” was worth a million words…


  15. Dumb_Hussein_Fox says:

    ROVE: Well, there may have been a better answer to it.

    No, the answer was perfect. Dick, unplugged, told the country to go phuck itself. It was clear enough even to get Bildo’s attention.


  16. L. Hussein Annie says:

    You know, it’s so very kind of Billo to throw us “folks” an occasional bone.

    What a mensch, you know, standing up to Karl Rove like that – and for us “folks,” too!

    You just *know* that Billo really cares about us!!

    Wow. I feel so very special.

    Thank you, Bill, for standing up for us “folks.”

    Not.


  17. MCMetal says:

    ugottherightstuff Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
    Why is Obama now changing his stance on the Iraq issue? he plan’s on staying in Iraq for some years now!

    What does your imbecilic comment have to do with Turd Blossom laughably attempting to defend Dickhead Cheney , shitstain ?


  18. Marie says:

    A new feature for TP and misshusseinmolly’s comment launches it.
    She deserves acknowledgement for her insightful and intelligent comments.


  19. Del Capslock says:

    O’Reilly believes that the country is and should be run by an elite group of power brokers (white men), and fancies himself one of them. What he’s saying to Rove is that you can’t be quite that dismissive to the “folks” (i.e. the rabble who are not in power) as Cheney was; you have to at least pretend that what they think matters.


  20. hussein toasterhead says:

    MCMetal Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:10 am

    What does your imbecilic comment have to do with Turd Blossom laughably attempting to defend Dickhead Cheney , shitstain ?

    Not a thing. Trajan’s just here to post his barely-literate crap.

    A bit late today, too. Did you get stuck in traffic on your way to the RNC office, Trajan?


  21. impeachcheneythenbush says:

    Why is Obama now changing his stance on the Iraq issue? he plan’s on staying in Iraq for some years now!

    ugottherightstuff, previously known as therightstuff: post a link.


  22. katy says:

    it’s not about posting a link… it’s about derailing the thread…
    y’know?


  23. clb72 says:

    I am NOT taking Cheney’s side. I despise the man. But the oath he took was to protect and defend the Constitution, not to read public opinion polls. It’s his constitutional abuses that deserve the most criticism, including all the lies he has perpetrated before Congress and the American people in getting us into this disastrous war. If there is a good reason to go against popular opinion, where a leader is in a position to know better, I would want a leader who was brave enough to take the unpopular stand. Of course that isn’t what we have here.

    As for public opinion, let’s hope and pray that the 2/3 of Americans who think the war isn’t worth fighting elect Democrats in November who will get us out of it.


  24. MCMetal says:

    ugottherightstuff Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:22 am
    clb72 Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am

    well said! Obama nor Clinton will get us out of this war!

    And McStupid will get us into more ; starting with Iran.

    Is that better or more appealing ?


  25. 5th Estate says:

    A little deconstruction here:

    O’R: Wasn’t that a bad answer?

    O’R: No, no, no. The question, Mr. Rove [...] was here’s the polls. 66 percent don’t like Iraq. What do you think and he went “So?”. Look, I don’t want to debate the issue about that. I’m saying that was bad PR by Dick Cheney.

    So BillO’s complaint is with Cheney’s style rather than the substance of the response. BillO would prefer it if Cheney pretended to care rather than acutally care, about “the folks”–who BillO relies-on for his professinal success.

    Next….

    ROVE: “…the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?”

    ROVE: “But the fundamental implication to the question was; shouldn’t you be making decisions based on the latest poll run by our news organization?”

    O’R: “No, I would say no.”

    ROVE: “Yes.”

    O’R: “But I think you can’t just dismiss the folks.”

    Poor BillO! He NEEDS to support Cheney and agree with Rove, but he also needs to sypmathize with “the folks”. For a man who dispenses advice about right and wrong and issues so many declarative opinions that he insists are fair, truthful, sensible, intellectually robust and irrefutable–he’s screwed!
    The self-appointed champion of “the little guy” HAS to object to Cheney’s dismissal of “folks” BUT he can’t risk pissing-off ‘the big guys’, Rove and Cheney. So he plays to both sides and then meekly reduces the issue to a minor difference in perspective. SAVE!


  26. DanCaveman says:

    I must have missed the pigs flying this morning. Holy Crap!! I agree with Bill O? Who would have thought that he wouldn’t tow the administration line this time.

    Bill O, I would like to think you have turned a corner. I have not set my expectations high. Baby steps Bill O.


  27. MCMetal says:

    Ghost of 9/11 Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
    Karl,
    Who planted the explosives in the World Trade Center?

    The Lucky Charms leprechaun……………..


  28. DanCaveman says:

    If there is a good reason to go against popular opinion, where a leader is in a position to know better, I would want a leader who was brave enough to take the unpopular stand. Of course that isn’t what we have here.

    clb72 Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am

    Interesting point clb, but I disagree. People follow a true leader because they want to, not because they have to. A true leader gets the WILLING support of those he leads. Besides, he is not a Leader, the President is a chosen representative of the people.

    Now here is where I describe what I see is a gray area, and where I agree in part with you. A true leader would be brave enough to make an unpopular decision; however, he would already gained the trust of those he leads that he is competent and knows what he is doing. If you can’t convince those you represent that you are competent, and that you are working in their best interest, then you have no business making those decisions. This administration has no credibility and no trust. It is not surprising, but it is troubling that they have not concern for the will of those he supposedly represents.


  29. katy says:

    5th estate -
    BUT he can’t risk pissing-off ‘the big guys’, Rove and Cheney. So he plays to both sides and then meekly reduces the issue to a minor difference in perspective. SAVE!

    it’s all a show…


  30. tombaker says:

    rah-rah-rah Truman! rah-rah-rah.

    I see Billo and Turd are teaming up to guide mouthbreathing righties through the thought process.

    “gee, that sounds bad.

    yeah, but….

    oh – now i get it…”


  31. TheRadicalRightisRadicallyWrong says:

    Nice Work MissMolly!

    Thanks Pete! And Again PLEASE just Flag and Ignore. The freaks get off on the attention.

    Thanks.


  32. tokin librul says:

    Bill O chastizing KKKarl for arrogance?

    PRICELESS!


  33. Keith H. says:

    O’Reilly interviewing Rove.
    That’s fox news.
    I personally would welcome never hearing another word either one of them says.
    It’s funny how fox news itself, is always ‘in the news’.


  34. DanCaveman says:

    Ghost of 9/11 Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
    Karl,
    Who planted the explosives in the World Trade Center?

    Off topic; however, I see these on every post. Ghost of 9/11, while I understand your frustration, and your intent, your posts do not have much value. In fact, they probably detract from your cause.

    The fact is that proof that 9/11 was an inside job is flimsy at best. The video is not conclusive nor unexplainable. Now, although I wouldn’t be surprised if there was complicity or complacency on the Bush Administration’s part (that there is proof of), the inside job ranting only takes credibility away from the concrete proof of “high crimes and misdemeanors”. If we can get impeachment on the blatant violations of the constitution, e.g. torture, illegal wiretapping, illegal search and seizure, breaking international treaties ratified by congress…etc, then we may find out you are correct.

    In short, it is better to stay on topic and have real discussions, rather than continue to rant about the same thing on every thread. If a relevant thread comes up, then feel free to post, however, you make it difficult to make the case for all the KNOWN abuses by taking focus and putting on these hypothetical and flimsy arguments.

    By the way, I would be surprised if shock waves, or the weight of a skyscraper falling could have isolated effects on certain areas of the infrastructure. Windows were blowing out all over the city and cracks in foundations in building blocks away doesn’t mean there were explosives there.

    Again, you may be right, but this isn’t the forum, nor does it advance the cause of getting our country back.


  35. henry wallace says:

    Did McFOX mention that Rove works for McFOX, the WH, the Republican Party and that McFOX is a propaganda arm of the Republican Party and works for the WH and is a dues paying member of the Fascist Corporate Media? If McFOX didn’t mention these things then I guess it’s too bad for us and that makes liberals cry babies. PS..does McFOX turn in all the money spent campaigning against Dems as Republican campaign money? I guess this is ask stoopid questions day for me.


  36. GeeDubs says:

    So Rove is defending his old boss. So? Any person with a brain knows EXACTLY what Cheney meant, and nothing Rove can say or do will change that. Turd Blossom’s moniker gets more smelly by the day.


  37. texaslady says:

    Thank goodness for the Internet, more people are hearing how the elite of Washington think and feel about those paying their salaries. We aren’t as dumb as you think we are.


  38. texaslady says:

    We can only hope that the Don Seligman’s story will come out and Mr. Rove can spend time incarceration and not some glory Federal prison but the real prison.


  39. sunshineempire says:

    The Daily Show showed a clip of Cheney citing Iraqi public opinion a while back in making the point that we needed to continue in Iraq.


  40. Buckie Boy says:

    What? Falafel Bill shows some sort of ethics?

    This is new, the stalker pervert Bill O is never on the right side of any issue, how come now?

    Must of been the drugs or booze.


  41. nanlichi says:

    Thank you DanCaveman, that was well said.


  42. ralph the wonder llama says:

    robertoroberto Says:
    April 9th, 2008 at 10:34 am
    “never identified Rove as an adviser”

    To be fair, Fox News couldn’t indentify a circle in a room of squares.

    Oh, I disagree, robertoroberto. I think identifying a circle in a roomful of squares is precisely what Faux is good at. Of course, they then have to claim the circle is unamerican, a tool of the “far left” and may even want the terrorists to win.


  43. ThomasMc says:

    So?
    Who cares what O’Reilly thinks?


  44. The Shadow says:

    Bill O’rally is an idiot and he can’t stop putting his foot in his mouth. What kind of fool would stay it’s ok for the Vice President to openly dismiss the American people’s concern over a war? What O’rally, Cheney, Bush,Rove and most Republicans don’t understand is that old piece of paper the rest of us call, The Constitution of the United States. To foolish idiots like O’rally party idealogy trumps the Constitution. The only part they like about the Constitution is the part which gives the President power, the parts which limiit his power are useless to them. People like O’rally want absolute power. These people would have fit right into Hilter’s government or even Sadam’s for that matter. Why? Because people like them want power for the sake of power.


  45. ralph the wonder llama says:

    This segment makes it appear as though Billdo is still clinging to his delusion of himself as an “independent” and, more importantly, he recognizes that he has to make an effort to to maintain it. He can’t let KKKarl Rove skate on Cheney’s “So?”, but he’s not gonna push him too hard, either. Billdo didn’t exactly let Rove get away with redefining a reporter’s simple question, but he didn’t exactly call him on the carpet for it, either.


  46. Freedom Rebel says:

    The irony of Bill asking Karl Rove of all people “But I think you can’t just dismiss the folks.” And then Karl Rove is going to start quoting Abraham Lincoln. I’m glad Bill stopped him before he could finish the sentence.

    Rove not in this lifetime or the next is Dick Cheney going to do anything like Abraham Lincoln.. It doesn’t matter what Lincoln said. Dick is on a mission to make himself as wealthy as possible before January… End of quote. Don’t get in his way.


  47. Shayne says:

    O’Reilly and Rove were playing a game of “Good Cop/Bad Cop”. Remember the good cop is always part of the scam.


  48. TheRadicalRightisRadicallyWrong says:

    Dave at #36, Well said!


  49. thefrankfactor says:

    My Top Ten Responses to Dick’s ‘So’:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn5ghTXqRoE


  50. L. Hussein Annie says:

    FUX NEWTS = The Voice of American Crazy


  51. Daddy-O says:

    Remember when O’Reilly said that if there were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq, that he would never again trust the Bush administration?

    Sweet Jesus, I hate Bill O’Reilly. He is one of a select few human beings worthy of such hate. He earns it, every single day.


  52. rocknerd says:

    I really appreciate the featured comment. I noticed that Cheney said “fluctuations” and thought it was ridiculous. However, it seems to have been lost among other outrage. Sounds pretty standard.


  53. techsong says:

    Notice you never see Rove on a panel of any kind on Fox. Everything out of this guys mouth is a lie. Fox is somehow protecting this guy from any fact checking by keeping him off any situation where he can be debunked. O’Reily is 90% opinion so not much truth there to do any fact checking on Rove. I challenge Fox to put any liberal or Democrat opposite this liar in a debate or panel discussion of any kind.


  54. GeeDubs says:

    Oh, please techsong, why would they do that? The Turd would get creamed. The entire apparatus has been designed to SHIELD Old Rover from any scrutiny or responsibility.

    Speaking of responsibility, I was fascinated to see a clip of Hannity – a lot younger – talking about responsibility. Not that he nor any of the peeps in power actually adhere to that philosophy.


  55. sacopenapa says:

    My God!… these animals must J..off over Chenney’s, Bush’s, Hitler’s, Musollini’s, Franco’s and Pinochet’s picuters…


  56. sacopenapa says:

    Tell Cheeny to come out in public (and I really mean in Public) and repeat his dismissive comments. That is, if that war criminal have the gutts to do so. Usually people like that shit themselves stupid when face accountability. Some even cry!


  57. judyinnm says:

    “Bad PR” was O’Reilly’s point – not that Bush or Cheney should actually listen to the American people, he just shouldn’t have been so blase about it. So, there’s no conflict (on policy) between Karl & Bill; to both the opinion American people is irrelavent.


  58. tnrc75 says:

    Well I guess a stopped clock is right twice a day.


  59. batteries says:

    ROVE: “…the question was shouldn’t you be making decisions based on what the polls tell you?”

    ROVE: “But the fundamental implication to the question was; shouldn’t you be making decisions based on the latest poll run by our news organization?”

    O’R: “No, I would say no.”

    ROVE: “Yes.”

    O’R: “But I think you can’t just dismiss the folks.”

    Poor BillO! He NEEDS to support Cheney and agree with Rove, but he also needs to sypmathize with “the folks”. For a man who dispenses advice about right and wrong and issues so many declarative opinions that he insists are fair, truthful, sensible, intellectually robust and irrefutable–he’s screwed!
    The self-appointed champion of “the little guy” HAS to object to Cheney’s dismissal of “folks” BUT he can’t risk pissing-off ‘the big guys’, Rove toshiba satellite 5000 battery,toshiba portege a100 battery and Cheney. So he plays to both sides and then meekly reduces the issue to a minor difference in perspective. SAVE!


  60. youtube says:

    If only Condi saved her dressessohbet instead of cleaning them. But in today’s twisted America, I don’t believe anything would happen if George Bush was cetcaught in bed with a dead girl AND a live boy. And it all procedes with a cheeky grin and a sickening smugness that is as arrogant as it is insultingBedava mp3 indir.



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