Halliburton Dick

Kerry tells a gathering in New Mexico this morning that while Halliburton has received billions in no bid contracts for Iraq, Cheney has continued to receive deferred compensation. The Bush team's response: "These are false and baseless attacks." Well, no they're not:

In his retirement package from Halliburton, Cheney was granted deferred compensation, which paid out his bonus and his salary from 1999 over a five-year period. So far as Vice President, Cheney has received nearly $2 million from Halliburton, and is expected to receive additional deferred compensation in 2004. [“Income: Type and amount,” Schedule A, Standard Form 278, Richard B. Cheney Personal Financial Disclosure, 5/15/02; 5/15/03; Cheney Income Tax Returns; Associated Press, 6/15/04]

Calling Kerry's health care plan a government takeover when it's completely voluntary is indeed "baseless" - and more commonly referred to as a lie.