Richard “Dick” Cheney, one of the most powerful and notorious vice presidents in American history, has died. He was 84. His career was largely shaped by his role orchestrating the war in Iraq, and although many conservatives paid tribute to the former vice president to George W. Bush online, some Black folks remembered his shady politics instead.
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“The man who really ran the Bush years is gone. Dick Cheney didn’t just serve power, he defined it,” @iamnoblefx wrote on X. “The wars, the secrets, the oil, the empire… all had his fingerprints on them.”
Cheney has often been criticized for championing America’s war in the Middle East. He argued Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s regime possessed weapons of mass destruction and deep ties to Al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization that claimed responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Cheney’s claims were later proven false, The Atlantic reported.
Many other users weren’t so sympathetic to the news of Cheney’s death. “It’s a national holiday,” @youcant4cme wrote. On X, @BarretaScotKing called him a “Real n***a” before clarifying, “Awful human but real n***a.”
Other folks honored Cheney on social media. “An angel grew its wings,” @uranus_is_green said.
@_Zeets had harsh criticisms for anyone with good things to say about the late 84-year-old. “If you feel like you have to say nice things about Dick Cheney, simply because he was a politician who had power and influence, or because he once bought you drinks or called you when your mom was sick, then we should be allowed to shoot you out of a large cartoon cannon,” he wrote.
@chantgod used lyrics from the Broadway musical “Wicked” in response to Cheney’s death. “Let us be glad, let us be grateful,” he wrote.
Following the start of the war in the Middle East, Cheney’s approval rating fell horrifically to 30 percent, according to a 2007 Gallup poll. Still, he’s remained a popular model in the GOP. “RIP Dick, war just ain’t gonna hit the same without you,” @DonRubix tweeted.
Some Black folks said they were completely unmoved by the announcement of his passing. “The way we felt nothing,” @killing_themood wrote.
“Wrong person God but I’ll take it,” @MiintCondition said.
Back in 2019, Cheney became somewhat of a meme after actress and singer Keke Palmer went viral for not recognizing his face during an interview. “I hate to say it. I hope I don’t sound ridiculous, but I don’t know who this man is,” Palmer said of a picture of Cheney. “Sorry to this man.”
Folks online remembered Palmer’s meme and revived it in light of Cheney’s death. “The crazy part is this is who Keke was referring to in this clip,” @LasTrain2London said on X.
“Dick Cheney? The guy from the Keke Palmer interview???” @Pri_Letterman said.
“Dick cheney going to hell on the same day zohran becomes mayor,” @bocxtop said, referring to New York City’s mayoral elections on Tuesday (Nov. 4). Cheney was pronounced dead on Monday, the night before vital elections are expected to shift the political spectrum.
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