Posted on 02/13/2006 5:16:58 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein on
February 13, 2006 - 08:06
Good Morning America took took a double-barrelled blast at the Vice President Cheney this morning over his accidental shooting of a quail-hunting companion, suggesting the White House might have tried to cover up the incident, and also calling into question his version of events.
GMA did at first describe the accident as having occurred because the victim, attorney Harry Whittington, failed to observe the quail-hunting rule by which hunters remain in a single line as they advance, indicating that the accident occurred after Whittington left the line to retrieve a bird from the tall grass.
But GMA host Charlie Gibson later claimed that there was "growing political fallout" from the incident, wondering:
"Why didn't the White House tell everyone when this accident happened? Why did they wait so long and did that make a bad situation even worse?"
Normally, the MSM loves to hate talk radio and the pajamahadeen of the blogosphere, but when it suits their purposes . . . ABC White House reporter Jessica Yellin stated that it took the VP's office nearly 24 hours to go public with the incident, adding:
"That delay has prompted speculation online and on talk radio that perhaps Mr. Cheney was hoping to cover up the incident.
So GMA wouldn't offer up the cover-up conspiracy theory on its own, but used the convenient hook of reporting that others - those disreputable new-media types - had.
Gibson then interviewed Kathryn Garcia, the youthful reporter at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times who broke the story. Garcia, manning the paper's news desk on a sleepy Sunday morning, had this world-class story fall into her lap when ranch-owner Katharine Armstrong called in and couldn't find the reporter she was looking for.
Gibson tried to lure Garcia into second-guessing Armstrong and Cheney's account of the accident:
"I know that she told you that Mr. Whittington did not follow protocol and came up from behind the VP and didn't announce that he was there having gone off to fetch a quail. But we've talked to a bunch of hunters who say they've never heard of that, that there's no protocol like that. That the real problem is that the shooter has to be aware of where everyone in his party may be. Do you know anything about hunting protocol?"
The engaging Ms. Garcia wouldn't buy into Gibson's theory. Disclaiming much knowledge of hunting, she did allow that while "you're supposed to look before shooting, I think it would have been smart for Mr. Whittington to announce his presence."
Sorry, Charlie!
Who watches this trash?
Double-barreled GMA/NewsBusters ping to Today Show ping list.
Especially troubling was Cheney's failure to notify the mayor of Los Angeles.
Andrea Mitchell, et all on Katie and Matts show...whatever it's called....also emphasized that the White House tried to cover it up ....they waited SO LONG to disclose this important information to the public. Andrea was frothing at the mouth as usual.
"Ooops, I'm sorry - I thought you were Joe Biden...."
governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
- -
Thank you for your service;)
Sorry Charlie... the only thing that's falling is your ratings.
Cover-up? Why bother? To what ends would a cover-up serve?
Cheney steps up war on lawyers
It probably had something to do with crawling on their belly through the grass with their trusty double-barrel -- oh wait -- that is only for Demoncratic deer hunting.
Accidents happen.
I'd like to know why it took so long for the story to come out. As I remember, Clinton was rightfully blasted for trying to hide the fact he had been taken to hospital from Greg Norman's estate.
Mary Mapes is behind the online speculation.
I just know it.
These morons have no clue how easily this can happen out here. I almost got peppered once myself. Some friends and I were hunting quail in SE New Mexico. I emerged from behind a sand hill about the time I heard the rustle of a covey taking off, looked to my left and was looking down the barrel of a friends 12 ga. All I had time to do was fall on my back as I heard the blast and the pellets. You try to stay on line with each other but it is really easy to lose sight of each other among the brush and sandhills.
"growing political fallout"
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Imus's rubes have their liberal talking point orders, so predicable, LOL!
Too bad the MSM didn't get this excited when Clinton enemies were found dead.
I think it is "The Katie and Matt Show".
It's all about them, what they wear, where they travel, what they "think", and even what's inside their bowels!
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