Video: 'Cheney vs. Edwards: The 2004 vice presidential debate'

(Tuesday, October 5, 2004, 9:00-10:30 p.m. EDT; during the 2004 United States presidential debates) — In a fiercely personal and intense debate between the vice presidential nominees of the two major political parties, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney staunchly defended the Bush administration’s actions in Iraq tonight, calling them “exactly the right thing to do.”

Cheney, a Republican, argued that Senators John Kerry and John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic ticket, were inconsistent on national security issues, shifting their stances with the political winds.

Edwards, in response, launched a broad attack on the administration’s honesty and competence in both foreign and domestic policies.

“One thing that’s very clear is that a long résumé does not equal good judgment,” Edwards declared during one of the many sharp exchanges that highlighted the tight race and the stark differences between the two tickets.

Cheney remained unapologetic about the ongoing conflict in Iraq, even in light of recent criticism from L. Paul Bremer III, the former top American official in Iraq.

Bremer had stated yesterday that the administration failed to deploy enough troops to stabilize the country. Cheney, however, stood by the administration’s decisions, asserting, “The world is safer today because Saddam Hussein is in jail, his government’s no longer in power, and we did exactly the right thing.”

Edwards countered with a pointed critique, saying, “Mr. Vice President, you are still not being straight with the American people.” He accused Cheney of conflating the threat from Saddam Hussein with that of Al Qaeda, arguing that the U.S. needs a “fresh start” and new leadership to succeed in Iraq.

The heated debate, held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, touched on a wide range of issues, from Cheney’s tenure as CEO of Halliburton to Edwards’s voting record in the Senate.

Edwards, despite facing a more experienced opponent, held his ground throughout the 90-minute exchange, which was moderated by Gwen Ifill of PBS.

Both candidates unleashed sharp attacks, each describing the other with withering contempt. Edwards targeted Cheney’s past at Halliburton, highlighting the company’s controversial no-bid contract in Iraq, while Cheney criticized Edwards for his Senate record, which he described as “not very distinguished.”

A rare moment of personal warmth emerged when the discussion turned to the issue of gay marriage. Cheney, who has a gay daughter, expressed his support for states regulating marriage rather than imposing a federal ban, a stance that contrasted with President Bush’s call for a constitutional amendment. Edwards commended Cheney for his openness regarding his daughter.

On domestic policy, Edwards criticized the Bush administration for overseeing a net loss of jobs, potentially making Bush the first president in 70 years to leave office without posting employment gains.

Cheney, meanwhile, doubled down on the administration’s foreign policy, arguing that Kerry’s approach to national security, particularly his support for a “global test” before using preemptive force, was a sign of weakness.

Edwards rebutted, stressing that Kerry had been clear about targeting terrorists and preventing harm to the American people, while also emphasizing the need for U.S. credibility on the world stage.

The debate’s format, which seated the candidates around a table, was intended to play to Cheney’s strengths—his calm, earnest manner. However, the atmosphere remained tense from the start, with both men engaging in a vigorous exchange of ideas and criticisms.

Cheney faced additional challenges due to recent events, including ongoing violence in Iraq and Bremer’s remarks, which fueled questions about the administration’s handling of the war. Cheney argued that Iraq was an appropriate target after the September 11 attacks due to its “established relationship with Al Qaeda,” a claim Edwards quickly disputed.

Edwards also accused Cheney of misleading the American public by linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks, stating, “There is no connection between attacks of 9/11 and Saddam Hussein.”

When asked whether a Kerry-Edwards administration would have handled the situation differently, Edwards stated that while Saddam Hussein needed to be confronted, the U.N. weapons inspectors should have been given more time.

Cheney, defending the administration’s actions, asserted that the U.S. had not relented in its pursuit of Osama bin Laden and would continue to do so. He also criticized Edwards for underestimating the progress made in Afghanistan, dismissing Edwards’s previous comments that the country was in chaos.

As the debate concluded, it remained clear that the intense exchanges reflected the high stakes of the upcoming election, with both sides seeking to sway voters in what has become an increasingly close race.