Cheney, Rumsfeld Booed at CPAC

The divisions in the Republican Party came into sharp relief last night when Donald Rumsfeld received the “Defenders of the Constitution” award—only to be booed lustily by Ron Paul supporters, many of whom stood up and left the room in protest, CBS News reports. The clamor grew even louder when Dick Cheney put in a surprise appearance to honor his Bush administration colleague.

Half the room was cheering, or calling “Cheney for president!” even as the other half jeered even louder. The libertarians often interrupted Cheney’s speech; when he asserted that Rumsfeld had made America “stronger and more secure,” for example, someone shouted “Where’s bin Laden at?!” Cheney’s supporters responded by crying “shut up!” and chanting “USA, USA!” But the heckling continued, with a cry of “draft dodger!” heard ringing through the hall. (Also at CPAC: jokes?)