President Obama issued a quick criticism about former Dick Cheney earlier this week, telling Democratic senators worried about administration secrecy over drone usage not to worry — he’s not like the former vice president.
“This is not Dick Cheney we’re talking about here,” Mr. Obama was quoted as saying by two Democratic senators who requested anonymity and who attended the private meeting, Politico reported.
The president’s comments came in this context: Sen. Jay Rockefeller confronted the president during a closed-door session with senators on Tuesday about the failure of the White House to release documents about drone policy. Specifically, Politico reported, Mr. Rockefeller wanted memos from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel that clarified the use of drones to kill Americans overseas who were identified as terror suspects.
Mr. Obama told Mr. Rockefeller he doesn’t draft those memos — but not to worry. His administration is a far cry from President George W. Bush’s, Politico reported.
Mr. Bush’s and Mr. Cheney’s secrecy was much worse, Mr. Obama suggested, in the Politico report.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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