By Judy L. Randall

From SILive.com | Original Article

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In a series of verbal slaps and put-downs, former Vice President Dick Cheney repeatedly criticized President Obama during an appearance on Staten Island Monday night, portraying him as an inexperienced chief executive more concerned with his re-election campaign than fighting the war on terror and creating jobs.

He thumped Obama for a "rush to the exits" in Iraq and charged that the president's September 2012 deadline for pulling out of Afghanistan "coincides with the political schedule," rather than keeping the region safe from Iran looking to fill the "vacuum."

Cheney also said Obama should sign off on the Keystone XL Pipeline that would move synthetic crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to Texas through refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma. He said the pipeline "has been studied," is "ready to go" and would create an estimated 20,000 jobs.

He called the current administration "foolish" for not doing so, predicting the pipeline will go through British Columbia instead with Chinese investment, "and we'll have sat here sucking our thumbs," rather than trying to achieve "energy security ... instead of the kind of idiocy we have seen in the White House."

Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimoAbout eight protesters gathered outside the Hilton Garden Inn during the Cheney event. Their signs expressed their displeasure with the Bush-Cheney years and the idea that the former veep is a "war criminal."

The pipeline is opposed by environmentalists, and Obama has deferred a decision until 2013.

Cheney made his remarks during what was billed as an "interview" with his daughter Liz Cheney at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bloomfield, to promote his book, "In My Time," and raise money for the borough GOP.

About 250 of the Staten Island Republican Party faithful attended the hour-long program. Tickets ranged from $100 to $500 and the event was estimated to have raised between $35,000 and $40,000 for local coffers, said Bob Scamardella, the GOP's chairman.

During a brief question-and-answer period, Cheney said that while he has yet to make an endorsement among the Republicans running for the White House, all were "a lot more qualified than Barack Obama was when he ran a couple of years ago." He said he will not endorse until he's finished with his book tour.

Mocking Obama's experience prior to running for the White House, Cheney said that when Obama was elected a U.S. senator, he, as vice president "swore him in, then he disappeared, then he's running for president."

Also during the Q&A, Cheney touted the "long-term economic growth" principles of the Reagan era of cutting taxes and encouraging savings and investments, but did not mention economic policies of the Bush-Cheney years.

Rather, Cheney called Obama's economic "track record pretty dismal," saying the president's stimulus package amounted to "nothing" and that he had done "nothing" about the nation's long-term debt.

He also called "Obamacare," the president's health care program, full of "regulatory burdens."

In a humorous and reflective discussion of his book that held his audience rapt, Cheney recalled his early days in Washington, his ascent to the highest positions of power, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the Bush administration's response. He hailed "the heroism of folks here in New York, the fire, rescue and police" who dealt with the "terrible tragedy."

The attendees liked what they heard.

Tom Backis of Dongan Hills called Cheney a "great American, steadfast in his belief in the need to defend our country and the right way to go about it."

And Emily Malfi of Silver Lake said she "loved everything" about the former VP.

Among the Republican notables in attendance were former Borough President Guy Molinari, Assembly members Lou Tobacco and Nicole Malliotakis and City Councilman Vincent Ignizio.

Grasmere artist Scott LoBaido presented Cheney with a portrait as a gift from the GOP.

Eight local Occupy Wall Street protesters stationed themselves at the front doors of the Hilton holding signs calling Cheney a "war criminal" for the Bush administration's actions post-Sept. 11, including waterboarding. Cheney and his daughter entered and exited through a side entrance.

Through an intermediary, Cheney declined an interview with the Advance prior to the program.