Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

CBS' Plante: "Dick Cheney Wouldn't Tell Us if Our Shirts were on Fire"
The Early Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 02/14/2006 4:39:05 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

February 14, 2006 - 07:33

Imagine you're a member of the media, and in your heart you believe that a major official wouldn't mind seeing you burn to death. Think that might affect the way you cover him?

A comment this morning by veteran CBS reporter Bill Plante, while perhaps intended to be light-hearted, pulled back the curtain on just how antagonistic the White House press corps believes VP Cheney to be toward them. But more importantly, it suggests how antagonistic they likely feel in return.

The topic was the Veep's accidental shooting of hunting partner Harry Whittington, and more particularly the very contentious press conference yesterday between the White House press corps and presidential spokesman Scott McClellan.

Plante claimed that:

"It's not about us, it's not about the reporters. It's about the fact that the White House is expected to disclose any information about what happens to the President and the Vice-President as soon as they can. In any other White House that I've covered, and that's several as you know, the Vice-President would never have this kind of power [to control the flow of information."

Plante then added his zinger:

"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

Back in New York, Harry Smith broke into nervous laughter, perhaps aware that Plante had let the cat out of the bag on just how much the White House press corps disdains the Vice-President of the United States.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: cbs; cbsnews; cheney; earlyshow; harrysmith; harrywhittington; mediabias; plante; shooting; whittington
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 221-231 next last
To: governsleastgovernsbest

They're so narcissistic that no matter what the story, they turn it around and make it all about themselves.


101 posted on 02/14/2006 5:23:04 AM PST by randita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest

"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

Your point???


102 posted on 02/14/2006 5:23:47 AM PST by mortal19440
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest

Has anyone determined the impact of the hunting accident on job productivity over the weekend? They were certainly a busy lot yesterday at the press conference. What a waste. I am almost certain there were more important issues to be addressed.


103 posted on 02/14/2006 5:25:13 AM PST by jos65
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fenris6

You nailed it. The US MSM has lost whatever journalistic credentials it had with its failure to publish any of the Danish cartoons. The public's right to know really means what the MSM wants you to know. They are in the infotainment business, not the news business. The Cheney "shooting" story is really more about them than the incident itself. The WH Press Corps is upset because they didn't get the info first.


104 posted on 02/14/2006 5:27:36 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest
"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

And I wouldn't cross the street to pi$$ on you if you were on fire.

105 posted on 02/14/2006 5:28:00 AM PST by EricT. ("I reject your reality and substitute my own."-Adam Savage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest

The accident was reported to Texas authorities within 30 minutes after it happened. Don't reporters read the police blotter any more?


106 posted on 02/14/2006 5:28:47 AM PST by LOC1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: hflynn

Dang, ya beat me to it.


107 posted on 02/14/2006 5:29:05 AM PST by EricT. ("I reject your reality and substitute my own."-Adam Savage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest
"It's not about us, it's not about the reporters. It's about the fact that the White House is expected to disclose any information about what happens to the President and the Vice-President as soon as they can. In any other White House that I've covered, and that's several as you know, the Vice-President would never have this kind of power [to control the flow of information."

I can see them being upset if the Veep was the one that got shot, but they are being childish in their overblown egos - maybe they should run for some Democrat positions if they think themselves so important (or even a number of Republican positions, to be fair about it).

108 posted on 02/14/2006 5:29:29 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beyond the sea

Well some idiot asked if the Vice President would be resigning over this incident. I thought that was pretty ignorant.


109 posted on 02/14/2006 5:29:34 AM PST by MarxSux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest
"It's not about us, it's not about the reporters"

Yeah, right, tell us another one.

110 posted on 02/14/2006 5:30:04 AM PST by SuziQ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest
"Cehney would not tell them 'their shirts were on fire?"

Amazing comment. . .

First, why would he? They would not listen to Cheney anyway. . .so why would he bother.

IT WAS CLEAR, from yesterday's WH press briefing that the shirts of all the reporters were on fire. . .and they did not even know it.

111 posted on 02/14/2006 5:31:39 AM PST by cricket (Truth - the first enemy of a Leftist. . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarxSux

My favorite was the reporter who actually asked if the story would be more serious if the victim had died.

You got to have a degree in journalism to come up with hard hitting questions like that!


112 posted on 02/14/2006 5:31:52 AM PST by Republican Red (We will stay steadfast, we will not falter, we will never murtha)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: N. Theknow
Well you owe me a refill on the inhaler- that line had me doubled over coughing.
113 posted on 02/14/2006 5:32:11 AM PST by brothers4thID (Being lectured by Ted Kennedy on ethics is not unlike being lectured on dating protocol by Ted Bundy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest

I think the VP should take Bill Plante, David Gregory, and any other complaining reporters (including the chick who did a story on this in blaze orange) out into 'the field' and show them EXACTLY what happened, with one exception ...... they shouldn't be able to sit for weeks.


114 posted on 02/14/2006 5:33:48 AM PST by MissMagnolia (Democrats - The Party of abortion, atheism, sodomy & treason.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarxSux

The reporter who asked that question wasn't ignorant--he/she was arrogant!


115 posted on 02/14/2006 5:34:03 AM PST by dmw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: pookie18
Got a match?

I got a zippo.


116 posted on 02/14/2006 5:34:16 AM PST by magslinger (Cry Havoc and let slip the yobos of war!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: governsleastgovernsbest
Plante then added his zinger:
"But if it were up to Dick Cheney, he wouldn't tell us if our shirts were on fire, for heaven's sake."

Prove it.


117 posted on 02/14/2006 5:35:03 AM PST by RGSpincich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sirchtruth; onyx; Txsleuth

yup to post #64 ,... and , figuratively speaking...

... the MSM's ass is on fire , and they're on their way to the gas station!

... also , again , these administation "dunces"[he-he] help the presscorps to tip their hand and,

... appear like preschoolers denied their ice cream,
...even Bob Novak said the press should've been notified in a more timely manner

"but BOB , c'mon , what fun it must be for the WH to push somebody's buttons , no??"


118 posted on 02/14/2006 5:35:44 AM PST by Dad yer funny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: MarxSux
Well some idiot asked if the Vice President would be resigning over this incident. I thought that was pretty ignorant.

Yes I heard that.

McClellan dismissed that as a ridiculous (I think that's the word he used) question.

That media behavior yesterday was very expositional of a mental illness among those lowlifes. The entire tone and texture of the questioning at that event is the greatest example as to what is the illness that is the media today.

119 posted on 02/14/2006 5:35:54 AM PST by beyond the sea (Let's give them something to talk about............. howaboutlovelovelove?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: freedom9
While no one should take this thread literally and a person being burned should not be found humorous . . .

A Class Alpha fire is one involving organic material such as paper or wood and is extinguished with water or foam. A Screaming Class Alpha fire is put out with a .45.

120 posted on 02/14/2006 5:36:07 AM PST by EricT. ("I reject your reality and substitute my own."-Adam Savage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 221-231 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson