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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!
That would have been fine had it worked. But as we know now the Veep and his office lost the initiative and the media gets to control the timing of what gets out as news.
I think it's always better to act rather than being forced to react.
"We chastise reporters all the time for rushing to report something before all the facts are in."
BTW, I don't chastise them. News gathering is messy and competitive and I don't mind that. FreeRepublic is a good example. When there is Breaking News, people want to be in on it as the story unfolds.
This was in Texas you know. Quail the size of Turkey Vultures, and twice as mean. :)
More likely they said "bird shot" or just "shot" or even "pellets" which covers both bird and buck shot. Buck shot is sometimes used for hunting deer, and other larger animals, and some larger pests as well. (Coyotes, wolves, raccoons, etc)
Good point but I have no doubt that if the story somehow broke as it happened, and a Breaking News Thread were started, you and I and everyone else would have been checking in.
It might be funny if a fellow weren't in the hospital.
Not at at the reported 30 yards, but at 3 yards it certainly would.
Nobody was saying this guy was 10 feet from the Veep.
I didn't say shooting someone was funny - from everything I've read the VP and his people took it VERY seriously - I said this fake controversy about delaying to report the incident is funny.
Our diminutive Springer, Lady, was known to do the same thing. Once, when duck hunting, she jumped into the water, swam around some reeds and came back with a wounded duck. No one in the area had fired a shot. Same with winged pheasants that couldn't fly, but could still run and "spur".
Did the V.P. get the quail?
Somehow it didn't put her off at all - she still goes after them like gangbusters.
P.S. I couldn't see the Veep accidentally shooting somebody who was right on top of him. I can sure see it happening at 30 yards, especially if there was some cover in the field, and he popped up or moved out of cover just as the shot was fired.
It may have been because this was a rural location, and Cheney's people were more concerned about getting Mr. Wittington to the hospital and making sure he was cared for than running to the nearest phone to call the local radio or tv station.
Mountain - molehill
Just pray that Harry Whittington doesn't have any connection to Jack Abramoff.
Hadn't even thought about that - oh boy.
Like this?
Read all about it at Saiga-12 and Modern Firearms & Ammunition Available in 12, 20 and .410. Also in longer barreled sporting version.
Why was this even anybody's business? Sheesh!
I have no problem this being made public, but I seriously question whether 24 hours over a weekend is "so long" - if a similar accident happened at midnight, and no one issued a press release until 6 a.m., is that "too long" as well?!
Good tinfoil hats are tough to come by nowadays.
Most of 'em have been outsourced.
My old one has been patched many times, but it still seems to fit.
LOL - always good to bounce ideas off each other here - if nothing else to keep 3 steps in front of the enemy ; )
Nobody with a BRAIN!
Daytime TV sucks, starting with Imus!
Seem to be directed toward infant thru teenager.
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