October 05, 2004

A LOSING ATTACK:

Halliburton a likely topic in Cheney-Edwards debate: Running mates are seen as better articulators of their campaigns' themes (GEBE MARTINEZ, 10/05/04, Houston Chronicle)

One word likely will come up and define differences on domestic policy between the two major party vice-presidential candidates in their debate tonight: Halliburton.

The Houston-based energy services company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney has been accused of overcharging the Pentagon in its reconstruction and troop support in Iraq.

U.S. Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate and former trial lawyer, is expected to use Halliburton as Exhibit A to argue his case that President Bush's administration "squeezes the middle class while taking care of the powerful and well-connected," said Joe Lockhart, spokesman for the John Kerry-Edwards ticket.

But the Bush-Cheney campaign dares Edwards to try. Cheney, who gets deferred salary payments from Halliburton, "had nothing to do with the (Iraq) contract, has no conflict of interest issues" with the company and will eagerly bat down the charges, Cheney adviser Mary Matalin said.

Cheney is prepared to counter that Edwards has been reluctant "to do something about the medical liability crisis in this country," said Bush-Cheney campaign strategist Matthew Dowd. Those who blame high medical malpractice insurance rates on unfounded malpractice lawsuits criticize trial lawyers in the process.


Despite past ties to the oil industry the Bush administration has proposed a major revision of American energy policy, even down to shifting from a petroleum to a hydrogen economy. Only congressional Democrats have held it up. What bill on energy have Kerry Edwards proposed from their Senate seats?

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 5, 2004 01:40 PM
Comments

All Cheney needs to do when smacked about "HALLIBURTON!" is simply say that President Bill Clinton gave Halliburton $2.2 billion in contracts. And then ask Edwards if he plans to sue the US government about it.

Posted by: ratbert at October 5, 2004 02:17 PM

Cheney may not want to bring it up but I think about 40 Halliburton employees have been killed in Iraq, blunting Edwards war for oil talk.

Slightly OT but I think one of Bush's problems in his debate is that he doesn't like Kerry and thinks he's not worth the presidency and therefore got annoyed easily. Cheney probably feels the same way about Edwards and needs to be careful not to get too snappy with Edwards.

And yes pointing out that Senate Dems have blocked Bush's energy bill since 2001 wouldn't hurt either.

Posted by: AWW at October 5, 2004 02:20 PM

Edwards has a problem with his own personal finances: his avoidance of social security taxes on his income from his law practice.

Posted by: Steve at October 5, 2004 03:35 PM

Good point, Steve. He actually shifted about $26 million of his fees during the late 80s and early 90s to dividends, thereby avoiding not just millions in SS, but Medicare as well. To be fair, he did pay about $600,000 in SS & Medicare tax, but think of all the poor who were deprived by his callousness. Sounds like a personal Enron to me.

Posted by: jim hamlen at October 5, 2004 03:51 PM

Cheney should pull a Sen. Leahy on John Edwards.

Posted by: Hunter Ratliff at October 5, 2004 04:29 PM

I think any mention of 'big oil' would be an excellent point in the debate to bring up the fraud the UN perpetrated with regard to the oil-for-food program in Iraq in combination with senator Kerry's favorite allies.

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