Democrats tag Republicans with Cheney

Dick Cheney may be highly unpopular with much of the American public.

But the former vice president is a favorite foil for Democrats, who are trying to hang him around the neck of Republicans like a political albatross.

The latest attempt is a web video out today from the Democratic National Committee, which might have been more appropriate for Valentine's Day.

As pink hearts float across the screen, the video shows House GOP leader John Boehner, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell standing up for Cheney, who has been a highly visible presence criticizing President Obama's decisions on national security.

Cheney is scheduled to give a major policy speech Thursday at the American Enterprise Institute entitled "Keeping America Safe." Coincidentally, it is the same day as Obama plans a major policy address of his own on the Guantanamo Bay prison and terrorist detainees.

The White House just announced that Obama's speech will be Thursday morning at the National Archives building.

"The President will discuss his broader vision for strengthening the country's security and outline how the steps his Administration is taking and plans to take going forward support those goals and principles," the annoucement said.

"GOP leaders fawned all over him and said that his frequent television appearances defending unpopular Bush-Cheney era policies like torture were helpful to the party," the DNC says.

The video ends, simply with the text on screen: "The Republican Party [hearts] Cheney."