Former vice president Dick Cheney was shouted down by a protester Tuesday while giving a speech criticizing President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, but he had a humorous response.
After a nearly 60-second interruption of his remarks at the American Enterprise Institute by a member of the left-wing advocacy group Code Pink, Cheney quipped, "Thank you very much," drawing laughter and applause from the conservative audience.
Code Pink is infamous for causing scenes at speeches and congressional testimonies around Washington, generally leading to their representatives being forcibly ejected from the premises. As a protester interrupted Cheney and shouted, "No more warmongering," members of the audience jeered, and she was escorted out while she continued to shout in protest.
"Get her out of here!" one audience member shouted.
Another onlooker tried to forcibly take the pink banner she had out of her hands, leading to a tug-of-war in the seats.
Cheney spoke for more than a half-hour at AEI, criticizing Obama's approach to negotiations and warning of the danger of the agreement.
Politico reported on Cheney's remarks:
The deal "will give Iran the means to launch a nuclear attack on the U.S. homeland. I know of no nation in history that has agreed to guarantee that the means of its own destruction will be in the hands of another nation, particularly one that is hostile."
"What President Obama is asking the United States Congress to do is unique—historically and dangerously unique. The results may be catastrophic" ... "It is not, as President Obama claims, the only alternative to war. It is madness."
The Iran deal has been a topic of debate on Capitol Hill since it was announced in July, with multiple Democrats in Congress, including Sens. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), Ben Cardin (D., Md.), and Bob Menendez (D., N.J.), announcing they would support a measure of disapproval.
Obama has secured enough Democratic votes in the Senate to ensure the deal's survival, however, as he has announced he will veto anything passed from Congress negating the agreement.