Cheney blames Democrats for gas prices

TULSA — Americans fed up with seeing high fuel prices at the pump should take their frustration out on Democrats, Vice President Dick Cheney told a cheering partisan crowd Friday evening in downtown Tulsa.

"Something that is absolutely critical is for us to produce more oil and gas right here in the United States,” said Cheney, who appeared at a fundraiser for the Oklahoma Republican Party on the eve of its daylong convention today.

"The problem in Washington is that a lot of our Democratic friends year after year have tried to stand in the way of increased energy production,” Cheney said.

Cheney was interrupted several times by applause during his address of about 20 minutes.

"I don't care what you say, I'm not running again,” he joked.

Cheney said President Bush supports increased energy production in areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but he's met stiff opposition.

"The obstructionists obviously have prevailed so today we're no closer to ANWR production than we were 10 or 20 years ago,” Cheney said. "The American people are paying the price for that inaction every time they fill up their gas tanks.”

The economic stimulus checks being sent to Americans will help revive the nation's slowed-down economy, he said.

"Republicans believe that when Americans are facing tough times the first thing we should do is let them keep more of their own money,” he said.

Cheney noted it's been nearly seven years since terrorists have launched an attack in the United States.

"No one can guarantee that we won't be hit again because the danger remains very real,” Cheney said.

Leaving Iraq prematurely without ensuring a democratic government is in place would tell America's allies that the U.S. "cannot be counted on even when people put their lives on the line for freedom,” he said.

It also would validate the belief that some countries have that the United States "doesn't have the stomach for a fight,” the vice president said.