President Barack Obama's Senior White House advisor responded to criticism from former vice president Dick Cheney.
"Apparently the vice president is having a hard time dealing with the verdict of the American people," said Axelrod.
Cheney has criticized the new administration's plans to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
"When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an al-Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry," Cheney told Politico.
Axelrod hit back at Cheney this morning on NBC's Meet the Press.
"What he said here is really irresponsible," said Axelrod. "President Bush could not have been more generous in the transition in every conceivable way. When he left he said, 'I'm rooting for you guys. I hope you do well.' I believe that. Apparently the memo didn't go down the line."