Democrats Join Forces With Dick Cheney

On Sunday, Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND) called out the glaring hypocrisy of Democrats regarding their sudden praise for former Vice President Dick Cheney. For decades, Cheney had been a target of intense criticism from the Left, who vilified him as a “genocidal war criminal.” Yet, as Burgum pointed out during an appearance on Meet the Press, this criticism seems to have evaporated overnight now that Cheney has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Burgum’s comments came just before Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a known critic of Cheney, was slated to join the show. Burgum quipped, “Maybe Cheney will join Sanders on the campaign trail. This seems to be the season for unexpected alliances.”

Cheney’s endorsement of Harris, which he announced on Friday, is a striking move considering his previous controversial legacy. Cheney, a key figure in the Bush administration, supported the initiation of the Iraq War in response to the 9/11 attacks. This war, based on flawed intelligence, resulted in significant loss of life and financial cost to the U.S., a fact that has long fueled criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.

Sanders has been a vocal critic of Cheney, condemning him as recently as 2019 for misleading the public about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and leading the country into what he described as a “horrific war.” When asked about Cheney’s recent support for Harris and his daughter Liz Cheney’s (R-WY) endorsement of her, Sanders offered a nuanced response. While he acknowledged the Cheneys’ “courage in defending democracy,” he made it clear that their political differences are vast. Sanders noted, “On all the issues, we have very different points of view,” but emphasized a shared belief in upholding democratic principles.

The dramatic shift in the political landscape and the surprising endorsements highlight the complex and often unpredictable nature of modern American politics.