Former Vice President Dick Cheney made clear he's not a fan of some of Gov. Rick Perry's more controversial positions in an interview airing tonight on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.
Speaking to reporter Jonathon Karl, Cheney described as "over the top" Perry's recent remark that he would treat Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke "pretty ugly down in Texas."
"I disagree with him," Cheney said. "Obviously he’s just getting started on the campaign. I’m not sure if he were to get elected he’d want to use that kind of language on the Fed Chairman.
"It's very important to respect the independence of the Fed," Cheney said.
Cheney added that he doesn't agree with Perry's assertion that Bernanke's recent role in managing US monetary policy as playing "politics." Bernanke was originally appointed to the Federal Reserve by President George W. Bush in 2006.
"I'd be surprised if we hear Gov. Perry make that charge again," Cheney said.
Cheney also affirmed he doesn't belive Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, contradicting a comparison Perry made in his book last year and has recently repeated on the campaign trail. (Earlier today, political strategist Karl Rove said Perry's social security views as "toxic" and his "biggest challenge" in the presidential campaign.)
"Let’s see what Rick Perry does as he develops through this process. I certainly don’t believe it’s a Ponzi scheme," Cheney said. "It's a program that a great many people depend upon.
"I think it’s a very important program, we do in fact want to preserve it for future generations but we've got a lot of work to do on Social Security and other entitlement programs like Medicare."
Here's video of Cheney's remarks:
-Aman Batheja
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